A Mission-Driven Community Farm
By Guest
Farm manager Hannah Helfner speaks with high school students in the field.
By Cathy Smith, Brookwood Farm Board President
Brookwood Community Farm (BCF), in its 17th year as a nonprofit community farm, has been fulfilling its mission to serve local communities, ensure individuals have access to healthy, affordable food in underserved neighborhoods, and work with hunger relief organizations. With cooperation and permission from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and The Trustees, the nonprofit farm has been able to share the bounty from revitalized farmland in Canton at the base of the Blue Hills year after year.
With gratitude to these land partners, the devoted farm staff and robust volunteers, Brookwood has been able to deliver on its promise to serve the public good. BCF donates tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of organically grown produce annually to food-insecure communities and shelters through partners such as the Canton Food Pantry, Rosie’s Place, the Milton Community Food Pantry, Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition & the Vigorous Youth, community fridges, Germantown pantry, the Boston Area Gleaners, the Roslindale Food Pantry, and St. Matthew’s Pantry in Dorchester. Over $33,000 in fresh food has left the farm this season so far. Brookwood’s public service mission includes offering educational visits for elementary students in Canton and Milton and providing community service opportunities for public and private middle and high schoolers.
Brookwood’s fundraising efforts help to offset the cost of fresh food donations, the SNAP shares, and provide others in need with discounted or free shares. SNAP CSA members either pick up at the farm or at two sites in Dorchester. By coordinating with the state Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), SNAP participants are able to use their benefits to access a biweekly CSA share or make purchases at the farm’s stand or the farm’s stall at the Roslindale Farmers Market. The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) reimburses each participants’ account up to a set value each month depending on the size of the household, because they are buying directly from a farmer.
Set in the beautiful Blue Hills, people can enjoy DCR’s Brookwood Farm property whether they are picking up their weekly farm share, stopping at the farm stand to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables, or just taking a stroll in the pastoral landscape that surrounds Brookwood Community Farm, learning about farming and the surrounding natural habitat, all while in Metro Boston.
Brookwood Community Farm is located at 11 Blue Hill River Road in Canton. For more information, go to www.brookwoodcommunityfarm.org.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=95970
Posted by Guest
on Nov 24 2022. Filed under Featured Content.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
