A Garden Grows

Near our own Bowdoin Street Health Center, local youth sell fresh produce they've grown as part of a project to provided healthy food to the community. The Bowdoin Geneva Farmers Market runs until October.

The Bowdoin Geneva Farmers Market was launched in response to community concern about a lack of access to healthy food.Tomatoes, lettuce and beans have been growing in the Stonehurst/Norton Community Garden, located down the street from the Bowdoin Street Health Center in Dorchester. Produce from that garden is for sale at the Bowdoin Geneva Farmers Market.

The third annual farmers market launched on Thursday, July 8 with produce from area farms – as well as music, dance, face painting and a Tae Kwan Do demonstration. The farmers will run Thursday afternoons from 3:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. until October.



Last April, hand-selected youth became caretakers for their own plot of land at the garden, says Healthy Champions program coordinator Jen French, who works with the neighborhood youth to help them plant, grow and harvesting their own produce.

“The garden teaches them about the vast benefits of incorporating healthy and affordable foods into their daily lives,” she says. “At the same time, they will help educate their peers in how these foods will serve to reduce prevalent health issues such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and asthma in their neighborhood.”

This collaboration among youth, staff, The Food Project, the Boston Natural Areas Network and community residents comes together in the farmers market, which operates out of the health center’s parking lot.

The Bowdoin Geneva Farmers Market was launched in response to community concern about a lack of access to healthy food. Every Thursday afternoon from July through October fresh, local produce is available at affordable prices. EBT, WIC and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupons are accepted. The market also participates in Mayor Menino’s Bounty Bucks program, providing a 50 percent discount to shoppers paying with their EBT card.

Posted August 2, 2010

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