EHPS Receives Dept. of Ag Grant to Grow Farm to School Programming
For the second year in a row, East Hartford Public Schools has been awarded a CT Grown for CT Kids (CTG4CTK) grant from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. EHPS will receive $74,780 for its Farm to School programming in Fiscal Year 2025. Last year, EHPS was awarded $50,000.
East Hartford’s project was one of 15 selected by the Dept. of Agriculture out of nearly 80 applications. This funding will support ongoing farm to school initiatives in East Hartford and help start several new projects the team has planned.
“We are grateful to the Connecticut Department of Agriculture for recognizing the value and impact of East Hartford’s Farm to School program. This generous grant will enable us to continue the important work our team is already doing in our schools and expand our efforts in educating students and the broader community about nutrition, local food systems, and where our food comes from,” said EHPS Superintendent Thomas Anderson.
The funds will be used to continue covering part of the salary of a district Farm to School Coordinator. The grant will also ensure that currently existing school gardens can be upkept with materials and supplies such as soil, compost, garden tools, and woodchips. The funds will support farm field trips, educational supplies for farm to school learning, and materials for afterschool farm to school cooking programs.
Furthermore, the funds will be used to expand farm to school programming into more schools with tower gardens, aero gardens, and materials to build new garden beds. Finally, the funds will be used to purchase a blast chiller, which is a piece of kitchen equipment used to quickly freeze foods to optimize both food safety and quality. The blast chiller will support East Hartford’s initiative to purchase and freeze more locally grown foods, so students can enjoy them year-round instead of just while they’re in season.
“This program provides students with hands on learning experiences so they gain a deeper understanding of where food comes from and its impact on the environment. Our program supports local farmers such as Handel Family Farm through purchasing locally grown foods for students and taking farm field trips, which contributes to the sustainability of small farms and promotes local agriculture. Our farm to school program encourages community engagement, allowing families to connect with the agricultural process and creating a sense of pride by contributing to our school gardens,” said East Hartford Public Schools Registered Dietitian Carolyn Pancarowicz. “Continued investment in our farm to school program is crucial and is an investment in our students and our community.”