Urban Farming in Dorchester FAQ
Pilot Urban Agriculture Project in Dorchester: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Pilot Urban Agriculture Project?
The Pilot Urban Agriculture Project proposes to put four (4) vacant, City of Boston owned properties in Dorchester to productive use for farming, with the goal of producing fresh, healthy food for sale in the Boston community. Through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process, the City will seek proposals from qualified individuals, businesses, and/or organizations to farm these properties, either as for profit or not‐for‐profit enterprises. (The RFP is now out, with a deadline of Aug 15, 2011 – please see bottom of this post for an update!) Local community members will be encouraged to submit proposals. The RFP will include incentives for partnerships between the farmers and local community organizations to encourage farming that is responsive to community needs and interests. Initially, each property will be leased for $120 per year for a term of five (5) years. The term may be extended if farming is successful.
The Pilot Urban Agriculture Project is Phase I of a two‐phase Urban Agriculture Initiative. Phase II, to begin in summer 2011, will involve a citywide conversation about how to modify the Boston Zoning Code to support different types of urban agriculture, such as rooftop agriculture, aquaculture, vertical farming, and other forms of agriculture.
Who would farm these properties?
Under Massachusetts laws governing the sale or lease of municipal real estate, the City cannot limit prospective farmers to Boston residents or residents of a particular neighborhood. However, working with local community and neighborhood organizations, the City will reach out to local community members to make sure qualified Boston citizens and organizations have ample opportunity to submit proposals. Also, when farming proposals are equal in all other respects, the City may give preference to Boston residents over non‐residents.
Where are the four (4) City owned properties that are proposed for this Pilot Urban Agriculture Project located?
The locations of the four properties are shown on the map on the last page of the Fact Sheet. These vacant properties are located at: 23‐29 Tucker Street; 131 Glenway Street; 18‐24 Standish Street; and, between 94 Ballou Avenue and 116 Ballou Avenue.
How do urban farms differ from community gardens?
Community gardens are parcels of land, subdivided into small plots (generally 10’ X 10’), which are farmed by a number of local residents for their own use, not for sale. Urban farms are entire properties generally cultivated by a single farmer or organization to sell what they grow.
Click here for the complete City of Boston Fact Sheet on the Pilot Urban Agriculture Project, and click here for a good overview powerpoint presentation given in April 2011 at one of the community meetings.
July UPDATE
The Request-for-Proposals (RFP) for the potential future urban agriculture sites at Tucker, Standish and Glenway Streets in Dorchester has been issued. Please see the press release below for more information and a link to download the RFP.
City Seeks Proposals for Pilot Urban Agriculture Project
Three Parcels Available in Dorchester to Produce Fresh, Healthy Food for Residents
Mayor Thomas M. Menino has announced that the City of Boston has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Pilot Urban Agriculture Project. The Project proposes to put three vacant, city-owned properties in Dorchester to productive use for farming, with the goal of producing fresh, healthy food for sale in the community. The RFP seeks proposals from qualified individuals, businesses, and/or organizations to farm these properties, either as for profit or not-for-project enterprises. Local community members are strongly encouraged to submit proposals. The RFP includes incentives for partnerships between the farmers and local community organizations to encourage farming that is responsive to community needs and interests.
“Urban farming is a great way to encourage small scale agricultural entrepreneurism in our city,” Mayor Menino said. “It has the capacity to bring fresh fruits and vegetables into neighborhoods and corner stores while teaching Boston families and youth about where their food comes from.”
The three properties are located at 23-29 Tucker Street, 131 Glenway Street and 18-24 Standish Street. Initially, each property will be leased based on a rate of $500 per acre, which based on lot sizes, will be roughly $125 to $200 per year for a term of five years. The term may be extended if farming is successful.
The deadline for proposals is August 15, 2011. The RFP package is available at the Department of Neighborhood Development’s Bid Counter on the 10th floor at 26 Court Street, Boston. The RFP can also be downloaded by registering at http://www.cityofboston.gov/dnd/rfp. A bidders conference is scheduled for July 25, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Winter Chambers on the 1st floor at 26 Court Street. Any questions regarding the RFP can be emailed to Jay Lee at jlee.dnd@cityofboston.gov.
