ReVision Urban Farm

 

Track Sponsor: Fund for Philanthropy and Education

Founded: 1993

Current Budget: $226,000

Website: www.vpi.org/Re-VisionFarm

Need

  • About 30,000 people, including 10,500 famiies with chldren, move through the state's system of homeless shelters every year
  • Both homeless families and low-income populations have difficulty obtaining sufficient food and maintaining a healthy diet
  • The rate of hunger in low income communities is six times higher than the statewide average, and the food that is availalbe and consumed there can often lead to obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma, and hypertension

About

In 1993 ReVision Urban Farm was launched in the Franklin Field neighborhood of Dorchester, Mass. The one-acre farm functions both as a center for productive work and meaningful community engagement and a supplier of healthy, naturally grown produce. Homeless women who live at the ReVision House shelter gain job readiness skills by working side-by-side with volunteers from Dorchester and surrounding communities to grow produce and bring it to market. Produce from the farm is prepared for shelter meals, given to local residents in need, and sold to customers. Through a combination of revenue from grants, donations, and food sales, ReVision Urban Farm, a Victory Program's Social Enterprise, is able to sustain its job-readiness training, volunteer and community benefit programs.

Key Accomplishments

  • Served more than 760 young homeless families since its inception
  • Since 2007, grew more than 5,000 pounds of produce, donated more than 1,300 pounds and sold more than 16,000 pounds generating $32,000 in sales
  • Each year ReVision Urban Farm provides volunteer opportunities to more than 400 Boston-area school children and residents

Join the Cause

In-Kind Support

  • Two or three board members (in vocational training, farming & business enterprise)
  • Branding & marketing materials
  • Website development
  • Donated labor from local vocational trainers, farmers and chefs

Financial Support

$50,000 Full-time vocational training & volunteer coordinator or biodisel pick-up truck or stipends for job trainees
$25,000
 Wall restoration or full-time assistant grower
$1,000 Solar panels

Learn More

Want to learn more about ReVision Urban Farm? 
View their full Social Innovation Forum prospectus here.

Contact Information

Matthew Kochka
Urban Farm Manager
617-825-8642
mkochka@vpi.org

www.vpi.org/Re-VisionFarm