'The Food Project' Repurposes Old Boston Neighborhood Lots Into Gardens

Photo: Karyn Regal / WBZ NewsRadio

BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — You may start to notice off Dorchester's sidewalks that produce like mint, onions, and lettuce are growing out of abandoned lots, an effort that's thanks to the "Food Project," based in Boston.

The Food Project has created thousands of gardens across Boston, growing at least 200,000 pounds of produce out of their farms each year. Those fruits and vegetables are then sold at the organization's farmers' markets in Boston's Dudley neighborhood and at Central Square in Lynn, places that volunteers at the Food Project say have limited access to fresh foods.

15-year-old Ace Miller is with the Food Project and tells WBZ's Karyn Regal that he didn't realize his talent for gardening could become a career.

"I didn't know where to start, but after my sister showed me this place- the Food Project, I was like 'okay, I got to come here and start working here, learning more about farming' so that I could maybe get a career in college for botany," Miller said.

Read More: Boston Public Schools Announce $17 Million Contract With City Fresh Foods

What's more, the Food Project's raised garden beds are sprouting out of places you'd least expect. It's part of the Food Project's "Build-a-Garden: Greater Boston" initiative, where residents of Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan can apply to receive healthy soil, seeds, and guides to growing a functioning garden in their neighborhood.

"It's all in the making- this is what we have now, but trust me, it's going to get bigger and there are going to be more places like this," 14-year-old volunteer Malina said.

WBZ's Karyn Regal (@Karynregal) reports.

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