This Independence Day weekend, we're paying tribute to all the folks who grow the good food we eat, who are taking steps to grow their own, or maintain their properties with organic standards in mind. 
So we're playing an encore presentation from our annual pilgrimage to the Northeast Organic Farming Association's Organiconn conference - which was held earlier this year at Wesleyan University. 
We caught up with NOFA's director, the event's keynote speaker, as well as a number of other guests promoting organic practices and programs that are enhancing our state's environment and public health, while engaging our youngest citizens to participate and enjoy the fruits and veggies they can raise and eat from their own personal, school, or community garden.

We're checking in with the executive director at Bridgeport's Green Village Initiative, which is currently working with the city to try and preserve its Reservoir Community Farm and gardens. We'll learn more about progress to that end and all the ways folks can get involved - even if it just means planting a few tomatoes or sending out a few emails.

Then we'll stick around the Park City and meet two individuals heading up the Bridgeport United Coalition who will clue us in on how this organization is helping reduce tobacco, alcohol and other drug use among youth and make Bridgeport a safer, healthier, and drug-free city.  

And we'll wrap inviting you to celebrate women and girls throughout the region as the Fairfield County Community Foundation readies for its annual  Fund for Women & Girls Celebration coming up this week.

Our focus on the issue of COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes and care facilities across Connecticut starts with a national expert from AARP talking about how that organization is pursuing legislation to better support and protect residents of those facilities.

Then we'll take a very personal look at a tragic COVID-19 nursing home experience that affected State Rep Michelle Cook of Torrington, and how her experience helped initiate a sweeping investigation into why so many seniors were being infected by and dying from it.

We'll follow touching base with Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County to learn how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the outlook of area high school seniors and their future educational or career plans.

Finally, we'll remind you about an important event coming up at the Burroughs Community Center July 9 - and how a regional nonprofit called Save a Suit is aiming to help veterans who may be more food insecure because of the virus health emergency.