CITY’S URBAN AGRICULTURE INITIATIVE EXPANDS WITH NEW AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
Somerville to Partner with Local Business, Promote Resident Garden Training
Growers announced this week the launch of the Urban Agriculture Ambassador
Program as part of the City's larger Urban Agriculture Initiative. The
Ambassador program, a training course to be offered from March 16th through
April 6th over four consecutive Saturdays, will be offered to
15 residents, selected by the City and Green City Growers based upon their
interest in urban agriculture and desire to enhance the community. Courses will
be free of charge. The Ambassador
Program continues an educational series that began last spring, entitled "Let's
Grow Somerville." All residents with a
passion to bring gardening and growing to their community are encouraged to
apply. Training courses will include
information about garden installation, crop planting and winter growing. Graduates of the program will be asked to
apply their skills to the community and volunteer 30 hours over the course of
the year partnering with other local organizations or working to foster gardens
in the city.
The announcement follows a milestone year in the City's
promotion of urban agriculture, including the passage of the Urban Agriculture
Ordinance and accompanying Board of Health Rules. This landmark ordinance, the
first of its kind in the Commonwealth, included the legalization of chicken and
beekeeping as well as permitting local gardeners to sell their own
produce. The regulations can be found
in an easy to understand guide called "Somerville's ABC's of Urban Ag" found on
the City's website, www.somervillema.gov.
Mayor Joseph Curtatone said that he hopes that this
collaboration will continue to foster an urban agriculture community in
Somerville. "Urban agriculture allows residents to take control of where
their food comes from, creating healthy options for the community. This program
is a great way for residents of Somerville to learn both how to grow food for
their family as well as to connect with their neighborhoods. In the interest of
encouraging healthy practices across the city, we need leaders to help
facilitate urban agriculture activities both for civic engagement and nutrition
education," he said.
The Ambassador Program marks a second effort undertaken between the City and
urban agriculture stakeholders, with still more on the way. Last year, City staff and local non-profit
Groundwork Somerville partnered to open Somerville's first urban farm, the South
Street Farm at 111 South Street.
Other events in the "Let's Grow Somerville" Series
include the Community Growing Center's Seed Swap on February 2nd at
the Armory and events held as part of Groundwork Somerville's Maple Syrup
Project. For more information on the Let's Grow events and the Urban Ag
Ordinance, see:
http://www.somervillema.gov/departments/ospcd/parks-and-open-space/urban-agriculture-initiaitive. For more information on the City's Urban
Agriculture Initiative, please contact Senior Planner Luisa Oliveira at LOliveira@somervillema.gov, or
617-625-6600 ext. 2500.
To apply for the Ambassador program, please contact
Adrianne Schaefer, Urban Agriculture Assistant, at urbanagambassadors@gmail.com, or
ASchaefer@somervillema.gov to
request an application. Applications are due Feb. 15th. Local organizations who are interested in
hosting volunteers through this program should also use the e-mail address
listed above for more information.
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