Volunteers work to install raised planter beds at the Community Farm at Sullivan Farm during the United Way of Greater Nashua’s Community Farming Day of Caring event in April 2018. This year, the United Way and Grow Nashua will build a new urban farming location at Dr. Norman W. Crisp Elementary School.

NASHUA – Hoping to teach needy residents how to improve their lives, United Way of Greater Nashua organizers will bring urban farming to Dr. Norman W. Crisp Elementary School.

This is the Community Farming Day of Caring, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 25 at the school. The United Way will partner with Grow Nashua on the project, with the goal being to help those struggling with food insecurities to get healthy fruits and vegetables.

“The project is geared toward families in that neighborhood adopting the raised beds and cultivating produce for themselves,” United Way President Mike Apfelberg said. “It’s for the Arlington Street, Crown Hill neighborhoods.”

“This is about creating small spaces in an urban environment that are small farms to fight food insecurities,” he added.

During the event, volunteers will be moving bark mulch, raking and building raised planter beds for a community and school garden. The community garden will help teach about plant sciences.

“When we look at urban farming, we are looking to help create relationships and connections with one another,” Apfelberg said. “On the face, it looks like food. Behind the scenes, it has much more to do with how people live and interact with one and other, and that helps create a healthy environment and healthier people.”

This is the third year for the United Way and Grow to work with urban farming. Two years ago, the two organizations put the planters in at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Last year – in a partnership with ReGenerative Roots- they installed more farming units at Sullivan Farm.

“We’re excited we’re doing it with the school district,” Apfelberg said. “We’re excited to be with Dr. Crisp, and we’re excited to continue this tradition with Grow Nashua.”

This is the second Day of Caring event of the year for the United Way, the last of which took place at Alvirne High School where volunteers packaged meals to distribute to local food pantries.

“If you are really looking to help out, reach out to us,” Apfelberg said. “We’re always looking for donations for these kinds of event for supplies, the most logical way to do that is to donate directly to Grow Nashua.”

For more information, go to www.unitedwaynashua.org/.

Mathew Plamondon may be reached at 594-1244, or at mplamondon@nashuatelegraph.com.

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