City Growers

What to Give Up for Lent? Smoking? Cursing? How About Plastic?

This is something I plan to take on !

nytimes.com The Church of England has issued a “Plastic Lent Challenge,” with six weeks’ worth of ideas for plastic objects to avoid, from wet wipes to toothbrushes.

Women for Justice - MidWest Region

A must read about the the Collective power of women

"After they went through the door we all went back to our separate seats and didn't talk about it... we were strangers, gathering to solve something. It occurred to me that a circle of women, with a mission, can save the world. I will never forget that moment."



Women for Justice Midwest

Well, if ever there was good reason to break the law! This is reminding me of the British response to the Irish potato famine - where a 1 million died of starvation and 2 million emigrated. I don't think the U.S. homeless will be emigrating. Though they may be bused by in humans to cities where they will be fed. That will surely deepen the societal divide in this country. Where ARE we going, as a nation?

Without our humanity, what have we got?

What are we “ me” doing about this ?

60% of incarcerated women have not been convicted, but are locked up because they cannot pay bail or other fees. The link to the report this pie chart summarizes is here: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2017women.html

The Talk On Main St

450 may be dead and most are without drinking water in Puerto Rico. Trump is living a lie.

The city is in the grips of a vegolution, and it's thanks to the efforts of local food activists, hoping to use these urban farms as a means of battling not just hunger, but poverty as well. Some of Soil For Life's students say the lessons have changed their lives for ever. Rose L. Arruda, Shani Fletcher, Tamika Renitta Francis, Rebecca Kline, Margaret Connors, Malik Yakini,Pashon Murray, Tanya Fields, Melissa Spear, Glynn Lloyd, Nataka Crayton-Walker, Bobby Walker III, Dave Madan,Laura - Nadine Nelson

thanks Nadine for all your ackowledgements!!!

South Africa's urban farming revolution

cnn.com Cape Town is overrun by farms. They're spilling out of parking lots, overtaking lawns, and growing out of TV sets

Land, Co-ops, Compost: A Local Food Economy Emerges in Boston's Poorest Neighborhoods

City Growers and other local in the food movement featured in this article!

yesmagazine.org From kitchens that buy and sell locally grown food, to a waste co-op that will return compost to the land, new enterprises are building an integrated food network. It's about local people keeping the wealth of their land at home.

FOR URBAN FARMERS ACROSS THE STATE:

On Thursday, November 20 9:30 - 12:30 @ Union Station, Worcester we will discuss the future of urban agriculture in MA.

What will it take to grow and resource this important movement for food, justice, and community health?

This will be the first in a series of conversations that will take place in all corners of the state. We invite you and your organization, neighborhood, city/town to become involved.

Please pass on this invitation to your networks. We are looking to gather a diverse group from across the state, with connections to a variety of skills and constituents!

RSVP to Pat Spence at [email protected]

Detailed agenda and directions to follow. Healthy, fun refreshments will be served!

Let's make what we put in our bodies to sustain them more local !

Thanks More Trees Less As****es and Over Grow The System for the image!

The future of Urban Farming in the country... in Boston:::: We are all on the same Winning Team!!!

Yesterday, farm team joined the MA Dept. of Agricultural Resources for their Massachusetts Food System Plan event at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center. Lively discussions emerged around Food Access, Markets, and Production, Distribution, and opportunities. A conversation not unfamiliar to many of us on the ground working on economic, social, political justice issues which are all tied into food and the basic fundamental needs of humans to live and prosper.

Hopeful that we are able to rise from "dog chasing tail" phase and enter into collective action to build a system that works. Keep up the good work to all those committed to the health and wellness of our universal community. What is our real challenge? Might we pull together the best of what we all have to offer collectively? Where competition is viewed more like a great relay race, difference being we are all on that same winning team. No one gets left behind and all can contribute to creating a better future we get to share together!

City Growers is selling our super fresh produce at two famers markets
Bowdoin Geneva Health Center Thursdays 2:30-6:00
Roslindale Farmers Market Saturdays 9am-1pm

We received a customer testimonial saying that she wishes she had bought a second bag of peas as she was already down to her last three pods the next morning. Just what we like to hear – satisfied customers looking for more!

The Newest Urban Farm in Boston Since the Passage of the
"Right-to-Farm" Statute


On Friday July 11th, The Urban Farming Institute, Dudley Neighbors Incorporated, The Trust for Public Land and Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh joined together for the groundbreaking for the first urban farm in Boston since the passage of the “right-to-farm” statute (Article 89). The Garrison Trotter Farm located 225 Harold Street in Roxbury is named after William Lloyd Garrison and William Monroe Trotter and also honors the local Garrison Trotter Neighborhood Association. See Boston Banner for Story!

Join us this FRIDAY!

The time has come to celebrate the groundbreaking of our Harold Street Farm and Urban Agriculture in Boston !

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Join us!

Join The Trust for Public Land and Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh
for the groundbreaking for the first urban farm in Boston
since the passage of the "right-to-farm" statute.

Friday, July 11, 2014
1:00 p.m.-1:45 p.m.
225 Harold Street
Boston, MA 02121

Elected officials, partners, neighbors, and lovers of local food
and urban green space are invited to attend.

