Boston Food Forest

05/01/2026

Did you know people used to grow veggies on the Boston Common?

During WWII, neighbors planted "Victory Gardens" across backyards, public parks, and even rooftops. At their height, Victory Gardens accounted for 40% of the nation's fresh vegetables.

Today, Boston struggles with equitable and sustainable food access. Most of our fresh produce comes from outside of New England, driving up costs and emissions.

Boston Food Forest is working to change that by re-localizing some of our food production. We were honored to be featured in GBH News' recent reporting on how urban gardening helps support food security and sustainability.

Boston’s urban gardeners and farmers agree that the city faces inequity in fresh food access. But approaches to acquiring — and stewarding — the land vary.

04/30/2026

We won a climate leadership award!

On Tuesday, after releasing its 2030 Climate Action Plan, the City of Boston recognized our coalition with a Climate Leadership Award in the “Clean Green City” category.

The “Clean Green City” award celebrates local leaders working to reduce waste and protect the natural environment in Boston. In our world, this means repurposing vacant land to produce fresh food and preserve green space.

We were recognized alongside other 2026 Climate Leadership Awardees, WinnCompanies, Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, Yve Torrie, It's Electric LLC, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, Robert Biggio, New England Aquarium, Pamela Bush, Mass General Brigham, Wharf District Council, M. Patricia Fabián, Franklin Cummings Tech, Mystic River Watershed Association, The Museum of Science, and Professor Katherine Dafforn, all selected out of 87 nominations for their sustainability impact, climate innovation, and benefits to Environmental Justice communities.

This award – and our inclusion in Boston’s 2030 Climate Action Plan – comes after 11 years of working with the city to get land transferred into the hands of communities to build food forest parks.

We often say that our “democracy muscle” – skills and habits of participation and shared decision-making – isn’t lost; it just needs to be re-engaged.

Determining what happens in our neighborhoods too often feels impossible, but food forests are proof that neighbors and local government can still work together to build what people want. Thank you Mayor Michelle Wu 吳弭 and City of Boston for your continued climate leadership.

04/23/2026

Join Orion Kriegman at Newton Community Farm's annual climate change forum - see the link below for tickets (its free)!

Join Newton Community Farm for this year's Forum as we welcome Orion Kriegman, Executive Director of the Boston Food Forest (BFFC) to share the story of the creation and ongoing work ofBFFC. Building on the Community Land Trust model, BFFC has now established 14 food forest parks in Boston. These third spaces build community resilience, engage democracy, and strengthen civil society all while transforming vacant lots into edible public parks.

Come be inspired by this story of building community resilience, climate resilience, and a city more prepared to adapt to climate change.

This forum is made possible thanks to The Bard Family Environmental Education Fund.

This event is free but registration is requested. Register on our website: https://www.newtoncommunityfarm.org/events/forumplanting-seeds-of-hope

10/14/2025

A quick reminder, we've launched a brand new BFFC page. This will be the place where you can find the latest updates on Boston’s food forest parks, volunteer opportunities, community storytelling, and other ways to get involved. There are tons of exciting opporutnities heading into the fall, so be sure to check it out and follow along there!

👉 Come follow us here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578943121489

We’re excited to grow this community together in our new digital home. See you there!

Nonprofit community land trust transforming urban lots into socially & ecologically thriving food forest gardens 🌱

08/19/2025

🌱 We’ve moved! 🌱

To make it easier for our team to share updates, photos, and event news with you, we’ve launched a brand new BFFC page. This will be the place where you can find the latest updates on Boston’s food forest parks, volunteer opportunities, community storytelling, and other ways to get involved.

👉 Come follow us here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578943121489

We’re excited to keep growing this community together in our new digital home. See you there! 🌳✨

Nonprofit community land trust transforming urban lots into socially & ecologically thriving food forest gardens 🌱

06/18/2025

Listen to our very own Orion Kriegman interviewed by Mary-Charlotte on this episode of Down to Earth podcast

Orion Kriegman and his friends started clearing a trashed vacant lot in Boston to create green space and grow food. City hall was not on their side at first, but with persistence and community effort they were able to secure that lot as permanent green space—and so was born. A dozen more urban lot...

03/04/2025

Spring is on the horizon — the ground is thawing, the days are stretching longer, and the first crocuses have begun peeking up from their soily beds. With this seasonal shift comes a chance to reflect: How do you want to show up in your work, community, and passions this spring?

If this new season sparks inspiration for you, consider joining our coalition (or deepening your involvement, if you're already engaged with us). Whether you're drawn to climate action, community building, environmental justice, or food autonomy, there's a place for you here.

Explore ways to get involved at bostonfoodforest.org — our events calendar is a great place to start! Or, send us a message and we'll get a conversation started 🌱✨

02/18/2025

Join us this weekend at the Uphams Corner Food Forest (11A Everett Ave, Dorchester) for a workshop all about winter fruit tree pruning — a crucial maintenance activity in most temperate food forests.

No experience necessary, all are welcome! This workshop is a great way to get involved with the coalition ahead of spring, and an opportunitiy to pick up some new permaculture skills.

Visit bostonfoodforest.org/workshops to learn more and register.

01/30/2025

We're excited for these upcoming winter workshops! ❄ ⛏ 🍯

Join us for the very popular maple/walnut sugaring workshop, any of our 3 winter pruning workshops (each will cover the same material/skills), and our new offering around tool care and sharpening.

Visit our events page - www.bostonfoodforest.org/workshops - to learn more and sign up!

We'll see you in the food forests — snow, frost, and all.

01/22/2025

We believe in lifting up living examples of our shared values — inclusivity, adaptability, community, to name a few — when the present moment feels bleak. It certainly has this week, so here's a bright spot in the form of 's latest publication, "Strategic Collective Communications: A Workbook for Building Solidarity and Reshaping Communications." 📖

Wondering how you can take action in the name of your values, right now? Check out the link in our bio or head over to to read this guide to actionable and collaborative communications in pursuit of social change and solidarity. 📣

"Imagine grounding communication strategies firmly within the values of collaboration and collectivism that are interwoven throughout our business and organizational missions. Think about the power that could be amassed if, as communicators, we prioritized coming together to discuss and organize around Strategic Collective Narratives, practiced Communal Framing, and crafted stories, built skills, and celebrated success in Solidarity with one another and our communities."

Strategic Collective Communications is a communications framework grounded in solidarity with community and fellow communicators.

01/14/2025

🌳Understanding Winter Dormancy in Food Forests 🌳

As we advance through January, the cold of winter persists and the food forests have entered a critical phase: dormancy. While everything may seem quiet, this period is full of purpose and resilience. Here's why it matters:

🌬️ How Dormancy Works
Plants slow their growth and conserve energy during winter, protecting themselves from freezing temperatures. Leaves drop, sap flow decreases, and roots focus on staying healthy underground.

🌱 Why It's Important
Dormancy is like rest for plants—it’s a time to recharge. For perennials, this pause is crucial for surviving harsh winters and thriving in spring.

🌿 Strengthening Ecosystems
Dormant food forests still work hard! Roots hold soil in place, fallen leaves decompose into nutrient-rich mulch, and branches and stems provide hibernation and nesting spaces for beneficial insects.

🌸 What’s Ahead in Spring
When temperatures rise come spring, the food forests will shake off their dormancy and burst back to life (or, more accurately, slowly wake up). Buds will swell, flowers will bloom, and the food forests will begin producing again — beginning the cycle anew.

Winter reminds us that rest is essential for growth in the natural world, and for us humans. We invite you to appreciate the quiet beauty of your local food forest this season, and get ready for its vibrant comeback in spring.