institutional purchase orders of food that could be supplied locally; the 

 next step will be to facilitate public food service investment in Massachu- 

 setts grown products. 



ASSISTING URBAN AGRICULTURAL EFFORTS 



In cooperation with urban gardening organizations, the Division is 

 taking action to establish a composting facility in Boston; the humus thus 

 produced will be used to reclaim urban land for food production. The Div- 

 ition is developing plans for a working landscape at Boston State Hospital, 

 to serve urban gardeners throughout the area; re-use of a greenhouse for 

 community access is part of the plan. We have regularly convened the urban 

 gardeners Task Force on Toxicity, which shares information about lead con- 

 tamination of soils and has sponsored several research projects. 



INCREASING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS 



Due to the great interest by the Division (along with present and 

 potential farmers across the state) in seeing the establishment of a small 

 farm training and demonstration center, the Legislature transferred control 

 of the Belchertown State School Farmstead to the Department of Food and 

 Agriculture. The Division will administer the leasing of lands and buildings 

 for educational purposes. 



FINANCIAL REPORT 



The budget appropriated to accomplish the various programs of the 

 Division was $79,000. 



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