2012 Dorchester farmers' market season is here!

We're excited that farmers' market season is here again, with fresh, high-quality, local-grown healthy food available and accessible for all. Vendors are local farms and small-scale food businesses that provide area residents with affordably-priced fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, bread and – BRAND NEW this season – fresh-caught fish. At Dorchester farmers' markets SNAP/EBT, WIC, and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupons are accepted as well as cash, and most accept Boston Bounty Bucks which allows SNAP/EBT users to double their dollars on farmers market purchases up to $20! Some also take credit/debit cards.
Ashmont/Peabody Square Farmers' Market - Fridays 3-7PM, open July 6 to Oct 19,
Bowdoin Geneva Farmers Market - Thursdays 3-6:30PM, open June 28 to Oct 25,
Codman Square Farmers' Market - Thursdays 1-6PM, open June 21 to Oct 25,

roof food

Continuing the growing food on Dorchester buildings theme - here is a Dorchester Reporter article from a few years ago about dbar's rooftop garden. The photo at right is from the TableCritic site. We'd love to hear about other non-traditional food-producing locations in the community!

shop at your local farmers' market!

The farmers' markets in Dorchester and Mattapan are all up and running, please check out this link to DEHC's website for days, times and locations, or go here to print out the DEHC Summer newsletter, which has the market schedule*. All markets accept SNAP benefits (food stamps) with an additional 50% off through the Bounty Bucks program - SNAP can also be used to buy food-producing plants and seeds.
Local farmers' markets are open and selling fresh local grown produce (and other great items!) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. You can probably walk or bike to one near you! DEHC is helping out at most of the markets during the season, weekly on Fridays at Ashmont/Peabody Square, stop by and say hi!

*Please note that the Grove Hall Farmers' Market opening has been delayed, check back on the dehc.org website regularly for updated information.

It is Farmers Market season again!

Codman Square Farmers Market was open today, despite the rain, and will be open every Thursday 1 - 6 PM, rain or shine, until October. There are 6 more farmers markets in Dorchester, and one in Mattapan - look on the Dehc.org website for day, time, locations and other details to help make shopping for fresh fruit and vegetables more convenient!

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Opportunities in Dorchester

Langwater Farm at Ashmont Farmers Market 2010

Even though a chance of snow is still not out of the question this month there is evidence of spring - the growing season will soon be upon us! Dorchester area farmers' markets will start in June or July and run weekly to the end of October.  Please check DEHC's online calendar for the 2011 farmers market schedule.  Some farmers' markets offer prepaid shares of farm produce (also know as CSAs) that are now available for purchase.  A share guarantees you a weekly bag of fresh produce and also supports a local farm over the growing season. A share's cost varies per market and can be split up with co-workers or friends.  There are different kinds: some markets offer 1/2 shares (at Codman Sq), or a share where rather than pickup a pre-packaged bag you choose your own produce from the market's table each week (at Ashmont) and there is a discounted rate for low-income families at the ReVision Urban Farmstand. Please click here for details on how to sign up!

fruit tree pruning workshops

As part of the new Boston Orchard Program, Boston Natural Areas Network is partnering with the Food Project, the Boston Tree Party, and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation on two free pruning workshops:


On Saturday March 5, 2011 as part of the Food Project’s Winter Workshop Series, John Bunker, Pomologist from Super Chilly Farm in Maine will provide pruning tips at the Shirley-Eustis House Orchard located at 33 Shirley Street in Roxbury.

On Saturday March 12, 2011 Ben Crouch, sole proprietor of Jamaica Plain’s Land of Plenty Gardens will provide more information about pruning at the Blake House Orchard located at 735 Columbia Road in Dorchester.

The free programs, for everyone interested in learning more about pruning fruit trees, begin at 10 a.m. Reservations are required. Contact BNAN at 617-542-7696 or info@bostonnatural.org.

looking forward to spring? want to grow fresh vegetables in a local community garden?

Head to the Codman Sq Neighborhood Council meeting tonight at 7 PM to hear about an initiative that is expanding the opportunity for community gardening in Dorchester. Or if you can't make the meeting, email us or give a call, 617-474-1478 to learn more.

Weds. Dec 1st: two green events to choose between today

Community Climate Action Roundtable, Weds, December 1: come share your ideas for engaging more people in making Boston more sustainable. Panelists include Khalida Smalls from ACE, Rosanne Foley from Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition, Ray Porfilio from West Roxbury Saves Energy, and Stepanie Valovic of Planet Southie.
When: 6 - 7:30 PM
Location: Suffolk University, 73 Tremont Street, 12th floor, Trustees’ Conference Room. Snacks provided. Free and open to the public. Hosted by Suffolk University Sustainability Committee, the Government Department, Human Resources, and the Boston Climate Action Network. More info at: http://www.suffolk.edu/offices/44417.html

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Also, a BRA/DND joint community mtg: proposed rezoning city-owned properties for Urban Agriculture, Weds. Dec. 1st: The following city-owned properties in Mattapan/Dorchester are currently proposed to be the focus of an urban agriculture rezoning effort: 23-29 Tucker Street, 131 Glenway Street, 18-24 Standish Street, and the vacant property between 94 Ballou Avenue and 116 Ballou Avenue.
When: 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Prayer Power Apostolic Church, 151 Norfolk Street, Dorchester, MA. More info at http://www.bostonredevelopmentauthority.org/Planning/PlanningInitsIndividual.asp?action=ViewInit&InitID=152

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Check our calendar regularly - http://www.dehc.org/dehc-calendar/

get outdoors and enjoy! Dorchester green activities...

Ashmont Farmers' Market today at 3 PM has ukelele music and free coffee while you shop, tomorrow (Saturday Oct. 23) you can tour Dorchester orchards and public artwork by bike, and don't forget Dorchester Open Studios is this weekend! See this link.

nice ReVision House editorial in the Globe

A good news story, about locally grown food in our neighborhood:

Fresh produce: A garden grows in Dorchester - The Boston Globe