GreenDorchester (Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition)

Did you know there’s a walking group that meets in Codman Square each Thursday at the farmers’ market?  DEHC partner, the BOLD Teens present: The Codman Square Walk Group, sponsored by the Codman Square Health Council.

Every Thursday, from July 1, 2010 to October 28, 2010, walk from Codman Square Farmers Market (corner of Washington Street and Talbot Avenue) from 2-3pm.  It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors while also getting in shape!

For more information, contact the Codman Square Health Council at 617-265-4189 or visit the blog at http://codmancouncil.wordpress.com/

This year, find more produce, baked goods, Lush cosmetics, art and more at your local farmers’ market.  Certain farmers markets are even offering free bike tune ups!

Tuesday
Dorchester House Farmers Market (1353 Dorchester Ave.), 11:30pm-1:30pm
Featuring Flats Mentor House Farm, Serving Ourselves Farm, ReVision House Urban Farm.
Grove Hall Farmers Market (461 Blue Hill Ave.), 3pm-7pm
Featuring Oakdale Farm and Wagner Farm.

Thursday
ReVision House Farmstand (1062 Blue Hill Ave.), 12pm-4pm
Offering an extensive variety of unique produce, from Asian greens to rhubarb to tomatillos. Grown right here in Dorchester!
Codman Square Farmers Market (Talbot Ave. & Washington St.), 1pm-6pm
Featuring When Pigs Fly breads, Lush cosmetics, People’s Tropical Foods, and CSA shares and produce from Silverbrook Farm.  Free bike tune-ups Thursday, July 22, 1pm – 6pm.
Bowdoin-Geneva Farmers Market (230 Bowdoin St.), 3pm-6:30pm
Featuring Food Project, Land’s Sake Farm, Bowdoin Street Health Center’s Youth Garden Program. Plus: Ward’s Berry Farm, a larger variety of fruit (apples, peaches, raspberries, melons, and more), food samples, and recipe demos!

Friday
ReVision House Farmstand (1062 Blue Hill Ave.), 12pm-4pm
Ashmont/Peabody Square Farmers Market (Ashmont St. & Dorchester Ave.), 3pm-7pm
Featuring produce from Spring Brook Farm, Farmer Dave’s, and new this year: Langwater Farm. Fresh flowers from Cedar Grove Gardens and artwork by Dorchester Arts Collaborative members. Free bike tune-ups Friday, July 30.

Saturday
Fields Corner/Park Street Farmers Market(Park St. & Dorchester Ave.), 9am-12pm
Featuring produce (including Asian vegetables) and herbs from Berberian Farm and Flats Mentor Farm. Free bike tune-ups Saturday, July 31.
Grove Hall Farmers Market (461 Blue Hill Ave.), 10am-2pm
Mattapan Farmers Market (525 River St.), 10am-2pm
Featuring organic and unique produce from Brookwood Community Farm and Flats Mentor Farm. Free bike tune-ups Saturday, July 17, 10am – 2pm and monthly at 10am on the third Saturday.
ReVision House Farmstand (1062 Blue Hill Ave.), 12pm-4pm

photo courtesy Judy Tuttle

New at the Ashmont Farmer’s Market at Peabody Square, on Friday July 16 -  Salsa-making demonstration (with free samples!) by the UMass Extension Nutrition Education Program, and gifts and stationery with historic Dorchester flavor, by Amy Butterworth at the Dorchester Arts Collaborative’s booth.

And, as always, delicious fresh produce grown by Farmer Dave’s, Langwater Farm and Spring Brook Farm (who will also have baked goods), and fresh flowers and herbs at the Cedar Grove Gardens booth.

DEHC will be helping to staff the market every Friday, 3-7 PM, through October 29, at its new location in the heart of Peabody Square on the Ashmont Station Plaza (corner of Dorchester Ave and Ashmont Street).  There is bicycle parking for shoppers at the T station and free parking for cars available both at ODWIN Learning Center, 1943 Dot Avenue, and two-hour on-street parking in the area.

Wondering what to make for dinner?  Pick up some fresh food at the Dorchester House Farmers Market and get a free food sample from the UMass nutritionists while you’re there!  Today, from 11:30 am to 1:30pm, visit the Dorchester House Farmers Market at Dorchester House Multi-Service Center, 1353 Dorchester Avenue (map).

Find fresh produce from Flats Mentor Farm, ReVision House Urban Farm and Serving Ourselves Farm (at Long Island Shelter), all farms connected to socially-responsible programs.

Flats Mentor Farm still has Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares available and you can feel good about buying from them, since FMF “assists and supports small farmers of diverse ethnic backgrounds with the land, farming infrastructure and marketing assistance needed to promote and sustain successful farming enterprises”.

Victory Programs’ ReVision Urban Farm is locally based in Dorchester, and has transformed “over an acre of abandoned lots into productive and vibrant farmland”. The ReVision Urban Farm provides job-training for youth and Boston’s homeless, and partners with Victory Programs’ Revision House shelter in Franklin Field to promote healthy eating and sustainable farming while providing residents with free produce to use in their family meals.

The Farm at Long Island Shelter (Serving Ourselves Farm) is located right in Boston Harbor, each year producing nearly 30,000 pounds of high-quality vegetables, flowers, and herbs for the over 850 homeless individuals served each day. The Farm provides hands-on job training, work-readiness skills, life skills and education for homeless individuals as part of the Serving Ourselves Job Training Program. Individuals in the Culinary Arts track of the program have gone on to gain permanent, gainful employment in restaurant, food, horticulture and landscaping industries using skills they developed at the Farm.

Image by vikapproved

No more excuses!  It’s now easy to get your bike tuned up and ready to go for free right in your neighborhood.

Once a month, four open-air farmers markets in Dorchester will host mobile bike tune up stands with free service and simple repairs.  You can also buy tubes and some parts for future repairs and buy a bike lock at low prices.

Mattapan Farmers Market
525 River Street, Ryan Playground
Saturday, July 17, 10am – 2pm
Monthly at 10am on the third Saturday from Saturday, July 17 to Saturday, Sep 18.

Codman Square Farmers Market
Codman Commons (Washington Street & Park Street)
Thursday, July 22, 1pm – 6pm

Ashmont Farmers Market
Ashmont Street & Dorchester Avenue
Friday, July 30, 3pm – 7pm

Fields Corner/Park Street Farmers Market
Shopping Center at Park Street & Dorchester Avenue
Saturday, July 31, 9am – 12pm

Check back at the DEHC green events calendar for more mobile tune up dates and info about farmers markets in Dorchester.