Please RSVP to Danica Burt, 617.371.0560, [email protected]

City Growers romaine lettuce is made into a fresh fresh Caesar Salad for Dorchester and Roxbury kids at Camp Harbor View this Summer!

Food Tank: The Food Think Tank

Urban farming takes root - The Boston Globe

In case you missed it, City Growers and The Urban Farming Institute were featured in the Diversity Boston Magazine cover story as linked below. Enjoy.


http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/06/21/urban-farming-takes-root/IoeiZucFBdu2b9HRWYZIVO/story.html

bostonglobe.com As the popularity of local food has exploded over the past several years, advocates have started pushing to bring the movement to urban areas, where, they say, small-scale farming can create jobs, strengthen communities, and improve access to and education about fresh, healthy foods.

City Growers, Boston's newest urban farm, is growing green on vacant lots in Roxbury and Dorchester! We are prominently featured on the menu of Bella Luna Restaurant in Jamaica Plain each week. This week you can sample radish, arugula and spinach from our organic fields. Next week Bella Luna will be cooking with our rainbow chard.

Beginning in July you can purchase all our hyper-locally grown produce each Saturday at the Roslindale Farmer's Market (relocated to the Commuter Rail Plaza). When you buy City Growers' just picked vegetables, you are supporting farmers right here in the city.

We are now into our 4th week of production and sales...baby mixed greens, arugula, spinach and radishes. It's been a great spring so far! Thanks to all our loyal customers!

- The City Growers' Team

Food Literacy Project Discusses Power of Urban Farming at Screening and Panel | News | The...

Urban farms are more than another source of food. We are changing the system as we grow.
Read more about this recent panel...

thecrimson.com Speakers predicted the expansion of urban farming on Monday at a panel hosted by the Food Literacy Project and the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project.

Sign Up!! filling fast! 2nd Annual Massachusetts Urban Farming Conference
eventbrite.com Limited Youth and General Scholarships Available. 2nd Annual Massachusetts Urban Farming Conference Saturday, March 8, 2014 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Northeastern University Curry Center Boston, MA Massachusetts has the potential to offer an abundance of panels on all dimensions of urban farming!

Number of US farms declines, farmers getting older - The Boston Globe

The results of the 2013 farm census are in! USDA Secretary finds average age of farmers to be 58 years old. ‘‘The reality is, over time those folks won’t be able to continue farming, and the question for all of us is, if they don’t, who will?’’ Vilsack said after the report was released.

He suggests that the dwindling population has led to less political clout: ‘‘My question is not just who is going to farm, but who is going to defend them?’’

How will the new wave of small farmers influence farm policy locally and nationally? Our conference on march 8th will explore this issue.

bostonglobe.com WASHINGTON — The number of US farms is declining even as the value of their crops and livestock has increased over the past five years, a government census of American agriculture released Thursday says. The survey, taken every five years, shows there were a total of 2.1 million farms in the United…

WE HAVE HAD A FEW FROSTS requiring us to harvest later in the morning to allow produce to thaw a bit. Boy, do we wish we had a greenhouse right about now! Maybe next year!

Ancient Baking

Please support our friend Tonya Johnson of Ancient Bakers on her Kickstarter! She is partnering with City Fresh Foods to be one of the first food service accounts to incorporate sustainable, plant-based, ancient bakery products in medical/senior meals. 14 days to GO!!

Ancient Baking - http://kck.st/1ex7iSh

kickstarter.com Ancient Baking: Re-imagined, sustainable, plant-based, bakery products that support health & wellness.

A Food Literacy Quiz has been developed that is quite sophisticated and yet not too demanding. Take it at FoodDay.org and see how you do! The site also offers quizzes, including 14 Questions That Could Save Your Life!

“Food Day is tomorrow! - an important occasion for us to come together to celebrate all of the opportunities for nutritious, healthy eating and renew our commitment to increasing those opportunities,” . “Ending hunger in America, guaranteeing accurate food labeling, and ensuring every child has access to nutritious meals benefits all of us.

We are hosting The Move, 40 students from Smith Leadership Academy , Dorchester and some special guests.
When you can educate, work and have fun doing it....there's nothing better!

Assata Richardson at this past week's Local Food Festival Farmer trainee for UFI and for City Growers — a group dedicated to transforming lots in Boston into urban farms.

Thanks to our packing team Colette, Anya, Brenna, Sara and David, all our kickstarter rewards went out last week! Enjoy!

Circle the City comes to Roxbury! SUNDAY September 29th, 1-5pm: Open Streets on Blue Hill Ave.. Walking, Biking, Dancing and Play take over Boston Streets with Circle The City, Open Streets, Open World on Blue Hill Ave – Join this community celebration! Between Dudley and Warren - no cars! See you there!

The day has finally arrived for the Environment Bond Bill Hearing in front of the Joint House/Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture. TOMORROW Wed 9/18 at 11am, in the Gardner Auditorium at the State House.

The hearing will discuss many proposals to fund state environment initiatives, including an $8 million dollar proposal to fund urban agriculture initiatives.

Come show your support, if you can so that Chairwoman Gobi will see support of the urban agriculture initiative!
Also a great chance to get more connected with the legislative process. Please let us know you are in the room! Business dress is suggested.