What We’re Working On
Levo does a whole lot. The programs listed below are only some of the many projects that Levo has successfully undertaken in the last two years. We are growing fast. If you would like to work with us in 2024, or have questions on our programs, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Food Is Medicine
Simplified hydroponics is affordable and practical for growing fresh produce in almost any setting. It is a powerful tool for community health organizations, hospitals, medical practices, and anyone looking to get their clients, staff, or patients involved in healthy eating and gardening. It does great on a roof, parking lot, or even in empty rooms as a way to grow produce for food “farmacies”, engage patients and staff with gardening and healthy eating.
Hispanic Health Council
Levo’s hydroponics are simple and effective teaching tools. Levo supports community organizations and schools, providing them with both hydroponic systems and curriculum support.
Hartford hospital
We converted one roof on the Conklin building, and are on track to add two more rooftops in 2024, which will produce an estimated 10,000 pounds of produce for the hospitals food “farmacy”. Levo has also launched a CSA pickup for staff and a weekly farmers market at the hospital.
Vacant Lot Conversion
Much of the United States urban centers are filled with vacant or blighted properties. These communities also tend to be some of the poorest and most food insecure. Levo’s model and hydroponics turn vacant land into highly productive agricultural space. Every square foot provided to Levo translates to a pound of produce. These plots are not traditional community gardens, they are farms. The neighborhood farms produce food that employs local community members as well as increasing food access.
The neighborhood farms are non-permanent. This means properties that are earmarked for development can be used until they break ground. Additionally, they are not bound like traditional gardens by the soil quality, and therefore can be set-up on brownfields.
Garden St Initiative
Before an empty overgrown lot sandwiched between two affordable housing units, the Garden St. farm is a solar-powered hydroponic farm that will be used in 2024 to grow an estimated 6000 pounds of produce for the Hartford community. The plot took less than a month (6 large volunteer events) to convert and assemble.
Education
Hydroponics is a valuable learning tool for schools. It can be used to teach a wide range of STEAM-related courses, from chemistry, plant science, engineering, design, nutrition, and practical carpentry skills.
Impact Academy
Since Fall 2023 Levo has been working with CREC Impact Academy to offer students 6 week hydroponics courses to complement their science classes. Students learn plant science, basic chemistry, hydroponic management, and basic use of power tools.
Fitch High School
Levo has worked for the past 3 years with the Groton Public Schools. Levo has installed hydroponics in Groton’s greenhouses and right in the cafeteria to complement their STEAM programs. The produce is harvested year-round and included in school lunches. Part of the goal beyond hydroponic and science education is increasing the visibility of how students' food is grown and encouraging healthy eating
Employment and Job Training
Levo supports many organizations with food production for their programs but also grows for our customers. This includes a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, a food subscription where Levo drops off fresh produce to companies, churches, and households in the Greater Hartford area. To do this, Levo hires and trains dozens of residents in hydroponic production. This program partners with Levo’s Neighborhood Farming Initiative, training employing community members from the areas most impoverished communities.
Bloom Hill Farm
Unused for close to two decades, Levo converted two of five greenhouses at Bloom Hill Farm in Bloomfield into hydroponic greenhouses for production and seedlings. The remainder of the five greenhouses will be restored and operated in 2024. The greenhouses will grow up to 20,000 pounds of produce for the CSA, Levo’s Farmers Markets, for Foodshare, and local pantries in 2024. Most importantly, Levo partners with Bloomfield High School and recruits Hartford High School students to create our youth employment program. Levo anticipates hiring up to 20 high school students in 2024, doubling the program from 2024.
Research and Development
Levo is not a normal non-profit, we are investing significant energy into innovating in hydroponics. To date we have published research and are working on making the technology more productive and accessible for communities around the world.
Organic Hydroponic Fertilizer
To date, there are very few reliable organic hydroponic fertilizers available. Levo is developing a hydroponic fertilizer from agricultural waste products such as corn and sugar cane to create an effective and most importantly accessible organic fertilizer. Due to recent successes in testing, Levo anticipates a viable product for widespread use in the next 24 months.
International
Despite a rapidly growing domestic operation, Levo continues to grow internationally. Simplified hydroponics has an ever greater potential impact on communities in developing economies. The technology was originally developed for rural Haitian families. Our approach to hydroponics allows for maximum local empowerment. Materials are purchased almost entirely locally and staff are recruited from the communities we serve.
Haiti
Levo has grown our program in Haiti with the support of the incredible Haitian staff, despite widespread violence and insecurity that makes travel in the country practically impossible. To date, Levo supports over 500 households with our “bokit” systems, made from recycled pails readily accessible in Haiti. The bokits allow for vegetables to be grown even where people have to walk over a mile for their water and have no electricity or arable land.
Mexico
Levo launched in 2023 a pilot in partnership with Friends of Pimpollo. Friends of Pimpollo supports thousands of students in Oaxaca, Mexico, and has constructed dozens of schools for the community. Levo launched a pilot in the Fall 2023 to provide 32 households with hydroponics as well as build a hydroponic system for the community center. These systems are being maintained by the agronomy program and it is anticipated to be a fast-growing program.