Every season, members of the Teak team like to ditch our desks to go out and do some of the hands-on good in the world that our nonprofit and socially responsible clients do every day. At the end of September, we embraced our inner masonry skills and got our hands dirty for Victory Programs’ ReVision Urban Farm.
Located in the heart of Dorchester, the innovative community-based urban agriculture project grows produce in its own fields and provides access to affordable, nutritious and culturally appropriate food to family shelters and the extended community. In association with ReVision Family Home, the nonprofit also provides job training for youth and Boston’s homeless. Its produce is available at several local markets, including a farm stand on Blue Hill Avenue, local markets, including the Roslindale farmer’s market, and through the nonprofit’s CSA program.
Upon arrival, we dug into the history of the farm as we soaked in the sun and smell of fresh flowers surrounding us. The farm consists of two sites. The plot of land we were standing on – Fabyan Street – was sold to the organization decades ago at a minimal cost by the City of Boston after a four-story building burned to the ground. Consequently, healthy working soil must be trucked in for planting season. The second location – Tucker Street – is newer and under construction. The farm has 100 foot beds where crops are planted in succession. When crops are harvested, staff and volunteers immediately replant to continue the growing and giving cycle.
A neighborhood cat – the resident farm protector and consumer of cold water from the hose – joined us for the second half of the conversation about all the ways in which the farm not only increases access to the fresh fruits and vegetables they grow, but provides education about them. In addition, we learned about the shelter guests nearby – women and children – who maintain their own gardens and learn to cook with the delicious cucumbers, lettuce, broccoli, squash and other fruits and vegetables grown onsite. And, we heard how volunteers are the water and sun keeping this nonprofit alive and thriving, all while buzzing bumblebees pollinated around us.
Our first task involved uprooting dead tomato plants and seedlings from pots and crates and moving them to a compost pile in the yard across the street. Our second task called for shovels and hoes as we dug up the entrance to the farm in order to lay beautiful stone tiles painted by local youth that tell the story of what the farm does and represents to Dorchester. Our final task was our most complicated as we had to remove the shade from the onsite greenhouse and roll it down the street into a somewhat neat fold for storage for the winter season. We then re-fastened the existing clear cover to ensure it stays in place for the inevitable harsh winter weather to come. Not too shabby for those of us who usually work behind the scenes to get things done!
The staff members were incredible – friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about the food grown and the people they serve. Teak will definitely be back! We certainly left our mark on the volunteer fence.
