Nuestras Raíces Community Gardens

At A Glance

Location: 

Holyoke, Massachusetts

Primary Issue Area:

  • Food

Active since:

1992

Grants Received In:

  • 1999

Core volunteers:

0

Our Purpose

to improve Holyoke's neighborhoods through the creation of community gardens, Nuestras Raices has grown over the years to include a wide range of programs and activities related to food, agriculture, and the environment. Nuestras Raices - which means "Our Roots" - continues to be nurtured by the local Puerto Rican community's strong agricultural ties and rich cultural traditions. Nuestras Raices is proud to serve as a national model on how to advance social justice through sustainable agriculture and related inter-generational, multi-cultural programs.

Summary of Projects

To train and support ten community garden coordinators in leadership and organic gardening skills. The coordinators are elected by their gardening peers and manage the gardens. They orient new members, plan activities, maintain tools, clean common spaces, enforce rules, and are liaisons to the board and the staff of Nuestras Raices.