Historic Urban Farm in the Heart of Mattapan Gets New Owners — Its Tenants
AS SEEN IN THE BOSTON CITY PAPER (PAGE 7)
MATTAPAN, MA: The Urban Farming Institute is celebrating the recent purchase of the historic Fowler Clark Epstein Farm in the heart of Mattapan. At a ribbon cutting ceremony that took place on Thursday, June 13th, UFI welcomed elected officials, philanthropic supporters, community partners and residents for an afternoon of arts, activities, music and, of course, food. Fowler Clark Epstein Farm is located at 487 Norfolk Street, Mattapan MA 02126.
Urban Farming Institute (UFI), established in 2011, operates six urban farms across Boston's Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan neighborhoods.
Its mission is to combat food insecurity, limited access to fresh produce and the decline of community connections through the development and promotion of urban farming practices.
UFl's Fowler Clark Epstein farm, an 18th century farmland located in the heart of Mattapan, was originally purchased from the City of Boston in 2015 by Historic Boston Incorporated (HBI).
HBI spearheaded a $3.8 million restoration project allowing the Urban Farming Institute to occupy the site, manage the space, and expand its urban farming footprint.
In 2020, UFI launched a capital campaign to raise funds to purchase the farm from HBI. In January of 2024, having successfully exceeded the original goal of $2.6M, UFI purchased the Fowler Clark Epstein Farm which serves as its headquarters.
"The farm is home to us and has become a special center for our farmers and our neighbors," said President & CEO, Pat Spence. "Fresh food is vital to a healthy community and from this place we share our bounty and teach the principles of cultivation and growth. The future of this historic place is bright because so many people gave selflessly to do more than we'd have been able to do by ourselves."
The Fowler Clark Epstein Farm cultivates crops including kale, corn, collard greens and herbs, as well as food that is culturally relevant for the neighborhood's many Caribbean immigrants, such as callaloo, okra, and Aleppo peppers.
Urban Farming lnstitute's robust programming includes its Farmer Training Program, a curriculum for aspiring farmers that includes various aspects of urban agriculture: fitness and healthy eating programs, like Fit Around the Farm, targeting seniors, particularly women of color: workshops, such as Food is Medicine; youth outreach and education, including programing that combines urban agriculture and social justice learning; and its signature Farm Stand Fridays, a weekly farmers market that runs from June to November each year,
In 2020, the Fowler Clark Epstein Farm received the prestigious Richard H. Driehaus Foundation National Preservation Award, which recognizes and celebrates the best preservation projects in the nation.
About The Urban Farming Institute
Urban Farming Institute (UFI) was formed in 2011 out of a vision for a better local food system for the residents of Boston's Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan neighborhoods. UFI is an innovator and leader in the urban farming movement, playing an instrumental role in the passage of Article 89, which legalized commercial farming in Boston. UFI built Boston's first Article 89 farm.
UFl's farms bring affordable produce into neighborhoods where healthy food is scarce and promote urban climate resilience. UFI partners with local schools and community organizations, and hosts community events to teach residents about the importance of nutrition, healthy living, and how to grow their own food.
UFI contributes to economic and environmental resilience by localizing the food system and training residents on how to steward the land.
Building a healthier, locally based food system is at the heart of UFl's mission. As the momentum around greening cities, eliminating health disparities, and developing more sustainable solutions for urban economic development, urban farming is quickly emerging into a viable solution.