The Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) is growing again. The grassroots community based organization that has brought us urban farming, the farm stand, mobile produce, and so much more, is now in the process of expanding its footprint to include a 2,700 square foot, environmentally “green” Farmhouse & Community Food Resource Center. The Farmhouse will be built adjacent to the organization’s existing urban farm on Massachusetts Avenue (between Brayton Street and Shields Avenue).
MAP’s new center will include:
A state-of-the-art teaching kitchen (cooking, canning and food prep classes)
A resource library
Farm equipment storage
Space to distribute locally-grown food to the surrounding community
A training space and educational facility for urban farming, food systems, food policy, and nutrition
Increased food storage for MAP’s mobile market, farm stand and CSA
Resources to support school and community gardens (multi-use indoor and outdoor spaces)
The Farmhouse will be the first like it in the country, and will allow MAP to continue to expand its mission to offer nutritious foods to a community that does not have the means to readily access them. The Farmhouse will also be an integral part of an even larger network of partners such as University at Buffalo’s Food Lab and Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo.
By growing the system, MAP will be able to offer additional jobs to inner city youth, who are then able to relate with food on a deeper level, while learning important lessons on how to grow, harvest and distribute organic produce. MAP’s Growing Green program already employs 50 urban youth each year. The Farmhouse will add to the vitality of the vision that already encompasses 13 city lots (over an acre of formerly blighted land).
Already, MAP has managed to raise a significant amount of money towards its end goal:
$300,000 from the Junior League of Buffalo and the Buffalo News’ 2014 Decorators’ Show House competitive grant process
$150,000 from the Patrick Lee Foundation
$100,000 through State Assemblymember Sean Ryan
$10,000 through Buffalo Common Councilmember David Rivera
In order to procure the remaining funds (some of which are matching goals), MAP is launching a community drive on Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 – 10am @ 389 Massachusetts Avenue farm. At that time, MAP will announce its project, its goals, and its “Be the Carrot” campaign. The community will he asked to “Be the Carrot” – to help MAP raise the crucial funds that it needs to fulfill its upcoming capital campaign. If the community rallies around this beneficial cause, then they will see the fruits of their support paying off for years to come. MAP is a proven organization that continues to spearhead the socially responsible turnaround of the city’s West Side.
Can you imagine what amazing initiatives and wholesome products will come from a state of the art farmhouse? I can.
*The first 20 people to “Be the Carrot” on October 7th will receive a special edition “#Iamthecarrot” t-shirt. The next 30 “Carrots” will receive a jar of MAP’s own Growing Green Works Super Duper Salsa. There will be refreshments served, donated by Sweetness 7 on Grant Street.