The purpose of this ARP funded grant agreement is to help the tribe plans invite students to its 220-acre reservation in north stonington, CT to learn about and participate in the community garden,…

The purpose of this ARP funded grant agreement is to help the tribe plans invite students to its 220-acre reservation in north stonington, CT to learn about and participate in the community garden, participate in air and water quality testing and receive environmental education. Eastern pequot tribal nation is a state recognized tribal government located in connecticut that plans to expand a native farm to school program that promotes healthy eating, growing techniques and traditional native crops at schools, and on its reservation at the mary momoho community garden for children and adults. The community garden supports a long- standing food pantry program that provides healthy food bundles for tribal members and other individuals in need of assistance. The project seeks to expand the tribe's food pantry effort by expanding the garden to carry out the project, yield more crops, water collection and irrigation, outfit a complete solar green energy system for the processing station, educational environment, and zero carbon footprint community center. Activities: activities to be performed will include expanding the community garden by adding more raised beds, providing more food boxes distributed to tribal members through the food pantry program, creating a sustainable community space with off-the-grid solar electric technology, installing solar panels and battery storage, testing air quality and well water quality, conducting the native farm to school program and the environmental educational program for children and adults, providing virtual and in-person tours of the reservation, and implementing the native environmental junior ranger program for children. All activities are designed to help tribal members better understand pollution issues and achieve a more sustainable way of life with better food security. Outcomes: the recipient will expand its community garden by installing 10 raised beds, increase food access 3-fold over two years though tribal food pantry program, increased access to fresh healthy foods, reduce tribal carbon footprint, install solar power system at community center facility, teach 300 children and adults about environmental protection and sustainability. Deliverables will also include semiannual and final reports to the EPA. Intended beneficiaries will include tribal members - approximately 300 children and adults - who will gain a better understand of pollution issues and achieve a more sustainable way of life with better food security. Subrecipient: no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.