New Haven Land Trust Incorporated

COMMUNITY GARDENING, LAND CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ARE THE PRIMARY ACTIVITIES. THE COMMUNITY GARDENING PROGRAM ASSISTS IN DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF GARDENS WITH MATERIALS AND NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH. THE LAND PROGRAM ACQUIRES AND PRESERVES OPEN SPACE.

GARDENING AND NATURE PRESERVESCOMMUNITY GARDENING: 56 COMMUNITY GARDENS IN THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN, PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPLIES. WE WORK WITH NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS, TENANT ASSOCIATIONS, BLOCK WATCHES, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, SCHOOLS, YOUTH GROUPS, AND THE ELDERLY. BY CREATING COMMUNITY VEGETABLE GARDENS, WE TRANSFORM VACANT URBAN LOTS INTO PRODUCTIVE HUBS OF ACTIVITY THAT BENFIT THE COMMUNITY IN MANY WAYS. THE GARDENS CLEAN UP THE SOIL, BEAUTIFY THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND PROVIDE AN AVENUE FOR HEALTHY EXERCISE, STRESS RELIEF, ENHANCED EMOTIONAL WELL BEING, AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT. IT ALSO BECOMES A FAMILY OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER AND TEACH SUSTAINABLE LIVING WHILE ENJOYING DELICIOUS HOME GROWN BOUNTY. MANY OF THE LAND TRUST GARDENS ARE IN RESOURCE-POOR, LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD THAT IS FREE OR LOW-COST, THUS EASING THE STRAIN ON HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS. FARM STAND:WEEKLY SATURDAY FARM STAND AT FERRY STREET FARM AND FAIR HAVEN LIBRARY THAT RUNS FROM MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND THROUGH OCTOBER. FRESH VEGETABLES AND HERBS GROWN ORGANICALLY ON OUR URBAN FARM SITES, AS WELL AS OCCASIONAL OFFERINGS FROM LOCAL PARTNERS SUCH AS LOCAL HONEY, MUSHROOMS, AND FRUIT, THIS PROGRAM HELPS MAKE NUTRITIOUS, SUBSIDIZED/AFFORDABLY-PRICED FOOD AVAILABLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT WHERE IT'S GROWN. DOUBLE SNAP AND STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S FARMER'S MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM CHECKS (DISTRIBUTED TO QUALIFYING LOW-INCOME SENIORS AND WIC PARTICIPANTS).NATURE PRESERVES:SINCE 1986 THE NEW HAVEN LAND TRUST HAS ACQUIRED APPROXIMATELY 80 ACRES OF LAND WHICH WILL REMAIN PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE OPEN SPACE. THESE HABITATS INCLUDE TIDAL WETLANDS, COASTAL UPLAND FOREST AND GRASSLAND, TRAPROCK RIDGE, RIPARIAN FOREST AND FRESH WATER WETLANDS. OUR GOALS FOR THESE PRESERVED LANDS ARE TO MAINTAIN THEM IN A NATURAL STATE AND TO RESTORE AREAS DEGRADED BY HUMAN IMPACT TO HIGH QUALITY BIOLOGICALLY DIVERSE ENVIRONMENTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF NEW HAVEN RESIDENTS AND THE NEW HAVEN ENVIRONMENT, WE ALSO ENGAGE VOLUNTEERS IN WORKING ON THE PRESERVES TO BUILD STEWARDSHIP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. GROWING ENTREPRENEURS:THE GROWING ENTREPRENEURS PROGRAM WAS STARTED IN 2016 TO PROVIDE GREEN JOBS AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS TRAINING TO LOW-INCOME YOUTH IN NEW HAVEN. STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM LEARN ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEIR COMMUNITIES, COMPLETE PROJECTS AT COMMUNITY FARMS AND GARDENS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND LEARN BUSINESS/ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS THROUGH SMALL BUSINESS VENTURES LIKE SELLING PRODUCE AND VALUE- ADDED PRODUCTS. THROUGH THEIR WORK AND WEEKLY EXPERIENTIAL PROFESSIONAL SKILLS WORKSHOPS, THE STUDENTS LEARN IMPORTANT SKILLS THAT EMPLOYERS ARE ASKING FOR - CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING, WORKING IN TEAMS, COMPUTER SKILLS - AND GAIN PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND BEHAVIORAL SKILLS THAT ENHANCE THEIR INTERACTIONS, SCHOOL AND JOB PERFORMANCE, AND CAREER PROSPECTS SUCH AS ADAPTABILITY, INTEGRITY, COOPERATION, AND WORKPLACE DISCIPLINE.

