Programs

  • Program 1 [2020]

    FARMER TRAINING PROGRAM THE UFI FARMER TRAINING PROGRAM HAD A TOTAL OF 19 PARTICIPANTS FOR ITS 9- WEEK PROGRAM AND 3 FARMER TRAINING STUDENTS FOR ITS 20 WEEK IN-FIELD PROGRAM. THE 9-WEEK PROGRAM WAS RUN FOR THE FIRST TIME ON ZOOM DURING THE PANDEMIC. STAFF HAVE LEARNED ENTIRELY NEW SKILL SETS WITH THE TRANSITION TO ZOOM. INFORMATION SESSIONS WERE HELD IN ROXBURY, DORCHESTER, AND MATTAPAN FROM JANUARY THROUGH MARCH TO INSURE PARTICIPATION FROM OUR TARGET COMMUNITIES. PARTICIPANTS IN THE 9-WEEK PROGRAM EXPLORED THE WORLD OF URBAN FARMING WITH VOLUNTEER DAYS INCLUDED. PARTICIPANTS IN THE 20 WEEK IN FIELD PROGRAM LEARNED ALL AREAS OF URBAN FARMING FROM PLANTING, SEEDING, WEEDING, PATHWAY CONSTRUCTION, HARVESTING, PRODUCTION, WORKING WITH VOLUNTEERS, AND FARM BUSINESS PLANNING. UFI FARM TRAINEES ALSO RECEIVE PERSONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING AND MARKETING. THE YOUNG FARMERS PROJECT FOR TEENS WAS SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID-19.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $102.7K

  • Program 2 [2020]

    COMMUNITY SUPPORT: FEEDING FAMILIES IN NEED DURING THE OFF SEASON LOVE, TITO'S, AND THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION GAVE US AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO FEED FAMILIES IN NEED. WE WERE ABLE TO USE 4 UNDERUTILIZED RESTAURANTS/CATERERS OF COLOR TO FEED FAMILIES FROM OCTOBER THROUGH FROM 10/9-12/31. THIS PROGRAM CONTINUED INTO 2021. FRESH VEGETABLES (WHERE POSSIBLE) WERE ADDED TO THE MEAL BAGS DESIGNED TO FEED FAMILIES OF 3 TO 4 PEOPLE. COMMUNITY EDUCATION: UFI HAD 15-20 VOLUNTEERS OF CONSISTING OF YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND CORPORATIONS IN 2020. THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM CONTINUES TO EXPAND EACH YEAR. VOLUNTEERS SPEND 3 TO 4 HOURS LEARNING ABOUT PLANTING, GROWING, HARVESTING, SOIL COMPOSITION, COMPOSTING AND MORE. UFI HOSTED WORKSHOPS, SUCH AS, MUSHROOM WORKSHOP, 'GBH NOVA VIRTUAL CLASSROOM ON HOW TO BUILD A RAISED BED, GROWING FOOD WITHOUT A GARDEN, AND CANNING. NEW PROGRAM: BUILD 100 GROW BOXES CAMPAIGN UFI BUILT OVER 40 RAISED BEDS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT BACKYARD GROWERS DURING THE PANDEMIC. THE PROGRAM CONTINUED INTO 2021. RESIDENTS WERE ABLE TO CHECK IN VIA ZOOM OR CALLS TO ASK QUESTIONS AND GAIN GROWING GUIDANCE. SOIL, SEEDLINGS, AND AN INSTRUCTIONAL MANUAL WERE ALL PROVIDED TO PROMOTE SELF-SUFFICIENT GROWING
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $174.6K

  • Program 3 [2020]

    IN THE AREA OF FARM OPERATIONS UFI WORKED ON FIVE FARM SITES USING EXISTING STAFF SINCE WE HAD TO SUSPEND THE MAJORITY OF OUR 750 VOLUNTEERS. WE WORKED WITH ABOUT 15-20 VOLUNTEERS FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON. FARM OPERATIONS CREATED AN ON-LINE SERVICE FOR FOOD PRODUCE. WE DELIVERED SAFELY TO SURROUNDING FAMILIES IN NEED AND HAD SAFE PICK UP FOR OTHERS OUTSIDE OF OUR KEY AREAS. WE REPLACED THE ORIGINAL SOIL IN OUR NEW STATE OF THE ART GREENHOUSE AND ADDED NEW SOIL TO THE GROWING BEDS DIRECTLY IN THE GROUND OF THE GREENHOUSE. WE ARE NOW ABLE TO GROW DIRECTLY IN THE SOIL RIGHT. SPRING OF 2020 WAS THE FIRST OFFICIAL USE OF OUR NEW GREENHOUSE. OUR FIRST SEEDLING SALES WERE IN MAY OF 2020 FOR THE COMMUNITY AND LOCAL FARMERS. UFI'S BOWDOIN STREET HEALTH CENTER CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19 TESTING LEAVING US WITH ONE FARM STAND. THE ONE FARM STAND DID MORE BUSINESS THAN TWO STANDS DURING THE SUMMER OF 2020. THE DEMAND FOR FOOD WAS SO HIGH IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS (DUE TO THE LACK OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND THE LACK OF CLOSE STORES) THAT WE PROVIDED FOOD FOR FREE IF PEOPLE DID NOT HAVE SNAP, EBT, WIC OR CASH. THE STAND RAN FROM JULY-OCTOBER WITH A SEPARATE TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL PRE-THANKSGIVING FARM STAND. UFI ALSO HAD TWO SUCCESSFUL CSA (COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE) WITH APPROXIMATELY 60 SHARES. UFI GREW AN ESTIMATED 15,000 POUNDS OF FOOD. UFI HAD TWENTY CROPS WITH OVER 100 VARIETIES OF VEGETABLES AND HERBS. OVER 3000 POUNDS OF PRODUCE WERE DONATED TO FAMILIES IN NEED. CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED ON OUR FIRST GREENHOUSE ERECTED ON TOMMY'S ROCK IN ROXBURY.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $400.3K