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The Food Project

PO Box 256141
617-442-1322

Our Mission

To create a thoughtful and productive community of youth and adults from diverse backgrounds who work together to build a sustainable food system. This community produces healthy food for residents of the city and suburbs, provides youth leadership opportunities, and inspires and supports others to create change in their own communities.

Our Vision

In 1991, The Food Project's founder, Ward Cheney, had a vision of young people from the city and the suburbs working side by side on the land producing food for the hungry and learning together. He imagined youth experiencing the value of labor and service while building a diverse and effective community. He pictured a place where youth could discover and develop their talents, make friends and test themselves physically, mentally and emotionally. His vision became The Food Project.

Our Philosophy

At The Food Project, we generate a community where people have a rare opportunity to re-create themselves. We gather youth and adults from all backgrounds and abilities and give them the opportunity to contribute purposefully to society by growing food for the hungry and caring for the land. Through this meaningful and demanding work, they are challenged to step outside the story of who they "are" or "have been" and try on a new way of thinking, acting, or being. By inviting youth to serve and to take risks, we offer people chances to see themselves, others, and the world differently.

The Food Project uses an intensely personal model. It makes a deep commitment to each person and community it touches, and invites the same of each volunteer, neighbor, and friend. We strive to bridge cultural, ethnic and personality differences with our Straight Talk system of frank communication. We want to expand permanently each person's recognition of himself or herself as an agent for social change.

We also serve as a resource center and leader of this process. Nearly half of The Food Project's work serves those who come from other cities, countries, farms and even other types of organizations for inspiration and skills. Because of our dedication to advancing communities, youth and sustainable agriculture wherever they might be, we aid these colleagues as well.