About Serving Ourselves Farm
Serving Ourselves Farm was founded in 1996 by Mayor Menino as a job-training program and is within the Boston Public Health Commission’s Homeless Services Bureau. The program provides meaningful work experience and job skills training to homeless adults. Each year, the farm produces about 25,000 pounds of certified fresh organic food. This food benefits the programs and services located at the Long Island Health Campus and Woods-Mullen Shelter. It also is distributed to a nearby farmers' market and local restaurants. The farm is located on Long Island in the Boston Harbor.
Community Involvement
Serving Ourselves Farm offers farm shares, also known as CSA shares. CSA members receive a bag of fresh produce weekly throughout the season when they pay a fee in advance. The Farm also sells certified organic produce and fresh farm-raised eggs at local farmers markets, particularly in neighborhoods where access to healthy foods may be limited. The Farm accepts EBT, Bounty Bucks, and S.N.A.P. The farm relies on volunteer help during the growing season.
During the growing season, The Farm relies on the help of volunteers from the community, such as corporations, faith-based or service organizations, and local colleges/universities. Individual volunteers are also welcome. Volunteers help with everything from everyday operations to large projects.
Click here for our Volunteer Opportunities page.
Community Involvement
Friends of Boston's Homeless supports the programs of The Boston Public Health Commission's Homeless Services, including The Farm. The Friends serve to bridge the gap between the public and private communities to develop and fund programs, while raising awareness of the issues surrounding homelessness. The Serving Ourselves Farm partners with The City of Boston's Office of Jobs and Community Services' Youth Options Unlimited (Y.O.U.). Y.O.U. trains and employs court-involved youth and sends a group of youth to help on the farm for seven weeks each summer.