Massachusetts Avenue Project

The goal of MAP’s youth employment program, Growing Green, is not to just build career skills for young folks in Buffalo. It is also to support them as leaders to find the path that calls to them. MAP has been developing our youth program for over 20 years now, making changes based on what we learn from youth as they move through the program. Sometimes, we are lucky enough to have teens with us throughout the Growing Green program and then some! Falena is one such former MAP youth. She is currently our Farm Education Coordinator, (although she will be moving onto her next journey soon!) and during her time at MAP has shaped the program and the future of many young folks at MAP. Recent funding cuts — both on a federal and muncipal level — have disrupted the years of sustained funding that supported our youth progam. Make a donation today to keep the work growing at bit.ly/growingreen26 or the link in our bio. Consider making your donation a recurring one to become a MAP Farm Friend and give us a consistent source of support year-round.

Mobile Market season is a month away! 🚛 The MAP Mobile Market promotes food equity in Buffalo by bringing fresh, locally sourced, and affordable foods to communities where access is limited. All items are proudly sourced from local farmers/producers as well as MAP’s Urban Farm (produce, herbs, honey, dairy, dry goods & more). This year, the Mobile Market will be selling fresh fruits, veggies, herbs and more at 8 different locations in the city of Buffalo. Keep your eyes peeled for special pop-ups and collaborations, too. 💭 Looking for something specific from our markets? We want to hear from you! Go to bit.ly/mapmarketfeedback to share feedback and produce requests. 💞 Want to help our markets happen? Become a volunteer: /mobilemarket

In a city where underserved communities have historically been disinvested from, for over 20 years MAP’s Growing Youth program on Buffalo’s West Side has offered a safe and inclusive space for ALL youth to gain meaningful skills through paid employment, all while learning about urban agriculture, culinary enterprise, and social justice. Swipe through to read a bit more about how the program sows the seeds of youth leadership and success. A note about funding: This program has historically been funded through the Mayor’s Summer Youth Internship Program (MSIP) funding over the past 20 years. However, this year, MAP and many other organizations received word that the city funded MSIP program had been subject to major budget cuts. We nearly had to cancel this year’s program— but thanks to the generosity of the @buffalobills , the program was able to carry on as usual. We want to extend another heartfelt thank you to the Bills for helping us continue this program this year. We thank them for their support. 🌿

There’s a new Little Free Pantry in the Five Points neighborhood, thanks to the students at West Buffalo Charter School! @westbuffalocharterschool Over the past few months, students from the VIP Club (Very Inclusive People) at WBCS worked together to fundraise for, build and stock a ‘Little Free Pantry’ in support of the West Side community. The pantry was installed in front of the MAP Farmhouse at 387 Massachusetts Avenue. All are welcome to stop by and take what they need! Interested in donating to the pantry? Please feel free to drop non-perishables and essential items (like laundry detergent, toilet paper, and feminine hygiene products) directly in the pantry. The pantry has been a hit so far, and could use some love right now if you have items to spare. 🥫❤ P.S. Did you know they will be a new MAP Mobile Market site this year? You can find us there (113 Lafayette Ave.) from 11am-1pm every Tuesday starting Tuesday, June 2!

THANK YOU for joining us for another MAP Seedling Sale this year! 🌼✨ Seeing our community gather on the farm each year reflects the heart of MAP — we strive to be a place where communal wellbeing, belonging and resilience can be cultivated through a commitment to justice. With the help of our community partners, we achieved just that! Together, we learned about the benefits of eating locally grown food, 🍅 connected with local growers, 🌱 tested attendee soil samples for lead to promote safe growing, 🐛 learned from composting demos, shared neighborhood resources, and sold SO many plants… around 4,000 MAP-grown seedlings went home with you! Thanks to the partners, vendors and volunteers who made it happen. We hope you’ll come back for another seasonal event on the farm! Mark your calendars for the Buffalo Bills Foundation @slowrollbuffalo ride hosted at MAP on June 1st. 🚲

Mark your calendars! MAP’s annual fundraiser and celebration of local food, Raising the Roots for Food Equity, will take place Saturday, October 3rd at MAP’s urban farm at 387 Massachusetts Avenue. Raising the Roots is one of the best events of the season — your ticket includes small bites prepared by local chefs, live music, take-home crafts, and more. Early-bird tickets will go on sale mid-summer, so keep your eyes peeled and your schedules clear.

