Hartford Transforms Vacant Lot into Food Education Center

A long-abandoned lot in Hartford is undergoing a significant transformation into an educational center focused on food security and agricultural technology. Levo International, a nonprofit organization, is spearheading the project at 441 Homestead Ave.. The center aims to educate the community on sustainable food practices while also providing fresh produce to local residents.

Levo International plans to repurpose the vacant lot into an agriculture education center that will incorporate both educational and retail elements. According to the executive director, Bill Heiden, the property will not solely function as a farming operation but will include features that support community engagement. The nonprofit has secured a 25-year lease for the site, which was finalized in April.

“There will be an education component to this property and allow for a community gathering space,” Heiden stated. “But most importantly, this will be a farm stand type of retail that will allow the North End to get fresh produce.” Currently, the nonprofit is conducting a soft launch and has already started demonstration projects on-site. The final design is expected to be completed by this time next year.

The center will serve as a training and demonstration site for both new hydroponic technicians and the wider community. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in nutrient solutions instead of soil, which allows for urban farming in areas where land is limited. Levo collaborates with local churches and organizations to establish a network of growers and buyers throughout Greater Hartford.

“The benefit of Levo’s simple hydroponics and protocols is that training new farmers without experience is easier than traditional agriculture,” Heiden explained. This approach enables the organization to hire individuals from various community backgrounds. The site is projected to produce approximately 50,000 pounds of produce annually and create full and part-time jobs for up to 25 people.

In Hartford, Levo International has developed a network of around 30 urban farmers who cultivate crops in their backyards. The organization has expanded significantly, growing from just four employees a few years ago to over 40 today. Levo supports the creation of micro-farms by providing equipment and resources, while offering a financial market for the produce grown.

“In this country, we don’t necessarily have a calorie problem in food deserts; we have a quality problem,” Heiden noted. He emphasized the need to shift agricultural production back to local communities for healthier food options. By increasing hyper-local production, the initiative aims to improve the quality of food available in food deserts.

Over the past two years, Levo has acquired multiple vacant lots in Hartford to develop neighborhood farms that support larger-scale production. The organization is utilizing part of the former Lebon Press building and parking lot located at 77 Homestead Ave.. While most of this space is owned by Trinity Health, approximately 12,000 square feet belongs to the city.

Levo expects to broaden its operations in 2026, having already secured a total of 3.5 acres for its North Hartford Farming Initiative. Besides the property at 441 Homestead Ave., the nonprofit has additional leases for hydroponic food production at 280 Enfield St., 445 Garden St., and 131 Coventry St..

Heiden stated that the location on Homestead Avenue allows Levo to subsidize the cost of fresh vegetables and other essential food products, making them more affordable for local residents. This area serves as a vital commuting route for individuals traveling to downtown Hartford.

Hartford residents will benefit from reduced membership costs, providing discounts on a variety of goods, including fresh vegetables. “A community garden is different from a neighborhood farm because a community can be people living miles away, but our focus is hyper-local,” Heiden explained. “This is really for the people in that neighborhood. We want this property to benefit North neighborhood residents.”

Access to healthy and fresh food remains a challenge in Hartford, a city with a population of approximately 125,000. Many residents are forced to travel outside the city limits to find food options in wealthier communities. Data shows that 35% of households in Hartford do not own cars, making transportation a significant barrier.

Over the past fifty years, Hartford has experienced a decline in grocery store chains, with only one grocery store opening in the last two decades. In contrast, nearby Glastonbury, with a smaller population of just 35,000, boasts more than five major chain grocery stores.

The North End has long been identified as a food desert, and previous attempts to establish grocery stores have largely failed. With no full-scale farming operations currently in Hartford, this new initiative aims to become the city’s primary source of locally grown produce, ultimately providing a permanent supply of fresh vegetables for neighborhood residents.