Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP)

271 Grant St. Buffalo, New York 14213 Phone (716) 882-5327 Fax (716) 882-5338

"Building the local community through food, urban farming and entrepreneurship"

 

   
Buffalo Grown Mobile Market  | Buffalo Grown Farm to School  l  Aquaponics Information

 

MAP's Mobile Market

Imagine having access to an abundance of healthy food produced by people you trust and from land you know and love.  The Mobile Market brings fresh fruits and vegetables, bulk food like rice, beans, and prepared goodies, as well as fun food facts and nutrition information.  For more information about the Mobile Market, click here!

WHY BUY LOCAL FOOD?

  • Buying locally grown food supports local farmers and local people and keeps money in your community.
  • Buying locally grown food helps support the earth by using less gas and causing less pollution.  We don't need 18 wheelers, we're local!
  • Buying local and organic food is good for people.  It tastes fresher because it is fresher.

Please support your local economy, mother earth and a healthier population.

BUY LOCAL and ORGANIC FOOD!

::Volunteer at our Urban Farm!

Interested in digging in the dirt?  Join us Saturdays from 10am-1pm April-October at 389 Massachusetts Ave. or contact Jesse Meeder, Growing Green Farm Manager at 716-882-5327 ext 3.

 

::Growing Green Anthem
We are trying to be some better teens with new routines, u know what I mean, it's all about Growing Green! 

We got tomatoes over here and fruit everywhere if the community want to grab some it's all to share so don't be scared...

And it ain't no need to panic 'cuz everything we grow is all organic from the beans to the carrots to the rest of the crops, man we grew all that on seven adjacent lots, now it might seem like a lot but it's not a little from the flowers in the front to the herbs in the middle.

Now if u trying to be different we respect your style that's why we still trying to get more youth involved and it ain't really nothin's that you should fear 'cause you can make a great difference in just one year

And now we give our respect to Diane and Jason 'cause they deleted all the problems that we was facin' We still got more gardens, some of the best, from Rhode Island and 18th to Hampshire and West,

Got 26 raised beds so ain't no need to stress, Now I'm tellin' you our food is off the hook so don't be scared to stop by and take a look!

By Romero Gossom

Growing Green Program

Growing Green is an urban agricultural training program that provides healthy food to Buffalo communities and meaningful job training skills to youth in Buffalo.  Started in 2003, the program began working with local youth on our urban farm, teaching them to grow food organically and  to build community through food.  Since then Growing Green has developed many program components connecting youth to their food, their community and the environment.  Growing Green Program Components include: Urban Farming, Mobile Market, Youth Enterprise, Community Outreach & Educational Events, and Policy Work.

In Growing Green youth gain knowledge about their own food, nutrition, and food systems issues.  We use hands-on activities in MAP'S award-winning urban farm, and at local schools to empower youth to live healthier and be agents of positive social change in their communities.

Through their work learning and teaching others, youth acquire marketable job and life skills, an increased knowledge of good nutrition and improved nutritional practices, and business ownership experience.  Specifically, the Growing Green Program offers youth involvement in:

  • Growing organic vegetables & herbs from seed to harvest
  • Soil remediation (planting specific plants which remove soil toxins)
  • Composting experiments such as vermi- culture  (worm composting)
  • Graphic Design and Community Education & Event Planning
  • Sales & Social Enterprise- Growing Green Youth-Run Enterprise
  • Aquaponics (fish and plants growing in a closed ecological system)

Food for Growth Study: In the fall of 2003, MAP worked with the University of Buffalo's Department of Urban and Regional Planning to complete a Community Food Security Assessment and Plan for Buffalo's West Side.  This plan has helped move MAP towards it's goal of ensuring access to quality, affordable food for Buffalo communities and has won national awards.   Click here for to download Food for Growth PDF.

Growing Green Works

 Growing Green Works (GGW) is a locally owned & operated venture that is managed & run by urban youth as part of the Growing Green Program. GGW began in 2006 as an economic education program for youth, giving them hands-on business & leadership training by operating their own social enterprise.  

What the youth are doing now?  We have just produced our third product, our Raspberry Apple Vinaigrette.  It's made with local fresh ingredients and is perfect on salad or as a marinade on chicken or pork.  Visit our farmstand or other local markets to find it.  You can find our Amazing Chili Starter and Super Duper Salsa at local stores and shops including 7 Wegmans, Ten Thousand Villages, the Lexington Cooperative Market, Château Buffalo, Farmers & Artisans, and many other local shops. 

Here's our Amazing Chili Recipe featuring our Amazing Chili Starter! 
Growing Green’s Amazing Vegetarian Chili with Sweet Potatoes & Black Beans

1 Jar of Growing Green’s Amazing Chili Starter

4 Green Bell Peppers cored and diced

2 large carrots diced

1 -15 oz can of large cut tomatoes
13 oz. water

2 large Sweet Potatoes cubed and roasted

1 Sweet Onion
1-15 oz can black beans

Brown carrots and sweet potatoes in a skillet on high heat for 10 
minutes with a little olive oil. Add others veggies, tomatoes and Chili Starter 
and cover. Brown Chicken, then add it to pot. Cover and simmer on medium
heat for 35-40 min.  For a little extra spice add one jalepeno, whole while the chili cooks. 
This Recipe is great with Cornbread or Tortilla Chips!
 Enjoy!