Brookwood Community Farm Members Enjoy the Vegetables of Their Labor

"Fresh food and farming opportunities for all with a focus on local," according to Judy Lieberman, that's the mission of Brookwood Community Farm. Lieberman helped found the farm in 2006 and currently acts as farm manager. 

Now in their fifth growing season, the non-profit organization currently utilizes two acres of land on the Blue Hills Reservation, sanctioned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The Farm also recently expanded its growing operation to the Bradley Estate, located just across the Milton line in Canton.

Although the program is the first of its kind in the Milton area, the Farm's Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program is not an uncommon model in the agricultural community. Similar programs have been successfully run at farms throughout the country for years, pointed out Lieberman. But it has certainly exhibited its growing popularity in the Milton area; since the program's inaugural growing season in 2006, it has expanded from eight members to 170.

Each winter, CSA members purchase a share of the vegetable harvest for the upcoming season. Beginning in June members pick up their shares once a week all the way though October. Through the program, members enjoy fresh, seasonal produce for nearly half of the year. The program is currently in the third week of the 2010 season, with members enjoying items such as peas, carrots, beets and greens including chard, kale or collard. As the season progresses members can look forward to tomatoes, summer squash, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, onions and more.

The list of vegetables grown at the farm is expansive and sometimes even exotic. "There are all kinds of things people get to experience for the first time," commented Lieberman, "If it's in the seed catalog and grows in New England, we grow it."

From kohlrabi, a bulbous member of the cabbage family with a flavor similar to broccoli stem, to yellow and black tomatoes, the Farm offers a variety of produce that spans the familiar to the foreign.

Belinda Luscinskas was one of the founding members of the Community Supported Agriculture program, and participates to this day. "We really enjoy it," commented Luscinskas, "I have two daughters, so we're a family of four and we eat a lot of vegetables."

Luscinskas also enjoys the flexibility of the program, "with the weekly pick-ups you can get exactly what you need and not be wasteful. There are also always extras to purchase of our favorites."

Although there is a waiting list to participate in CSA, there are ways to jump the line. Anyone interested in supporting the farm or getting involved in CSA can purchase a "farm membership" for $25. These memberships help support the Farm's growing activities as well as food donations and outreach.  As an added bonus, farm members get priority on the CSA waiting list.

Those who are not members of the CSA need not worry, Brookwood Community Farm's produce is available to anyone willing to take a short drive to the Farm or their local farmer's market. The farm stand at Brookwood Community Farm is open Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., while the stand at the Bradley Estate is open Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Farm also participates in the Milton Farmer's Market on Thursdays and the Mattapan Farmer's Market on Saturdays, bringing with them a variety of items from their current harvest for the public to enjoy.

"I think that people are realizing more and more how important it is to support local businesses, especially farms," Luscinskas said about the Farm's impact on the community.

The Farm serves surrounding communities such as Milton, Quincy, Mattapan and Hyde Park by making fresh, locally-grown, organic produce available. Over the year's the Farm has worked to integrate outreach programs into these communities, donating portions of the harvest to the Milton Food Pantry and the Germantown Neighborhood Center Food Pantry in Quincy. The Farm is also a partner in the Mattapan Food and Fitness initiative.

With only three full-time employees in summer, the day-to-day maintenance of the Farm is largely performed by volunteers and youth interns, who do everything from weeding, harvesting, planting, transplanting, and staking tomatoes. Although there is not a volunteer requirement to become a CSA member, many elect to lend a hand on the farm.

"It's a really great community, a nice group of people who have formed around the farm and supported it," remarked Lieberman about the tight-knit group of volunteers, CSA members, local youth and families. Anyone interested in getting involved at Brookwood Commuity Farm can email volunteer@brookwoodcommunityfarm.org and sign up for a monthly volunteer workday.