Along with this year's spring planting, the Massachusetts Avenue Project will be breaking ground on a new farmhouse. Thanks to a grant from the Rich Family Foundation, MAP has met its $2 million fundraising goal.
The new Farmhouse will serve as the Massachusetts Avenue Project's Community Food Training and Resource Center. MAP's Development Director Heather Newton says food is an issue that everyone needs to pay attention to. But Newton says many people have lost touch with where it comes from.
"This is a chance for the entire community to understand that in order for our economy to be strong we need to have access, not only to healthy fresh affordable food in our region, but also the knowledge of how to grow that food. How to prepare it. And how to teach our young people that eating healthy food is really important for their well being," Newton said.
Plans for the Farmhouse include training space, a teaching kitchen, cold storage, and offices for MAP's urban farm at 387 Massachusetts Avenue. The project's $2 million goal was met recently with a $200,000 grant from the Rich Family Foundation.