GVI Returns Wakeman Town Farm to the Town

[Editor's note: The following release was submitted to Westport Patch by GVI Chairman Dan Levinson today and is published in its entirety below. Westport Patch will be following up on this news early next week to learn more about the future of GVI and Wakeman Town Farm. For background on this story, .]

The Board of Directors of the local nonprofit Green Village Initiative (GVI) and the Office of the Westport Selectman today announced that GVI will end its lease of the Wakeman Town Farm & Sustainability Center and return the Farm and its improvements to the town.

GVI created the Farm over the past two years, investing over $150,000 and arranging in-kind donations from local businesses and thousands of volunteer hours between the GVI team, Staples interns and Builders Beyond Borders students.

“We are grateful to GVI for its wonderful generosity in gifting the improvements and for the work it has done to restore the property to a working farm,” said First Selectman Gordon Joseloff. "Through the application of funds and volunteers, and with the support of literally hundreds of families and local businesses, GVI in two years transformed the Farm into a new historical, refurbished facility that benefits the entire town."

Added Selectwoman Shelly Kassen, “GVI has never wavered from its commitment to this community. They are a gem that we can all be proud of.”
 
Three former GVI board members will continue providing support to the Farm by assisting the Town with its management. GVI's remaining 19 board members will resume the work of carrying out the group’s mission.

Dan Levinson, GVI Chairman said, “we at GVI have decided that the Town is the best steward for this project long-term while we dedicate our efforts to other community-building and environmental projects in Westport and surrounding towns. This outcome is best for the community, best for The Farm, and best for GVI.”
 
Peter Wormser and Liz Milwe, both former GVI board members who will stay active with the Farm, said, “we think this is a great gift that should work extremely well long-term for The Farm and the Town. It also works to keep the community and especially the kids involved with the future of The Farm. GVI’s gift to the Town will be appreciated for generations to come.”
 
Over the past year, The Farm has been managed by Mike and Carrie Aitkenhead, who are departing The Farm. “The Aitkenheads were a great couple for The Farm and GVI is forever grateful for their hard work and enthusiasm and their good accomplishments at Wakeman's," said GVI board member Sal Gilbertie. “They leave with our sincerest thanks and very best wishes for their continued success and good example to the Westport community."

About GVI

GVI is a Westport-based nonprofit focusing on community-building and environmental projects in Westport and surrounding towns. In addition to creating The Farm, GVI’s projects have included installing edible school gardens in 20 schools in the area including 9 in Bridgeport; installing edible gardens at the Westport Center for Senior Activities, Camp Mahackeno and the Sherwood Island Nature Center; founding/running Ecofest with Mike Aitkenhead; conducting a local water protection project at Stony Brook and Nash’s Pond with the CT Department of Environmental Protection and the Westport and Norwalk Conservation Departments; co-sponsoring Eco-Challenge at Staples High School; conducting an energy study at Earthplace; developing several film/lecture series with the Westport Public Library, creating environmentally-focused arts programs with the Westport Art Center, and raising funds for leading state environmental organizations like the Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound and the CT League of Conservation Voters. This summer, GVI funded approximately 35 interns working at The Farm, Sherwood Island Nature Center and at its various Bridgeport initiatives. For all of its efforts, GVI has received awards from the Friends of Sherwood Island, The Boy Scouts of America, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Town of Westport, the State of Connecticut, Conscious Decisions, Live Green Connecticut, and others.