WELLNESS PROGRAMFARM BASED WELLNESS: THE FARM-BASED WELLNESS PROGRAM BENEFITS LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS OF NEW HAVEN WHO FACE RISKS FOR CHRONIC DIET RELATED DISEASE. THIS PROGRAM GREW OUT OF FAIR HAVEN COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE'S DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM. PARTICIPANTS ARE REFERRED FROM HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND LIVE WITHIN 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE. THEY PARTICIPATE IN 20 WEEKS OF HANDS-ON EDUCATION ON THE FARM IN THIS FAMILY BASED WELLNESS PROGRAM. FARM MEMBERS RECEIVE BASKETS OF FRESH, ORGANIC FARM PRODUCE ON A WEEKLY BASIS FOR THE SEASON, AND ATTEND ONE TWO-HOUR, ON-FARM EDUCATIONAL SESSION WEEKLY. DURING THOSE SESSIONS, MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN COOKING CLASSES AND ARE GIVEN NUTRITION INFORMATION ABOUT THE NUTRIENT-DENSE FOODS THAT THEY HARVEST THAT WEEK, WITH CULTURALLY-RELEVANT RECIPES FOR THEM TO TRY AT HOME. THEY ARE TAUGHT HOW TO PLANT, HARVEST, AND TEND THE VEGETABLES, WHICH GIVES THEM THE ADDED HEALTH BENEFIT OF BEING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE. IN ADDITION, MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN EXERCISE CLASSES AND RECEIVE GUIDED MEDITATION PRACTICE TO ADDRESS ALL COMPONENTS OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS. COMMUNITY HEALTH AMBASSADORS:THE COMMUNITY HEALTH AMBASSADOR (CHA) PROGRAM GREW OUT OF THE FARM BASED PROGRAM (FBWP), WITH THE INTENTION TO PROVIDE LONG TERM OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEADERSHIP AND INVOLVEMENT FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATED FROM THE FBWP AND WISH TO DEEPEN THEIR INVOLVEMENT WITH OUR WORK. WE PROVIDE WINTER TRAINING IN LEADERSHIP, HEALTH ADVOCACY, AND PEER TO PEER MENTORSHIP, PROVIDING THE TOOLS NECESSARY FOR HEALTH AMBASSADORS TO WORK IN VARIOUS ASPECTS TO SUPPORT THE FBWP AND CURRENT PARTICIPANTS. EVERY WINTER, EXEMPLARY WOMEN FARM-BASED WELLNESS PROGRAM GRADUATES UNDERGO TRAINING AND PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS TO EMPLOY THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND LEARN BEHAVIOR CHANGE METHODOLOGIES TO BECOME THE NEXT GENERATION OF COMMUNITY CHANGE-MAKERS. THE FOLLOWING SPRING, THEY RETURN TO THE FARM-BASED WELLNESS PROGRAM AS LEADERS AND HELP THE NEXT GENERATION OF PARTICIPANTS. THEY ALSO PROVIDE PROGRAM SUPPORT AND RUN ADDITIONAL EXERCISE PROGRAMMING. THIS EXPERIENCE DEVELOPS JOB SKILLS AND OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THE COMMUNITY HEALTH AMBASSADORS LIVE. INCUBATOR GARDEN:THE INCUBATOR GARDEN PROGRAM GREW OUT OF THE FARM BASED WELLNESS PROGRAM (FBWP). GRADUATES FROM THE FBWP ARE ELIGIBLE TO HAVE THEIR OWN VEGETABLE PLOT IN ONE OF OUR ACTIVE INCUBATOR GARDENS. WE DELIVER WEEKLY GARDENING SESSIONS TO PARTICIPANTS IN ORDER TO GUIDE MEMBERS THROUGH THE FIRST SEASONS AS GARDENERS. THE PROGRAM STARTED IN 2015 WITH 22 FAMILIES AND IN 2019 WE WILL HAVE 85 FAMILIES SUCCESSFULLY GROWING THEIR OWN PRODUCE IN ONE OF OUR FOUR GARDENS. THIS PROGRAM IS THE LIVING PROOF THAT OUR FBWP IS SUCCEEDING IN CREATING LONG TERM SUCCESS FOR OUR GRADUATES, SUPPORTING THEM IN LIVING HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES.

SCHOONER SAILING AND COASTAL EDUCATION: TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES OF NEW HAVEN THROUGH ACCESS TO OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS, CONSERVATION, STEWARDSHIP, AND EDUCATION. THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH LAND AND SEA-BASED PROGRAMMING ON NEW HAVEN'S UNIQUE COASTLINE THROUGH SAILING LESSONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. CAMPERS LEARN ABOUT THE HABITATS AND ECOSYSTEMS OF THE LONG ISLAND SOUND, THE WATER SYSTEMS OF THE LONG ISLAND SOUND, POLLUTION, AND SUSTAINABILITY, ALL WHILE HAVING FUN IN THE SUMMER SUN. SCHOONER CAMP TAKES PLACE YEARLY BETWEEN JUNE - AUGUST AT THE LAND TRUST'S LONG WHARF NATURE PRESERVE. THE PROGRAM SERVES 80 CAMPERS PER WEEK, WITH 50% BEING PROVIDED WITH NANCIAL AID. SCHOONER SUMMER CAMP IS A YEARLY PROGRAM THAT TAKES PLACE BETWEEN JUNE AND AUGUST. IT BRINGS TOGETHER 400 YOUTHS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 6-14 FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS OF NEW HAVEN TO DEVELOP THEIR LEADERSHIP AND LIFE SKILLS THROUGH SAILING LESSONS, LEARNING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH OTHER CAMP ACTIVITIES. DUE TO COVID, THE SCHOONER PROGRAM WASN'T RUN DURING 2020.