BROOKLYN —  The Northeast District Department of Health (NDDH), in partnership with the HealthQuest Northeast Connecticut Coalition is making funding available to a number of community projects through a federal Community Transformation Grant (CTG). HealthQuest is a regional collaborative health and wellness partnership coordinated by NDDH that is working to make northeast Connecticut a healthier place to live, work, learn, and play. Their focus is on reducing the burden of chronic disease by increasing physical activity, creating tobacco-free environments, and improving access to healthy, nutritious food.

During a May 28th press conference hosted by HealthQuest partner TEEG to thank Tourtellotte Memorial High School technical education students and faculty for their support of TEEG’s Food Security Program, NDDH Education and Communications Coordinator and HealthQuest Coalition Coordinator Linda Colangelo made the announcement of the funded projects.

“Never before has the term ‘shovel-ready’ project had more meaning,” said Colangelo. “These CTG funds have fast-tracked new community garden projects like the Killingly Community Garden and helped us to expand existing gardens. In addition, we are delighted to announce that we will purchase 16 new mobile raised garden beds being produced by Tourtellotte Memorial High School technical education students for placement throughout our communities.”

The mobile community garden initiative, which started last year as a collaborative effort between TEEG and Tourtellotte High, has expanded dramatically – with the TEEG Youth Advisory Board spearheading efforts to place portable wooden raised garden beds at senior housing sites, day care centers, and other community locations.

“Basically, if you can’t get to a community garden, we’ll bring the garden to you,” said Carl Asikainen, TEEG’s Community Outreach Manager, who has been overseeing the garden placement project. “It’s just a win all around. Everything about the project - from the raised bed design and construction to the placement at a site that includes assistance with planting - improves access and literally helps us grow into a stronger, healthier community.”

Northeast Connecticut residents have a difficult time accessing food in general. A 2012 joint study by the Zwick Center for Food and Resource Policy and the Cooperative Extension System at the University of Connecticut cites poverty, unemployment rates, educational attainment, and transportation issues as key factors in determining food security. The US Department of Agriculture defines “food security” as “access by all people at all times to enough nutritious food for an active, healthy life.” Six northeast CT towns are ranked in the bottom 25 percent of the study’s Population at Risk ranking – meaning residents are at greatest risk of being food insecure.

“Community gardens are just one place where we’d like to make access to healthy fruits and vegetables easier,” said NDDH Director of Health Susan Starkey. “In addition to traditional places like farmers markets and food co-ops, other sites include restaurants and convenience stores. Healthy choices should be convenient, too…so don’t be afraid to ask places you patronize to put healthy choices on their menu…or items like bananas and oranges right at the register.”

HealthQuest member Delpha Very, who serves as Putnam’s Economic and Community Development director, says that the Robert R. Johnston Community Garden in Putnam is already in need of expansion in its second growing season.

“It was a success right from the start,” she said. “In large part because residents also recognized the community garden as a place where they could be physically active, enjoy family time, share experience and education, and literally sow the seeds of friendship.”

Community Transformation Grant funding was awarded to NDDH by the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Community Gardens

Community projects slated to receive Community Transformation Grant (CTG) funding: COMMUNITY GARDENS

Killingly Community Garden – Fencing, tools, tool storage, and signage for a community garden on Westfield Avenue in Danielson at the site of the old Killingly High School. This project is being spearheaded by Town of Killingly Director of Planning and Development Linda Walden and the Windham Gardener’s Guild.

Killingly Grange – Placement of a mobile raised garden bed at their Senior Satellite Garden Putnam Community Garden – Tables and benches to support the expansion of the Robert R. Johnston Community Garden

TEEG Community Garden – Irrigation system and roto-tiller

Plainfield Pre-School Garden – Funding to establish a pre-school garden site

Mobile Raised Garden Beds – These are the structures that are being built by Tourtellotte Memorial High School Technical Education students. Sixteen beds and supplies to support their planting will be purchased and placed throughout northeastern Connecticut by HealthQuest partners.

Garden Signage – signs to be placed on all Mobile Raised Garden Beds acknowledging the community/HealthQuest partnership

Tobacco-free Environments

Putnam Town Parks – Tobacco-free signage to support the policy adopted for all town- owned parks

 

 

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