Community Gardening 



This year there were over 200 community garden sites across the state, 

 including the 20 on state-owned sites, involving over 10,000 households in 

 home food production. The Division maintains an inventory of garden 

 locations and coordinators, and serves as a clearinghouse of information 

 for these groups. We help to secure land for garden space by negotiating 

 agreements with both public and private land owners. 



Mass Seed Program 



The Division also runs the Massachusetts Seed Program. This involves 

 sending free and low-cost vegetable seeds to youth, low-income and elderly 

 people, and members of community garden groups. There were over 6,000 

 participants in this year's Seed Program. 



Fruition 



The Massachusetts Fruition Program was created in 1980 to promote the 

 growing of food-producing trees, shrubs and vines on publicly-accessible 

 lands. Interested community groups apply to the Division to receive free 

 plants in exchange for an agreement to take care of them. 



Plants are distributed in the Spring and Fall at five regional distri- 

 bution sites to school and church groups, conservation commissions, town 

 tree and parks departments and community garden groups. This year, pears, 

 sour and bush cherries, juneberries, quinces, mulberries and elderberries, 

 apples, blueberries, blackberries, black and red raspberries, black and 

 English walnuts, butternuts and Chinese chestnuts were distributed, 

 bringing the total number of Fruition trees planted throughout the state 

 to almost 7,500. 



Environmental Impact Review 



By participating in the planning process and monitoring decisions 

 that may affect agricultural lands, the Division tries to prevent further 

 loss or destruction of agricultural resources. We actively participate in 

 the environmental impact review process which is required by the Massachusetts 

 Environmental Policy Act. 



New Programs 



A primary function of the Division has been to work directly with federal 

 agricultural agencies and local groups to get new programs started and put 

 landowners in contact with other agricultural professionals. This year the 

 staff worked with the Executive Office of Energy Resources to solicit federal 

 funds for energy conservation for small dairies, greenhouses and fruit 

 storage facilities. If these funds are granted, the Division may help to 

 administer a program of loan subsidies for energy conservation measures for 

 these agricultural businesses. 



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