Our 2023 Citizen of the Year is Old Lyme resident Jim Ward, President of the Lyme-Old Lyme Food Share Garden, and a Champion for creating community around local environmental and food security solutions.
A passionate environmentalist, Jim quietly takes actions to help others learn how to make a difference in our environment. The catalyst for his community building efforts began when Jim participated in the 2020 UConn Master Gardening Program. Jim's required outreach hours for the program were met by volunteering at the Food for All garden in Clinton. In 2022, their first growing season, the Food Share Garden logged more than 700 hours of volunteers' time in producing and donating over 2500 pounds of fresh produce to the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries, and the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut.
In its second growing season, the Lyme-Old Lyme Food Share Garden was one of three giving gardens to receive the Innovation Award from the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut.
Jim also serves our town as co-chair of the Solid Waste and Recycling Committee. Although this committee doesn't have the most glamorous of names, we rely on them for policy recommendations and opportunities to reduce the Town's trash, which is not just important for our environment but also for our taxpayers' wallets. One important way to reduce trash is to encourage our residents to compost their food waste. Jim’s enthusiasm for nature's way of recycling led to his creation of a pilot composting program in his Library Lane neighborhood. Just this summer, the neighborhood collected over 700 pounds of food waste for composting. As Suzanne Thompson added, "Jim is showing the rest of us that yes, we can do this."
And stay tuned, this committee is working to bring us closer to better composting options for all our residents.
Jim will always be the first to give others credit and there are many people who have become involved in these projects whether making financial donations or digging in the dirt. But the success of any volunteer endeavor depends on someone who can provide enthusiasm, guidance, and recognition to others. Jim's neighbors Christine and Tom Gotowka said, "We are impressed that he always acknowledges the role of his core team and the large cadre of volunteers in what has certainly been a successful endeavor that has reflected well on our community."
Growing, Caring, Sharing. These are the guiding words of the Lyme-Old Lyme Food Share Garden. These three words also represent why the Board of Selectmen is happy to present Mr. Jim Ward with the 2023 Citizen of the Year award.