THE URBAN FARMING INSTITUTE OF BOSTONINC
Programs
Healthy Living Programs for Seniors
EDUCATION: FIT AROUND THE FARM (FATF): UFI DEVELOPS PROGRAMMING FOR SENIORS THAT FOCUS ON HEALTHY EATING, HEALTHY COOKING AND EXERCISE. TWICE A WEEK THERE WERE 67 PARTICIPANTS FOR CHAIR YOGA, DANCING, FITNESS AND DEMONSTRATIONS BY GUEST CHEFS. OUR SENIORS VOLUNTEER, GROW FOOD, ATTEND OUR FARM STAND FOR HEALTHY VEGETABLES AND HERBS, PARTICIPATE IN ALL OUR EVENTS. UFI HAS CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT TO PROMOTE HEALTH THROUGH LOCAL ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD. MINDFULNESS IN NATURE, A 6 WEEK PROGRAM WAS ADDED THROUGH OUR PARTNERS AT AGE STRONG BOSTON. THE MEN'S BLACK GATHERING: A NEW PROGRAM WAS ADDED TO THE BLACK MEN'S GATHERING CALLED BARBERSHOP TALK. MEN ARE ENCOURAGED TO STOP BY FOR A MEAL AND A FREE HAIRCUT BY ONE OF 3 SENIOR BARBERS. THIS PROGRAM INCREASES NETWORKING AMONG SENIOR MEN, STAVES OFF ISOLATION AND CREATES A SAFE SPACE TO LEARN ABOUT WAYS TO INCREASE THEIR OVERALL HEALTH. AVERAGE ATTENDANCE BETWEEN 20-30 MEN. MEN CONTINUE TO GATHER TWICE A MONTH FOR TAI CHI, GENERAL FITNESS, HEALTHY FOOD AND DISCUSSION OF HEALTHY EATING. FARMER TRAINING PROGRAM: UFI HAS REVAMPED THE WELL-KNOWN FARMER TRAINING PROGRAM TO EXPAND. THE PROGRAM KICKS OFF IN 2026. PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN ABOUT PLANTING, SEEDS, WEEDING, PATHWAY CONSTRUCTION, CROP ROTATION, ORGANIC METHODS FOR PEST CONTROL, HARVESTING, AND FARM BUSINESS PLANNING. OTHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE MUSHROOM WORKSHOPS, BUILDING RAISED BEDS, GROWING TECHNIQUES ETC. IN THE AREA OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT UFI HAS ENCOURAGED ALL STAFF TO INCREASE THEIR LEARNING. MEMBERS OF THE GROWING TEAM WENT TO MONTREAL TO LEARN THE BEST GROWING PRACTICES IN A COLD CLIMATE. THEY RETURNED WITH A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY SUBSEQUENTLY WILL APPLY FOR THE 2025 GROWING SEASON.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$352.3KCommunity Engagement and Food Security
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS/NPO PARTNER OUTREACH/ CORPORATE CONNECTIONS: "LIVE MUSIC: OVER 16 PLUS JAZZ, AFRO-LATIN JAZZ, BOMBA PERFORMANCES OCCURRED AT THE UFI FARM STAND TO ATTRACT THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE TO SHOP, AND PARTICIPATE IN ARTS & CRAFTS. "UFI COMPLETED BUILDING AND INSTALLING ADDITIONAL 26 GROW BOXES IN 2024. THAT MEANS THAT PEOPLE ARE GROWING HEALTHY FOOD IN THEIR BACKYARDS, FRONT YARDS AND PORCHES. GUIDANCE OCCURRED FOR THESE AT THE SEEDLING SALE AND IN-PERSON AT FCEF. UFI CREATED A 'GROW SERIES' TO TEACH RESIDENTS ALL THE STEPS OF GROWING FOOD. UFI HOSTED 10 SATURDAY/SUNDAY 'HOW TO GROW' CLASSES. "OVER 6700 SERVINGS OF FOOD THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY MEAL BAGS. FUNDED BY DONORS COMMITTED TO FIGHTING HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY THE MEALS WERE PREPARED BY BIPOC CHEFS AND CONSISTED OF FRESH VEGETABLES, STARCH, AND A PROTEIN WITH ENOUGH FOOD FOR A FAMILY OF THREE. ALL MEALS WERE CULTURALLY RELEVANT AS WELL (CALLALOO, HAITIAN STEW, JERK CHICKEN, YUCCA AND MORE) "THE 2024 THANKSGIVING / INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S CELEBRATION FOOD DISTRIBUTION OF 475 TURKEYS (WITH