From a Weeder to a Leader

Hien Vu came to The Food Project looking for a summer job. He left as a leader.

This summer, 96 teens from all walks of life had transformative personal journeys on our farms. Hien was one of these young people. In June, he was quiet and reserved, with a too-cool-for-school attitude. In August, he gave a speech that brought us to tears. Visit our blog to read Hien’s story.

Sunny Fields at Last

This has been one of the wildest and most challenging summers we can remember! Endless rain, pests and late blight battered the farms. But the late summer provided respite and now, as the temperature drops, greens and roots are beginning to fill our plates. This week’s CSA newsletter offers two recipes for the humble and underappreciated turnip, a satisfying braise and a creamy soup.

TFP in the NY Times and More

The Food Project has had lots of good media coverage this summer! Starbucks has been a generous supporter and source of volunteers for five years, and this summer they filmed our youth in action. You can watch the beautiful video on the front page of their website, or YouTube.

In July, an article from the New York Times put a spotlight on how our work promoting SNAP/Food Stamp EBT access at farmers’ markets with Boston Bounty Bucks is part of a national movement. Our Boston farms were also captured well in this recent Bay State Banner article. Finally, the month’s Food Issue of The Nation features a great article by Anna Lappé that chronicles the Real Food Challenge, a collaborative, nationwide student campaign that germinated at The Food Project.

Ready to Make a Change in Your Community?

The Food Project has a wealth of new tools and materials available in the Toolbox section of our website. Whether you want to start a program in your community or are just curious, check out the free downloadable manuals for many of The Food Project’s programs, instructions for many of the activities we use with youth and volunteers, our Sustainable Agriculture Curriculum, and videos of our programs in action!

Help Bring in the Harvest

The Food Project needs your help on our farms as we bring in the fall’s bounty and put our farms to rest for the season. We have open slots for groups of volunteers in October, and welcome individual volunteers on any Serve & Grow day. Visit the Volunteer page of our website for schedule and information, and if you’re ready to sign up just contact our Serve & Grow coordinator at (781) 259-8621 x30 or email participate@thefoodproject.org.

Boston CROP Hunger Walk – 10/24/09

Finally, a quick notice that the Union United Methodist Church is hosting the first ever CROP Walk (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) in October. It’s a six-mile walk through the South End, Roxbury and Jamaica Plain to raise funds for local hunger relief and anti-poverty programs, including The Food Project! For more information, or to donate online, visit http://www.churchworldservice.org/bostonma.