Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition

Top-quality fresh veggies offered at low prices! Much of their produce is grown locally in Dorchester, at The ReVision Urban Farm. The farmstand is located at 1062 Blue Hill Ave, at the corner of Arbutus and Blue Hill, 3 blocks north of Morton Street Every Thursday through Saturday—12pm to 4pm EBT Customers: Receive 50%OFF through Mayor Menino’s Bounty Bucks Program. For [...]

Now entering its eighth year, Urban Ecology Institute’s CityRoots program has engaged 32 neighborhood and community groups and over 700 individuals of all ages in projects of ecological restoration and urban regreening, fostering community engagement. Four Dorchester organizations will receive CityRoots support this year: Boston Project Ministries-TNT Green Space Alliance – Plant 20 trees through their Park [...]

Talbot-Norfolk Triangle Park Patrol is another great program at Elmhurst Park this summer, co-sponsored by DEHC.  The Park Patrol has two divisions: Junior Park Patrol for ages 12-14, and Park Patrol for ages 14-17. Park Patrol employs 20+ youth to: Volunteer at the Nightingale community garden (to prepare for the 106 Norfolk garden) Learn how to champion [...]

The Lead Action Collaborative (LAC), a nonprofit in Dorchester that does outreach and education around lead poisoning prevention, is looking for family childcare providers and small contractors in Boston to participate in focus groups about a new Environmental Protection Agency rule. They want feedback from both the childcare provider perspective and from contractors on a ‘Renovation, [...]

Boston R.O.C.K.S!!! (Recreational Opportunities for City Kids) has gone green, with free, drop-in green activities for Dorchester youth until mid-August.  Boston R.O.C.K.S!!! Goes Green, which continues until mid-August, combines environmental education components with fun youth activities.  For more information about Boston R.O.C.K.S!!!, visit www.bostonyouthzone.com Elmhurst Park Growing Green Boston Project Ministries 15 Elmhurst St., 02124 Monday–Thursday, 12:30 – 4:30p.m. For [...]

In May 2010, DEHC began an Air Quality Project to study the effects of the Dorchester Avenue Transportation Improvement Project on air quality affecting travelers and residents on and near the Avenue.  We have finished collecting preliminary air quality data (ultrafine particles) at selected locations along the Dorchester Avenue corridor, and we are now working [...]

There are plenty of plots still available in Dorchester’s community  gardens. Contact the garden coordinator for more information about tending your own plot!  Gardens with available plots are listed below. 29 Josephine Street Garden Contact Nolan Smith, 617-282-5994 33 Bullard Street Garden Contact Karen Chaffee, 617-542-7696 x19 info@bostonnatural.org 39 Barry Street Garden Contact Karen Chaffee, 617-542-7696 x19 info@bostonnatural.org Julian, Judson & Dean Streets Garden 36 Dean [...]

Did you know there’s a walking group that meets in Codman Square each Thursday at the farmers’ market?  DEHC partner, the BOLD Teens present: The Codman Square Walk Group, sponsored by the Codman Square Health Council. Every Thursday, from July 1, 2010 to October 28, 2010, walk from Codman Square Farmers Market (corner of Washington Street [...]

Bike lanes and sharrows on Dorchester Avenue are expected to be installed by the end of July (you can see some of them on the road right now!). The lanes start at Broadway in South Boston and end at Hoyt St., which is part of the Glover’s Corner intersection that includes Freeport Street. There will be [...]

Last Wednesday, we had the opportunity to attend the Green Roof workshop sponsored by the Urban Ecology Institute and CityRoots.  At the workshop, Filomena from CityRoots installed an extensive green roof on a tool shed at the Claybourne Street Community Garden.  The tool shed had been built last year with the help of YouthBuild with [...]

This year, find more produce, baked goods, Lush cosmetics, art and more at your local farmers’ market.  Certain farmers markets are even offering free bike tune ups! Tuesday Dorchester House Farmers Market (1353 Dorchester Ave.), 1pm-3pm Featuring Flats Mentor House Farm, Serving Ourselves Farm, ReVision House Urban Farm. Grove Hall Farmers Market (461 Blue Hill Ave.), 3pm-7pm Featuring Oakdale [...]

Over 100 residents of Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde Park, and Milton attended a public meeting in May to hear about alternatives for linking the Neponset Greenway where it now ends at Central Avenue in Milton to Mattapan Square and upriver trails in Hyde Park and beyond.  The planned extension to Blue Hill Avenue will open about [...]

New at the Ashmont Farmer’s Market at Peabody Square, on Friday July 16 -  Salsa-making demonstration (with free samples!) by the UMass Extension Nutrition Education Program, and gifts and stationery with historic Dorchester flavor, by Amy Butterworth at the Dorchester Arts Collaborative’s booth. And, as always, delicious fresh produce grown by Farmer Dave’s, Langwater Farm and Spring Brook Farm (who will [...]

DotBike, DEHC’s spin-off community bicycle advocacy group, is co-sponsoring R.O.C.K., Roll and Ride in Franklin Park, a fun day of cycle activities this Saturday. There will be bikes to borrow for free, escorted family friendly rides of various distances so everyone can find the right ride for them, a bike maintenance station, helmet giveaways while they [...]

Ashmont/Peabody Square Farmers’ Market Grand Re-Opening July 9, 2:45 PM, Ashmont Station Plaza Join the Irie Roots Carribbean Band, Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry, Rep. Marty Walsh, Capt. Richard Sexton, Boston Police Area C-11; Mark Boyle, MBTA Asst. General Mgr for Development; and Evelyn Friedman, Director of Boston’s Dept. of Neighborhood Development, and City Councillor [...]

Boston Project Ministries is looking for a Structural Engineer: “We would like to add a large rooftop vegetable and flower garden to The Boston Project’s garage to help with food costs, improve the environment, and to be an example in our city.  Our current need is for a structural engineer to examine the garage to [...]

From the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources: “6 red maples infested by the Asian Long-Horned Beetles were discovered on the property of the Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain.  The trees have already been removed by the US Dept. of Agriculture and the State team.  Everyone is hopeful that this was an isolated infestation but USDA, MADA, [...]

Join the Neponset River Watershed Association for a fun morning in the salt marsh, removing trash from this beautiful and unique ecosystem.  This is a great activity for families, teens, and adults alike! The salt marsh acts as [...]

Wondering what to make for dinner?  Pick up some fresh food at the Dorchester House Farmers Market and get a free food sample from the UMass nutritionists while you’re there!  Today, from 11:30 am to 1:30pm, visit the Dorchester House Farmers Market at Dorchester House Multi-Service Center, 1353 Dorchester Avenue (map). Find fresh produce from [...]

The Bowdoin-Geneva Farmers Market opens with a bang this Thursday with their Healthy Summer Kickoff featuring including the annual Community Health Fair. Healthy Summer Kickoff Thursday July 8, 2010 3:00pm-6:30pm 230 Bowdoin Street, Dorchester Highlights of the event will include: • Opening day of the Bowdoin Geneva Farmers’ Market, with fresh produce from three local farms. • Representatives from local organizations offering [...]