Joan Hartley

Sen. Hartley Welcomes $65,000 Grant to Brass City Harvest to Support Community Garden, Educational Programs

State Senator Joan Hartley (D-Waterbury) welcomed the awarding of $65,000 from the Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant Program to Brass City Harvest and the City of Waterbury to create a community garden that will support the native ecosystem. The garden will also facilitate educational and nutrition-focused programs available to local residents. The community garden will be established on an undeveloped portion of property that the Brass City Regional Food Hub, operated by Brass City Harvest, is located on. This grant follows on $125,000 in funding that Sen. Hartley secured for the food hub in the 2022-23 state budget.

The about half-acre parcel of land is planned to be transformed by Brass City Harvest and the City of Waterbury into a community garden that supports 50 raised beds, picnic tables, and benches that residents can use to connect with nature and participate in community events. Additionally, the garden will support the local ecosystem through the planting of native species, including Winterberry and Butterfly Bushes. A small urban bee project is planned to be conducted on the land to give bees a water source and access to native plantings. Further, an outdoor cooking area will be available for food prep and educational programs including but not limited to cooking classes and nutrition education.

“This is a wonderful announcement for the greater Waterbury region and is a testament to Connecticut’s long-term aim of preserving open space to protect our state’s natural resources, while enhancing quality of life among community residents,” said Sen. Hartley. “Brass City Harvest is a transformative organization that is closing gaps in community access to healthy food and helping residents become better informed on how the food that we eat affects our long-term health. I’m pleased they have been awarded this grant to further expand their beneficial work.”

“Connecticut’s preservation of open space has helped define its landscape and preserve its important natural resources and natural beauty and is one of the main things that makes this state such a great place to call home,” Governor Lamont said in announcing the awarding of funds to the Brass City Harvest project and other project recipients across Connecticut. “These grants continue our open space preservation legacy and will increase the availability and quality of open space for all residents across our state, whether they live in an urban, suburban, or rural area.”

Established in 2007, Brass City Harvest strives to increase access to fresh food and support regional economic development of the agricultural sector. The operator of the Brass City Regional Food Hub, in partnership with the City of Waterbury, Brass City Harvest coordinates connecting family farms and orchards to consumers and wholesale entities. Under their “Brass City Sustainable” initiative, the non-profit organization provides nutrition education to low-income, elderly, and underserved households. According to the non-profit, they have provided over 240 free healthy cooking and nutrition classes. Additional information about Brass City Harvest’s work can be found at brasscityharvestwaterbury.com.

The Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant Program assists in funding the development or enhancement of open spaces in urban settings for public enjoyment or environment-related education. More information about the grant program can be found on the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection website.