Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), and the Mayor’s Office of Food Initiatives are launching a new project to update the Boston Zoning Code to support Urban Agriculture (UA) city wide. UA is small scale farming that makes healthy, fresh food more accessible and empowers Bostonians by creating economic opportunity. Examples of urban farming include rooftop greenhouse agriculture, aquaponics (fish farming), community farms, farm stands, composting, and other fresh food-producing endeavors. The kickoff and “visioning” meeting will take place Monday, January 30, from 6 – 8:30 pm at Suffolk University, 73 Tremont Street, 9th floor. The keynote speaker is Will Allen, Founder and CEO of Growing Power Inc. Will is a former pro athlete and 2008 McArthur Foundation Genius Grant recipient for his work on urban farming and sustainable food productions.

Please bring some form of ID (drivers license, credit card) to clear building security, or you may send your full name prior to January 27 to john.read.BRA@cityofboston.gov. You may call Tad Read, Senior Planner, at 617-918-4264 for more information.