Oasis on Ballou
A True Oasis for Food Security and Green Space
Massachusetts cities and towns are full of thriving community farms. Though each is unique, they share a commitment to bringing fresh produce and food empowerment to their neighborhoods.
Oasis on Ballou, located in the central part of the Dorchester neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, is an urban farm built on an innovative model. The farm, stewarded by Apolo Catala, Farm Manager and Environmental Justice Coordinator, is an outcome of deep community organizing efforts and the assistance of the Codman Square Community Development organization. It provides farm-fresh food to the community using climate-smart soil health practices, and it serves as a beacon of environmental justice. Oasis on Ballou (Oasis stands for Opportunity Affirmation Sustainability Inspiration Success) is nestled in the Woodrow-Mountain area of Dorchester. This area is mainly Black and Brown, and the wonderful produce that Oasis on Ballou grows represents the cultural tastes of the area. Oasis participates in the Farm Stand at Urban Farming Institute and provides for a small community supported agriculture program (CSA). Oasis hosts various volunteer groups throughout the growing season. Recently, Oasis acquired a hoop house that allows for growing plant starts and growing produce year-round using high tunnels.
Preparing beds for planting at Oasis on Ballou. Photo courtesy of The Food Project
Families and community members came together several years ago to envision a future for four vacant lots in that neighborhood. The community’s diligent work is a testament to the power of community organizing and engagement. The lots covered approximately 20,000 square feet. Ideas for use of the lots started with a parking lot for the apartments, and then moved into a thought for a community garden, from there into a workforce development project to assist with economic development in the area, and then, finally, evolved into a bustling urban farm that now serves 1,000 families with 12,000 square feet of growing space.
Since this is an area where the T commuter train passes, and an area with a history of years of old buildings, now demolished, there are issues with soil contamination—an enduring issue throughout the Boston area. In fact, Article 89, a zoning law, prohibits urban farms from growing food directly in the ground unless testing comes back with little or no contamination. If there are contaminants, best practices are used to mitigate the problems. Many of these remedies are also climate-smart tactics such as using wood chips (4 inches deep), leaves, and raised beds.
Oasis on Ballou has used these soil health-friendly remedies since its beginning. There are 25 raised beds that are 4’ x 50’, and with the current reconstruction taking place at the farm, Oasis will now be able to grow in an area that is sloped. The farm is bordered by the T line on the sloped edges, and that area may have contaminated soil. More fruit trees will be planted at the site, complementing Oasis’ growing efforts and those of other properties that also have fruit trees. Oasis on Ballou also employs organic growing measures such as intensive growing (one crop following another in quick succession to maintain ground cover), interplanting, and companion growing. Through Oasis’ efforts to promote conservation, soil health/safety, and food access, the families of this wonderful neighborhood can experience healthy food and healthy soil.
Anna Gilbert-Muhammad serves as the Equity Director and Food Access/Webinar Coordinator for the Northeast Organic Farming Association, Massachusetts Chapter (NOFA/Mass). Anna graduated from NOFA/Mass’s Beginner Farmer Program in 2015 and began working with the organization in 2016. The programs that Anna works with in Springfield are the Youth Leader Organic Gardening/Cooking Program at Home City Housing and The Open Pantry Community Garden Project; she also works with smaller projects in the Boston and Springfield area. Anna and her husband Keith Muhammad live in Springfield, Massachusetts, and they are market gardeners in the Mason Square area of Springfield.