Name: Boyd Street Urban Farm
Location: Boyd Street Urban Farm
Kennedy Park
Boyd Street
Portland, Maine
Mailing Cultivating Community
Address: 52 Mayo Street
P.O. Box 3792
Portland, Maine 04104
Phone: 207-761-GROW
Email:
Website:
What Makes Boyd Street Urban Farm Unique?
Even though Boyd Street Farm is situated right
in the center of downtown Portland, when you
step in the garden, the thought of city life seems
to totally disappear. There’s a flourishing
raspberry patch that is so tall and thick that several of the young growers literally did
disappear totally out of sight when they did
their raspberry harvesting!
Boyd Street Urban Farm is truly a source of pride for the state of Maine. It is a friendly
welcoming place where young refugees and
immigrants work side by side to grow and distribute vegetables to low income elderly
residents.
The Youth Growers program is open to young men and women between the ages of 14 and 17. They participate in all aspects of the growing and distribution of the produce. In addition to learning to work with peers from all parts of the world, the Youth Growers benefit from workshops and diversity trainings. Volunteer opportunities and field trips are offered to the participants, as well as a small stipend.
Besides the youth-run garden at the Boyd Street Urban Garden, there is a community garden where area residents can rent one of the 48 12‘x6’ garden plots. Free beds are available for new American gardeners and residents of the East Bayside neighborhood. Cultivating Community is responsible for all of these undertakings and they are doing a stellar job in truly cultivating the communities of Portland with the Boyd Street garden project.
Mohamed Abukar is one of the farmers involved with Cultivating Community. He has farmed at the Cultivating Community’s garden at the Packard-Littlefield Farm in Lisbon for many years. He keeps busy growing many vegetables for sale at the Boyd Street farmers’ market and also at farmers’ markets in Saco and South Portland. His farm-fresh vegetables are harvested for the CSA shares program.
Hats off to all those involved in the planning and implementation of the sustainable farming that takes place at the Boyd Street Urban Garden. It has become an invaluable resource for area
residents interested in growing or purchasing
healthy fresh food. In addition to feeding the
palate, this garden project has served a multitude of other purposes. The garden offers a sense of peace and a friendly place to socialize. It has become an oasis for learning and cultural exchange. Fresh healthy food at Boyd Street Urban Farm has provided nourishment on many levels. The farm’s success serves as a great model for other urban areas looking to incorporate agriculture in their surroundings. Well done, Cultivating Community! Your work is truly inspirational.
