Urban farming in Boston
Learn more about how GrowBoston supports farming in Boston.
Urban farming gives residents better access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food. It also cuts down on transportation costs and carbon emissions. The City passed Article 89 in 2013 to support commercial urban farming in the City. Our goal is to bring communities and small businesses together through farming and to give residents easy access to fresh food.
Urban Farming Resources
Urban Farming Resources|
PROGRAM |
DESCRIPTION |
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| Urban Agriculture Program | The MDAR grant supports community scale farming initiatives. |
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The grant is for commercial farmers who have a new idea that they want to test. All projects should benefit other farmers and work to make farming more sustainable. |
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The program offers grants to improve competitiveness of fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops. |
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Natural Resources Conservation Services and Conservation Innovation Grants |
The grants are for people who want to adopt new ways to conserve resources while they farm. |
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The program helps new farmers with startup or expansion costs. They also help with business plans and financial aid for equipment and other needs. |
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The program aims to improve the production and viability of farming on protected land. |
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You can get a 10 percent discount on natural gas and electricity through the program. You need to work in production farming. You may have to get certified by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. |
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PROGRAM |
DESCRIPTION |
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If you run a startup farm or ranch business, you may qualify. |
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The project offers loans for small farms from $3,000-$35,000. |
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The program gives small business loans to people who can't borrow from the bank. |
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You can get loans for a small food and brewing related business. |
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MA Growth Capital Corporation For information, call Jose Luis “Pepe” Rojas at 617-337-2815. |
The program connects entrepreneurs with micro lenders. There’s a program for loans over $100,000. |
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The investment club allows lenders to pool their funds. The club offers up to $5,000 in startup loans. |
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The fund gives loans to nonprofit co-ops, employee-owned businesses, co-housing developments, and community land trusts. |
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The fund offers loans, royalty financing, and equity capital to food growing businesses. |
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PROGRAM |
DESCRIPTION |
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For general information about land purchases, you can email Shani Fletcher at shani.fletcher@boston.gov. |
There are many vacant areas around the City that offer opportunities for farmers. Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan are priority areas. |
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The program connects farm seekers and property owners in New England. |
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Farmers can get help located and transferring farms in New England. |
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Tufts New Entry Sustainable Farming Project and Farmland Matching Service |
The program helps qualified beginner farmers and growers find land. |
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Farmers can find land and take part in training programs. |
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Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Research and Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program |
The program pays farmland owners in exchange for deed restrictions. This protects the land from developments that affect farming. |
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PROGRAM |
DESCRIPTION |
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Eastern Massachusetts Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training |
Beginner farmers can find training programs. There’s also a network of farmers who share ideas and information. |
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The collaborative project offers training, networking, and support. |
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The project gives free soil testing and safety materials to new farmers. |
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The program works to connect farmers and communities. |
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Marketing Manual from the Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture |
This guide can help farmers develop marketing plans. |
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The community of farmers, gardeners, landscapers, and consumers works to educate the public on organic farming. |
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| Urban Farming Institute | The Urban Farmer Training Program trains residents from Boston neighborhoods, (primarily in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan), the nuts & bolts of small scale urban farming in the city, intro to food systems, and business planning basics. |
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PROGRAM |
DESCRIPTION |
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Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Agricultural Business Training Program |
The five-session course is for farmers who have been operating for two or more years. There’s also training for expansion. |
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The program helps new farms develop growth plans. You need at least five acres of land and to have been farming for three or more years. |
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The network offers free services to help with business growth strategies, financing, and analysis. |
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Tufts New Entry Sustainable Farming Project Farm Business Planning |
New and potential farmers can get help developing business plans. |