THE FIXINGS) FOR FAMILIES IN NEED NOMINATED BY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORS. "THE UFI FOOD DAY AND GARLIC FEST WAS HELD IN OCTOBER OF 2024. THIS IS A FREE EVENT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY WITH DEMONSTRATIONS OF CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOOD BY DIVERSE CHEFS AN APPLE CIDER-PRESS AND ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN, FAMILY HEALTH EDUCATION DISCUSSIONS AND WORKSHOPS, AND A FREE BOOK GIVE AWAY. 100 PLUS ATTENDEES. FAMILIES LEARNED ALL ABOUT GARLIC AND HOW TO PLANT GARLIC AT THE EVENT. "779 VOLUNTEERS CONTINUED TO HELP UFI WITH FARMING AND WEEDING. AN AVERAGE VOLUNTEER WORKS FOR TWO HOURS (VOLUNTEERS CONSISTED OF CORPORATE VOLUNTEERS, NEIGHBORS, STUDENTS AND YOUTH). "COLLABORATING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE ABCD BOWDOIN STREET HEALTH CENTER, SPORTSMEN'S TENNIS CLUB AND ENRICHMENT CENTER, DORCHESTER FOOD COOP, BETHEL AME CHURCH, THE FOOD PROJECT, AND MATTAPAN FOOD AND FITNESS, VICTORY PROGRAMS, AND OASIS ON BALLOU. "SCHOOL PROGRAMS CONTINUED AT THE JOSEPH LEE SCHOOL, CODMAN ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL, DEARBORN SCHOOL, ELLISON PARKS SCHOOL, AND MILTON ACADEMY TO NAME A FEW.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$243.7KFood Production and Distribution Operations
FARM OPERATIONS UFI'S FARM OPERATIONS (GROWING AND DISTRIBUTING FOOD AND SEEDLINGS) FROM JUNE TO NOVEMBER ENCOMPASSES: "GROWING FOOD TO DISTRIBUTE FROM ALL SIX FARMING LOCATIONS 131 GLENWAY STREET, ASTORIA QUARTER ACRE FARM, GARRISON TROTTER FARM, AND FCEF FARMLAND. UFI ALSO MANAGES TWO GROWING SITES WITH OUR PARTNER VICTORY PROGRAM/REVISION HOUSE. THE PARTNERSHIP COMES WITH 2 ADDITIONAL GREENHOUSES ALLOWING UFI TO BOOST ITS SEEDLING PRODUCTION. "UFI GREW AND DISTRIBUTED OVER 15,794 POUNDS OF FOOD. DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL OF 40,000 POUNDS OF FOOD INCLUDED 4,500 POUNDS OF DONATED FOOD AND ADDITIONAL FOOD BROUGHT IN VIA OUR RURAL PARTNERS TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL FRUIT AND OTHER ITEMS UFI DOES NOT TRADITIONALLY GROW IN THE CITY. "DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD THROUGH 60 COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE BOXES (CSA) WITH OUR COLLABORATING COMMUNITY PARTNER ABCD. PRODUCE PROVIDED FROM OVER 130 PLUS CROP VARIETIES. "RUNNING A WEEKLY FARMSTAND THAT SERVED AN AMAZING INCREASE OF COMMUNITY SHOPPERS FROM 2500 CUSTOMERS IN 2023 TO SHY OF 3000 IN 2024 (20% INCREASE) MANY OF WHOM WERE FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THAT RELIED UPON HIP/SNAP, WIC AND CITY OF BOSTON FARM MARKET COUPONS. UFI ALSO CONTINUED ITS OWN UFI FARM STAND COUPON TO EASE THE COST OF FRESH PRODUCE PER BAG. "SEEDLING GROWTH AND SALES OF SEEDLING PLANTS: UFI HAD OVER 250 CUSTOMERS FOR 2 SEEDLING SALES ATTENDED BY 250 PEOPLE. NOT ONLY DID UFI PROVIDE SEEDLINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY BUT ALSO SUPPLIED SEEDLINGS FOR OTHER URBAN FARMERS AND NONPROFITS. "EDUCATING UFI CUSTOMERS AND ENCOURAGING PLANTING FOR HEALTH BENEFITS OF FRESH CROPS SUCH AS TURMERIC AND GINGER (GROWN IN OUR GREENHOUSE).GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$597.9K
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved to Chario Inc. (d.b.a. Impala)