We’re excited to announce a new partnership to benefit the health of our community and urban ecosystem: a FREE rat control & mitigation workshop for the community, made possible in collaboration with our friends at Cornell Integrated Pest Management (IPM) @cornellipm and @thetoollibrary ! Rats are a part of urban ecosystems, but unmanaged populations can threaten public health, food safety, backyard poultry, and soil health. This workshop will teach attendees to identify rat activity, reduce pest attractants, and understand humane, environmentally friendly rat control options. A demonstration focused on practical, community-based rat mitigation strategies, will also be provided — including use of a BurrowRx machine, a safer and more humane alternative to traditional rat control methods like bait boxes and other traps. Attendees will also be eligible to rent the BurrowRx machine for their own use, which will be available to rent from MAP through the Tool Library after the workshop. Thank you to Ehrlich Pest Management for the donation! 🔗 Register at bit.ly/ratcontrolworkshop2026 to save your spot (linked in our bio) 🎟️ FREE of cost with registration

Missed us yesterday? Come to our ‘second chance’ sale today! We’re selling remaining MAP-grown seedlings at a slightly discounted price. We’ll be here from 10am - 12pm at your friendly local urban farm & food hub: 387 Massachusetts Ave 🌈✨🌱

Looking for a seasonal role? You’re in luck! The application deadline for our seasonal Mobile Market positions has been extended. Apply by May 5th at mass-ave.org/jobs. 🔗 Need a role that’s part-time, but year-round? Our lovely Farm Education Coordinator will be leaving MAP to begin a new chapter in their farming journey, and we’re looking for the right teammate to take their place! Read on to learn more, and find the full job description at mass-ave.org/jobs. 🌱 ----- Do you care about urban agriculture, youth education, and growing a more just food system? We are hiring one part-time, permanent Farm Education Coordinator to support MAP’s urban farm and youth programming. This role blends hands-on farm work with education, helping maintain the farm through the growing season while also developing and teaching curriculum for MAP youth and visiting groups. 🌻 We’re looking for someone with experience in teaching, youth engagement, farming or urban agriculture, and a passion for community-based food justice work. Strong communication skills, teamwork, and flexibility for seasonal scheduling are essential. Weekend availability is required. 💵 $20/hour + paid federal holidays 🕒 20 hours/week, year-round 🔗 Full job description at mass-ave.org/jobs 📅 Apply by Tuesday, May 12th at midnight by sending a resume and cover letter to [email protected]

While we wait for the MAP Seedling Sale on Saturday, May 2nd, let’s look back at some of the memories we’ve made together over the years 💭 For over 10 years, the Seedling Sale has brought people together on MAP’s urban farm to cultivate resilience, connection and joy. All of the community partners, growers, businesses, artisans, and attendees who join us help to create a day centered around care for each other and our planet. Our hope is that all who join, leave more empowered to grow their own food and plant seeds of change in their own communities. 🌎🌿 Learn more about our Seedling Sale at mass-ave.org/seedling-sale; We hope you’ll join! 📍 387 Massachusetts Ave Saturday, May 2, 10am - 2pm ‘Second Chance’ Sale on May 3, 10am - 12pm (Only remaining seedlings for sale)

Our farm team is working hard keeping these seedling babies cared for, and ready for you to take home from our Seedling Sale comin up on May 2nd! Here’s a little sneak peek of the 70+ unique varieties of MAP-grown veggies, fruits, herbs, flowers you’ll find. 🌱 MAP Seedling Sale Saturday, May 2nd, 10am - 2pm 📍 387 Massachusetts Ave Can’t make it on Saturday? Swing by the ‘Second Chance’ Sale on May 3rd (10am - 12pm) which will feature any remaining seedlings for a discounted price.

Get a jumpstart on your garden, with seedlings and compost all in one place! We’ll be joining the MAP and GWMG seedling sales next month, and are offering the option to pre-order compost for pick up right then and there! Use the special link in our bio to reserve your bags. If you’d like to order bagged compost to pick up at our site during our normal sales hours, you can find that information on our website.