HARTFORD, Conn. — A Hartford church is trying to fix what many call a “food desert” in the city’s North End.

Urban Hope Refuge Church celebrated its new hydroponic farm with a ribbon cutting on Wednesday. 

Nestled behind Urban Hope Refuge Church is a new green space meant to provide access to farm-fresh vegetables for community members in the North End.

“In low-income communities like this, food deserts are often lacking access to fresh, healthy foods leading to poor nutrition and health issues. To address this, we created the Sacred Roots Farm,” said Pastor AJ Johnson.

According to the Hartford City Council, the majority of the city’s North End is over a mile away from the closest supermarket and has a poverty rate of over 20%. According to the USDA, that defines the area is a food desert.

“We’re standing in what statistics and everyone says is a food desert,” said Johnson.

So that’s where the Sacred Roots Neighborhood Farm idea came from, a Hydroponic Farming Project, where fresh veggies are grown without soil, instead using water-based mineral nutrient solutions.

The garden was made possible through funding from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, as well as support from Levo International, an organization that provides food desert areas with hydroponic installations.

“That’s really what Levo is trying to do here in Hartford, with our partners, is to take this food desert that we’re standing in and turn it into a food-producing area of the city,” said Christian Heiden.

Sign up for the FOX61 newsletters: Morning Forecast, Morning Headlines, Evening Headlines

Growing fresh kale, lettuce, bok choy, and collard greens, for the community, this garden also provides a learning experience for local elementary students at the nearby Community First School.

“To be able to teach them in the classroom and then to bring them out of the classroom, in their community, to a garden where they can have access to great food, fresh food, it’s something that we’re more than excited to do,” said Assistant Principle, Ronald Campell.

Pastor Johnson hopes this collaborative project will do more to bring community members together.

“We hope to be the breath of fresh air. We hope to be a beacon of hope, and this is just awesome because there’s fresh food in North Hartford,” said Johnson.

DeAndria Turner is a multi-media journalist at FOX61 News. She can be reached at [email protected].

Have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]

HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS

Download the FOX61 News APP

iTunes: Click here to download

Google Play: Click here to download

Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.

Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.

FOLLOW US ON X, FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM