Our Mission Statement
Brookwood Community Farm is committed to serving local communities through a community supported agriculture program, education, volunteer and employment opportunities. The farm is helping to ensure that all individuals have access to healthy, fresh, affordable foods through the development of new markets in under-served communities and through relationships with local hunger relief organizations.
If you are interested in learning more about our mission, access to financial aid or our food donation work, then please contact Cathy Smith, President of Brookwood’s Board of Directors, at president@brookwoodcommunityfarm.org.
Land acknowledgement
We respectfully acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, the Massachusett people, on which the Blue Hills Reservation and The Trustees Bradley Estate sits.
FOOD ACCESS IS our priority
Brookwood is dedicated to promoting access to fresh, locally-grown food for all community members. We achieve this goal through donations to area food pantries and through establishing affordable, innovative retail distribution strategies in underserved neighborhoods.
ACCESSING THE FARM
There are limited public transportation choices to the DCR Blue Hills site, Brookwood Farm. Brookwood was part of a coalition studying improved access. See some recent results in the Blue Hills study Storymap.
FREE AND SUBSIDIZED CSA SHARES
Through the generous support of our farm members via our CSA Fund and other fundraising efforts, we are able to provide free and subsidized CSA shares, including accepting SNAP benefits. If you would like to be a part of Brookwood’s CSA but are in need of financial assistance, including use of SNAP, then please contact us at president@brookwoodcommunityfarm.org
FOOD Donations
Year after year Brookwood endeavors to increase the amount of food donated to local hunger relief organizations. In general, seasonally we donate produce 5 days a week to places such as Rosie’s Place, St. Matthew’s Church Food Pantry in Dorchester, Dorchester Fridge, and Mattapan Community Fridge. Canton Food Pantry, the Germantown Neighborhood Center Food Pantry in Quincy, Milton Community Food Pantry, and Roslindale Food Pantry. Brookwood also partners with Boston Area Gleaners to harvest excess produce from the fields for distribution to dozens of food pantries around Boston. And, seedlings are also donated locally in May.
Fresh food donation value through the years: 2018 over $21,000, 2019 over $24,000, 2020 over $35,000, 2021 over $35,000, 2022 over $37,000.
AFFORDABLE MARKETS
We have a long history of partnering with the Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition (MFFC) to bring Brookwood produce to the Mattapan community. We were involved in the establishment of a new farmers market in Mattapan Square. This market was one of the first Boston markets to accept SNAP benefits (food stamps) and participate in State programs to provide produce vouchers to low-income seniors and WIC recipients.
In 2015, Brookwood worked closely with the MFFC to launch a farm stand at the new Mattapan Community Health Center. We trained students on how to set up a farmer’s market and sell fresh, affordable produce to local residents. Students learned valuable job skills while helping the community eat healthier!
Brookwood and MFFC collaborated and we continued to support a farm stand at the Mattapan Community Health Center, run by the MFFC Vigorous Youth, offering fresh produce for six weeks spanning July & August, and involved youth in work at the farm! The MFFC farm stand was on hold in 2020 due to COVID but the youth partnership continued in 2021.
OUR PARTNERS
Brookwood Community Farm is proud to partner with a variety of outstanding community organizations. A couple of our partnerships include:
BOSTON AREA GLEANERS
BAG organize volunteer trips to local farms to harvest high-quality fruits and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste. We distribute the nutritious produce to agencies serving families facing food insecurity.
Together, we can build a sustainable supply chain of healthy produce from local farms to people in need.
MATTAPAN FOOD AND FITNESS COALITION
Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition is a grassroots movement in the Mattapan neighborhood of Boston designed for making healthy and affordable food, safe and inviting recreational spaces and streets and sidewalks readily accessible to all. MFFC is a collaborative organization, bringing together local residents, organizations, and others to work on improving the food and physical activity environments in Mattapan, and to promote healthy behaviors through its membership, its networks, and its partnerships with other organizations. MFFC provides leadership through community engagement.
CSA Newsletter 2023 Spring Week 1