Since joining Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood in 2007, Community Servings has promoted sustainable agriculture by becoming a source of local organic produce for our neighbors. At the same time, our Farmers' Market, Herb Garden, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Community Supported Fishery (CSF) initiatives support our primary mission of feeding the critically ill, their caregivers, and their children. Farmers' Market On Sunday, July 19, 2009 -- Farmers' Market Community Day -- Community Servings officially opened Jamaica Plain's newest source for locally produced fruits, vegetables, and other foods. Neighbors purchased coffee from The Greenest Bean, fruits, vegetables, and flowering plants from Silverbrook Farm; herbs from Community Servings' on site herb garden; and baked goods from Big Sky Breads. A DJ, live music by Bat's Tones, stilt walkers from Spontaneous Celebrations, balloons, and free cookies baked by Community Servings food service job trainees made for a festive day that culminated in a Ribbon Cutting ceremony attended by Boston City Councillor John M. Tobin, Jr. 
Farmers' Market, Sundays, July 12-October 18, 2009, 10 am-2 pm.
Click here for directions.
The market will run every Sunday until October 18, 2009. Throughout the season, we plan to invite local chefs for food demonstrations, conduct "edible tours" of Jamaica Plain, and distribute recipes that feature the harvest's bounty. Additional farmers and other vendors will sell their products, including Eat Local Honey and jewelery and pottery designer Helen Najarian. Community Servings thanks Josh Kuchinsky Photography, Fancy Nancy, Nate March, Don't Burst My Balloon, Spontaneous Celebrations, and Bat's Tones for donating their services for Farmers' Market Community Day.
Herb Garden
Planting Community Servings' Herb Garden, June 15, 2009
On June 15, 2009, Community Servings planted the seedlings for our first herb garden in 100 feet of planters along the side of our building. In partnership with The Growing Connection (TGC), a grassroots project developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Community Servings purchased Earth Boxes at a reduced price. In these high-tech growing systems that use less fertilizer and water than a conventional garden, we are growing herbs and arugula for our clients' meals and to sell at our new Farmers' Market. Volunteers taking courses through the Boston Natural Areas Network to become Master Urban Gardeners are tending the garden, which includes over a dozen herbs like parsley, sage, oregano, basil and garlic. Members of Community Servings' network of friends and volunteers -- including Stillman's Farm, The Food Project, Holli Van Nest, Mahoney's Garden Center in Brighton, Russell's Garden Center in Wayland, Linda Miller, and Deb Squires -- donated the seedlings.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Community Supported Fishery (CSF)
Through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiative, the food-buying public creates a relationship with a local, organic farm to access freshly picked produce. Since 2008, Jamaica Plain residents have visited Community Servings to pick up their weekly supplies of beautiful organic produce from Heaven's Harvest Farm of New Braintree, Massachusetts. By purchasing shares of the farm's crop, our neighbors are supporting local agriculture and reducing their carbon footprints. At the same time, our sick clients benefit because we receive 10% of the proceeds from the shares and all of the farmer's surplus produce for our meals program. 
Gloucester-based Cape Ann Fresh Catch (CAFC) is a Community Supported Fishery (CSF) that is modeled after a CSA initiative. CSF members give the fishing community financial support in advance of the season, and in turn the fishermen provide a weekly share of seafood during the harvesting season to shareholders. CSF members pick up their weekly fish from Community Servings' parking lot on Tuesdays. In this win-win-win situation, the fisherman have a source of steady income, the CSF members have a convenient pick-up location, and Community Servings' clients have fresh locally caught fish for their meals. For more information about Community Servings' Sustainable Agriculture initiatives please contact Edith Murnane, Social Enterprise Manager, at (617) 522-7777 x207 or emurnane@servings.org. .
|
