News & Updates

Article 89 Urban Agriculture Initiatives Taking Root

Jul 11, 2014

Ledge-Organization_banner-(2).jpgToday, Mayor Martin J. Walsh hosted a groundbreaking for the City's first urban farm to open following the adoption of Boston's new urban agriculture ordinance, Article 89, in December of 2013. The new farm is the result of a Department of Neighborhood Development disposition of vacant land for farming uses. The farm is located at 225-227 Harold Street in Roxbury and is over 12,000 square feet in size. 

BRA staff were highly involved in the development and adoption of Article 89, and now they are finding opportunities to share their urban agriculture expertise with wider audiences. Senior Planner Tad Read was recently interviewed by Emily Rooney on WGBH's Greater Boston around the idea of keeping hens and bees in the City. Marie Mercurio, Neighborhood Planner, co-taught a Harvard Graduate School of Design Executive Education course onUrban Agriculture and the Form of the City a few weeks ago. As an instructor, she shared her experience co-authoring the city's first urban agriculture ordinance with practitioners and experts in the field from all over the world.
 
Both experiences provided the opportunity to show Greater Boston and beyond that the City is supportive of food access and healthy living, and that Boston is prepared to be a leader in supporting urban agriculture. 
 

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