One of GreenRoots’ longest standing programs is our work on Food Justice and Urban Agriculture. In an effort to address food insecurity and transform urban land into lush growing spaces, we cultivate five urban gardens and an urban farm; build community and foster greater nutrition at our Teaching Kitchen; and promote hydroponic growing through our freight farm. We do all of this with deep community engagement!
Combatting food insecurity in Chelsea & East Boston
Our gardens and farm allow residents to grow culturally relevant crops, create a farm-to-table experience with locally grown vegetables, fruits and herbs. They do so while building community, transforming vacant lots into lush green spaces and addressing food security. GreenRoots is thrilled to bring on line our Teaching Kitchen, directly adjacent to two of our urban growing spaces. The Teaching Kitchen is a place where the community comes together to make nutritious meals and share recipes and culture!
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Food Justice
During the pandemic, GreenRoots’ Urban Farm provided fresh produce and herbs to a local food pantry. Approximately 75 families weekly benefitted from this local, fresh harvest. We continue to address food insecurity at all our growing spaces!
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Freight Farm
Nestled in Chelsea, our Freight Farm is a hydroponic garden that produces fresh vegetables year-round—even during winter! Using nutrient-rich water, LED lighting, and a precisely controlled indoor climate, we’re redefining local food production. Beyond just growing, we’re sharing agricultural knowledge to empower self-sustainability in Chelsea and East Boston.
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Teaching Kitchen
Raised funding for and sought permits to build a new Teaching Kitchen to complement our urban growing spaces and to address chronic disease.
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The Urban Farm Crew
The Urban Farm Crew (UFC), a team of older youth, work seasonally at our growing spaces. The UFC gains important hands-on growing and harvesting strategies and community leadership skills and fosters greater civic engagement.
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Urban Growing Spaces
GreenRoots recently launched our Teaching Kitchen to complement our urban growing spaces and to address chronic disease. Our Teaching Kitchen will provide formal programming, fun community events and will foster greater community connectivity.
My decisions are always done with an eye to adding to the life of others, to build more positivity in all our lives. I see it as a type of ‘construction’. Here in Chelsea my focus is on building a response to hunger and the struggles of mental health. I do this, not out of charity but for justice. And GreenRoots is the organization here that has the ability to make equity happen, something all of us human need.
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Your support is crucial in ensuring our work continues.
For 30 years, GreenRoots has restored acres of urban salt marsh, created new parks, increased public access to the waterfront and improved the water quality of Chelsea Creek.
Our organizing model is rooted in base-building and community, and your help makes us a stronger force. A contribution to GreenRoots means an investment in the futures of Chelsea and East Boston!
