The Food Project is one of the country's leading food equity organization.
The Food Project's farm outside Dudley Square
Nearly 20 years ago, this neighborhood was deemed a public hazard due to illegal dumping of waste materials, including lead.
Due to the work of community activists, illegal dumping stopped and lead has been eliminated.
The area is now safe for growing food.
The Food Project allows residents to also grow food on the land.
For many residents, food has become more accessible to them.
Dorchester resident Vernell Jordan started growing collard greens in April, and now they are ready for eating!
Dorchester resident Vernell Jordan raking dead leaves away from her collard greens.
Dorchester resident Vernell Jordan eating one of her tomatoes.
That tomato tastes good!
Dorchester resident Vernell Jordan and her collard greens.
Jordan says that she hardly goes to a supermarket anymore
Vernell Jordan holding some of her food
Vernell Jordan walking through the tomato fields
Dorchester resident Felicio Pina in front of his corn.
His corn seeds come straight from his native Cape Verde.
Pina showing off his corn.
Felicio Pina roaming the corn fields
Something green is growing here.
Corn for days.
More green stuff growing.
Flowers make any neighborhood look beautiful
This is where the composting is done.
This is what compost looks like once it breaks down.
This is another community garden around the corner on Dean Street.
There are many other smaller community gardens, as well as residents who grow food in their yards.
Dorchester resident Vernell Jordan has said that the gardens have brought neighbors together as a community.
Collard greens are a popular vegetable in the gardens.
Carlos Gonzales is the assistant manager of the Leyland Street community garden. He grows purple hull peas, which are native to West Africa.
Over 40 types of fruits and vegetables are grown at the Leyland Street community garden
All the food grown here are organic and without pesticides.
Gonzales said that the garden has brought different racial groups together in the name of "nature's food."
The garden has also allowed people to reconnect with their own cultural roots.
There is some more collard greens.
Gonzales grows "gandules" or pigeon peas, a popular source of protein in Puerto Rico, where he is from originally.
There is a sizeable Puerto Rican community in this neighborhood.
Grapes are also grown here.
There they are...
...and ready for picking.
I prefer eating the purple grapes.
Why are you sitting around?
Wow, I don't think I have ever seen purple podded peas before.
Tomates are ready for picking too.
A better view of the peas.
This is another garden adjacent to the Leyland Street garden.
This garden has lots of sunflowers and tomatoes.
At Leyland Street community garden, Vernell Jordan was given a tomato that grow with a hole in the middle.
Can you see her eye?
Here is a better view.
