BOSTON’S “URBAN mechanic’’ has been quite the city farmer as of late. Earlier this year, Mayor Menino opened a chicken farm on Long Island, where the birds are under the care of youths who are homeless or have run afoul of the law. Now the mayor hopes bidders with green thumbs will turn several long-vacant city lots in Dorchester into rows of tomatoes, corn, zucchini, and peppers. Assuming no snags in changing zoning ordinances to allow farming, the farms would put Boston in the vanguard of several cities that want to go beyond community and school gardens to transform larger swaths of blight into bounty. It’s an inspiring idea, and the mayor should pursue it aggressively.
City Fresh Foods in Roxbury is already proving the viability of the concept, farming crops this past summer on land owned by the Sportsmen’s Tennis Club on Blue Hill Avenue. The lettuce, arugula, basil, spinach, beets, broccoli, and mesclun mix were purchased by local restaurants, food services, and the Boston Harbor Hotel. “There is a net gain on so many levels,’’ City Fresh founder Glynn Lloyd said. “You’re taking land that’s been sitting for 30, 40 years, and otherwise would be sitting for another 30 or 40. You’re producing fresh, local, non-chemical products, hopefully creating some jobs and reducing the carbon footprint. When gasoline went crazy a couple years ago, even Walmart was looking at local produce. We’re trying to be a little bit ahead of the curve.’’
Adding more farms would further dispel the stereotype of inner cities being “food deserts’’ cut off from the endless variety of fruit and veggies at suburban supermarkets. With its plethora of farmers’ markets, Boston is already a national leader in making fresh produce accessible to all. New food policy director Edith Murnane believes actual farms in the heart of the city will take things one step further, “knitting communities together around food.’’ This is a vision that should grow as tall as corn, as aromatic as basil, and as bright as a tomato.
