Over the weekend I attended Massachusetts Avenue Project’s (MAP) Annual Spring Celebration and Plant and Seedling Sale. I was on the hunt for tomato and pepper seedling (young plants). While I’ve been to MAP’s farm stand plenty of times, I was relatively unfamiliar with the annual seedling sale. In years to come, I will be sure to never miss this event, for lots of reasons.
First of all, the MAP compound is fascinating. To think that this farm is in an urban setting is fascinating. Over the years the fertile grounds have rippled out in all directions. In 2018, there was a ribbon cutting for the organization’s tremendous Farm House project, which has become a bit of a rallying flag for the entire near West Side neighborhood.
Getting back to the seedling sale, I have to say that some of my favorite encounters were: the chicken coop, the goats, the vermiculture, the kid-friendliness, the live music, the veggie crew, the hoop houses, and the flowers. I never got a chance to try any of the food, because I was in a bit of a rush and didn’t feel like waiting in line, but judging by all of the customers I’m sure that they were very happy with the offerings.
The best way that I can describe MAP’s annual seedling sale is to say that it is simply magical. I’ve watched as MAP has grown its campus over the years, into a truly impressive undertaking that any city would love to have in its midst. The event spotlights the wholesome nature of the grassroots project, which has done so much to promote urban agriculture, youth leadership, and even farm to school policies.
The MAP picture is a snapshot of how a neighborhood should work. And the best way to demonstrate that is through… pictures.
Vendors, artists, growers and herbalists that attended the event:
A Snail’s Forest Handmade pottery
Breva Kitchen Colombian food by Chef Diego
BeeVibe Honey & beeswax products
Buffalo’s Vada-Paav & Bites Vegetarian Indian food
Colibrí Panadería Mexican pan dulce & coffee
Creekside Flowers Locally grown flowers
Curious Rabbit Art Immersive art activities for all ages
Eat Local UB Nutrition & food-related resources
Farmer Pirates Compost Nutrient-rich, local compost
Gardens Buffalo Niagara Garden Walk info & education
Grassroots Gardens of WNY Gardening resources
Greene Acres Farm Farm animal meet & greet and native seedlings
Half Luna Empanadas by Chef Stephanie
Massachusetts Avenue Project Block Club Neighborhood resources
Nickel City Flowers Floral crafts & seedlings
Raindrop Remedies Herbal medicines
Rob Montone & Jordan Rose Providing lively musical entertainment
Soil & Water Conservation District Free serviceberry saplings
The Tool Library Resources about their tool inventory
The Foundry Resources and youth makerspace made products
UB Department of Environment & Sustainability Soil testing & resources
MAP | 387 Massachusetts Ave, Buffalo, NY 14213 | (716) 882-5327
The Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) Farmhouse Market is open year-round on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Mobile Market operates from June through October.
Funds raised from MAP-grown seedlings & MAP-made Farmhouse Market products sustain the organization’s ongoing food equity work.