Gofarm

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES TO LOCAL FOOD BY

GOFARM INCUBATOR EXPANSION PROJECT

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH JEFFERSON COUNTY HEAD START, JEFFERSON COUNTY WIC, THE CITY OF ARVADA, DENVER URBAN GARDENS, JEFFERSON COUNTY FOOD POLICY COUNCIL, AND MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, GOFARM SEEKS TO BUILD A HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOOD LOCAL FOOD ENVIRONMENT IN SE ARVADA, COLORADO. THE SITE OF THE PROJECT IS HOME TO JEFFERSON COUNTY'S LARGEST HEAD START FACILITY, AS WELL AS A JEFFERSON COUNTY WIC OFFICE. THE PROJECT WILL SUPPORT INCREASED LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION IN CONNECTION WITH ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WHILE LEVERAGING EXISTING ASSETS AND ADDRESSING EXISTING BARRIERS TO HEALTHY EATING FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. IT ALIGNS WITH THE CITY OF ARVADA'S DOCUMENTED FOOD SYSTEM NEEDS AND TARGETS A GEOGRAPHIC AREA WITH HIGH LEVELS OF FOOD INSECURITY. NUTRITION ISSUES ARE COMPREHENSIVELY ADDRESSED THROUGH THE PROJECT AND ITS INTEGRATION WITH THE WIC PROGRAM. THE 4 PRIMARY ACTIVITIES OF THE PROJECT ARE 1. ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY ADVISORY TEAM TO PLAN AND HOST EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY BUILDING EVENTS CENTERED AROUND FOOD PRODUCTION AND HEALTHY EATING, 2. INTEGRATE A CHILDREN'S LEARNING GARDEN INTO HEAD START CURRICULA AND INCREASE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE NEW SUNSHINE COMMUNITY GARDEN, 3. SELL AND DISTRIBUTE FRESH, LOCAL PRODUCE THROUGH AN ON-SITE COMMUNITY MARKET TO BE STAFFED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND 4. CONDUCT TARGETED OUTREACH TO HEAD START FAMILIES TO INCREASE ENROLLMENT IN THE FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS, WIC AND SNAP. BECAUSE THESE ACTIVITIES WILL BE INTEGRATED ON A CENTRALIZED LOCATION ALREADY SERVING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH THE HEAD START AND WIC PROGRAMS, THE SITE WILL BECOME A RESOURCE FOR THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, WHICH CURRENTLY HAS LIMITED ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD. THROUGH THE ACTIVITIES LISTED ABOVE, THE PROJECT WILL INCREASE THE SELF-RELIANCE OF THE COMMUNITY TO MEET THEIR OWN FOOD NEEDS INCLUDING THROUGH EDUCATION RELATED TO GROWING AND PREPARING LOCAL PRODUCE, INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF LOCAL PRODUCE GROWN BY THE COMMUNITY, AND INVOLVINGCOMMUNITY MEMBERS IN INNOVATIVE DISTRIBUTION OPPORTUNITIES FOR HEALTHY, LOCAL FOOD.

EXPANDING CAPACITY AND RESILIENCE FOR LONG-TERM IMPACT THROUH COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND THE OPTIMIZATION OF LOCAL FOOD MARKET CHANNELS