Project Funded By Newman’s Own Foundation And Part Of Initiative To Improve Fresh Food Access and Nutrition Education In Underserved Communities 

The Center for Urban Research & Training (CURET), located in Hartford’s Upper Albany neighborhood, is organizing new classes and workshops  for residents focused on urban farming and nutrition  in a partnership with Capital Community College (CCC) and KNOX.

Capital Community College has been awarded a $25,000 grant from Newman’s Own Foundation, the independent foundation created by the late actor and philanthropist, Paul Newman. The award to Capital  was made by Newman’s Own Foundation as part of its $10 million commitment over three years to improve fresh food access and nutrition education for underserved communities.

The grant, part of Capital Community College’s Sustainable Food Program, will be used to offer a tuition-free urban farming certificate course and a series of nutrition workshops in Hartford’s Upper Albany neighborhood.

Participants will enroll  in a 120-hour urban farming certificate course that provides knowledge and skills in urban horticulture and to engage participants in local food production, community and school gardens. The  course, involving 1.5 hours class time and an externship each week, covers topics for farming in the city including food justice, botany, soil, carpentry, Hartford’s ecosystem, irrigation, plant health and crop management .

A series of workshops on obtaining fresh and quality foods on limited budgets will be offered in tandem with the urban agriculture course and will cover topics important to healthy nutrition , preparing foods and local options to obtain affordable and nutritious food near city neighborhoods.

Tuition is free for the Urban Agriculture course and nutrition workshops.

Classes are organizing now for spring and summer. For more information or to apply call CURET at 860-247-0123 or e-mail cjohnson@curetinc.org  .   The Center for Urban Research & Training is located at 1443 Albany Avenue in Hartford.