Apr 21, 2009 6:51 pm US/Eastern
Food Project's Garden Promotes Health, Leadership
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Members of Boston's "Food Project" helped plant a huge garden, which will provide food to the hungry.
WBZ
Wednesday is Earth Day -- now in its 39th year. To reflect on the day, I set out to find a story that truly embraces our Earth.
My search led me to work in the dirt with
The Food Project. Their mission --to bring youth and adults from diverse backgrounds together through sustainable agriculture. And what is most amazing, much of that farming happens right here in the city! Who knew??
"It's a bit cliche, but you could say for us every day is Earth Day," said Michael Iceland, Volunteer Coordinator for The Food Project. "We are out here, we are working the soil and we are planting."
And so on this drizzly, damp day, I joined the "farm hands" on an urban 1/2 acre plot in the heart of Roxbury.
"We are planting beets about 5 inches apart, so if you want to grab that tray and pull it over," Michael said to me.
Knees in the mud, I dragged over a tray of small beet plants and got to work inserting them into a long bed with other volunteers from MIT.
"We want the mound to be nice and level so that no water collects--that would ruin the plants growth," added Michael.
Other volunteers led by teens working for The Food Project were busy with different tasks. Some were turning over the soil with a pitch fork to loosen it up.
"This allows for breathing room, drinking room, and growing room for the plant to spread out and grow," said Michael. "Just like people in the city need space to grow, plants need the same thing."
Other volunteers placed composte over prepped soil while others worked the composte pile.
"So this is part of the gardening process. We try to prepare the beds as much as possible," he added.
The Food Project farms on 2.5 acres in the city, another urban plot in Lynn, and on a larger farm in Lincoln. In total, they grow about 1/4 million pounds of food -- equivalent to a half million servings.
All are grown without pesticides and from farm to plate, none of the food travels more than 20 miles.
"Much of what we produce is sold at local farmer's markets and through CSAs -- Community Supported Agriculture. About 40 percent supports homeless shelters and soup kitchens in the city," added Michael. "We really want to create equal access for everyone to local, healthy food."
Besides growing healthy food, The Food Project is also committed to growing the next generation of youth leaders.
"This is 85 percent of what farmers do...weeding, weeding, weeding," said Alvin Andino, a 16 year-old sophmore who has been working for The Food Project for the last year.
"What do you like about it," I asked.
"I just love the serenity," he said.
"The hustle and bustle of school tests...you can just come out here and work with your hands instead of working with a pencil. I love that," Alvin added.
Latin Academy Junior Valerie Cardoso has been working for The Food Project just as long and has been equally pleased with the experience.
"How do you think your time with The Food Project will influence your life," I asked.
"Well I have realized through the program that I want to do something to help my community as a career. I am not sure if it will necessarily be farm work, but probably community work," said Valerie.
Collectively the teens call themselves the D.I.R.T. Crew which stands for "Dynamic, Intelligent, Responsible, Teenagers," said Alvin. Let's grow as many as we can!!!
Some 3,000 volunteers help make it all happen every year. On Tuesday, the group was mostly made up of grad students from MIT, including Laurie Tamis, working on her Master's in City Planning.
"A bunch of us have known about The Food Project and we wanted to come down, lend our time, and see what it is all about, while celebrating Earth Week," said Laurie. "Most importantly, our work is helping to feed the people in the neighborhood," she added.
As a region, New England grows about 15 percent of what is consumed here, but according to The Food Project, the capacity is much greater--around 35 percent.
You can help sustainable, local agriculture increase by planting your very own urban garden and The Food Project wants to help!
Each year the organization builds and supplies growing materials for over one hundred 4x8 dirt plots scattered at residences across the city of Boston.
Members of the Food Project will be honored on Earth Day in Faneuil Hall as the EPA presents its annual Environmental Merit Awards for 2009.
The winners from Massachusetts were among 31 from across New England.
Sign up for next year's
Build A Garden Program
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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