History

The Maple Street Food Forest was a vacant lot in the Grove Hall neighborhood of Roxbury, two blocks from Blue Hill Avenue. For years, the space was empty and unused. Neighbors came together — in collaboration with the Sonoma Maple Schuyler Tenants Association (SMSTA) and Project R.I.G.H.T. — and partnered up with the Boston Food Forest Coalition (BFFC) to turn this space into something new for the community. Thus began the development of the Maple Street Food Forest.

Through much collaboration and many community meetings to set a vision and a plan for the new park, ground was broken at 44 Maple in April of 2024. Soil was mulched and prepared for planting, pathways were formed, plants and trees were put in the ground, benches were built around the premises, and a gazebo was constructed to serve as the heart of the space. Construction was completed in May 2025, and opened to the public in June.

BFFC worked closely with neighbors, SMSTA, and Project R.I.G.H.T. to support the dedicated stewardship team of the site. These neighborhood leaders dreamt of converting this space into a food forest park with fruit and nut trees, shrubs, and other perennial plantings chosen specifically to provide food crops to neighbors. The vision was also for these plants to support birds, native bees, and butterflies. The food forest park is now accessible to all neighbors, serves as an active gathering space for community, and features a bulletin board, a place to play dominoes, ADA compliant stone-dust pathways, picnic tables, a pergola, a gazebo, educational signage for all visitors, lighting for safety, and a fruit/vegetable washing station for visitors and neighborhood classes. These dreams were all worked into the plan for this food forest through direct communication and collaboration with abutting neighbors, and all included features respond to and serve the interests and desires of the immediate community.

 All are welcome to visit and join in at the Maple Street Food Forest. Regular meetings happen every two weeks. You may find us in the park on Monday or Thursday nights. 

Please contact Mark at mark@bostonfoodforest.org or (508) 492-3297.

As Told By Stewards…

What are your dreams for the park?

[Chris]: I'd like to see an intergenerational and multicultural use of the park. Many different types of communities utilizing it. Many opportunities for intergenerational and multicultural exchange. I'd like for the youth to think that they could be more a part of this. More than their eyes can see. A lot of the older folks understand the importance of this park and the huge difference that what was here before for many years. I want the youth to understand how important this park is for this community. That this park can be a peaceful place to congregate to hang out. I want everybody in the community to know this park is for them.

[Arnita]: That the park is used responsibly and respectfully by the community. That's growing food, vegetables, and community. That it's used for what it is intended for, that's growing, bringing people together, and the community having joyful spaces. 

What does stewardship mean to you?

[Chris]: A good steward is somebody who is a part of something larger, where every steward is an important piece. Everybody is a part of this for the common good. Stewards have a duty to the larger group, larger neighborhood context. You're given the honor to defend and protect this community asset, which in our case is a food forest. You are investing your free time, which is valuable, to something that is bigger than you. 

[Arnita]: Overall, to make sure that the needs of the community are fulfilled. That communication between people that are utilizing the park/using the park is ongoing and productive. That any needs or precautions that we have, we can lean on support from BFFC and other community stakeholders, and learn from other stewardship teams. This is new to a lot of us and some of the foods/vegetables we have not heard of, we're excited to learn more about caring for them, that they flourish, and what we can eat. 

How does your work with the park give you hope during this time in our collective history?

[Chris]: It's a big deal for this community to have this park, something that is governed and belongs to the community. It's an incredible community asset that more people should be involved with, young and old, from all different cultures. I want people to feel comfortable to congregate at our park, to feel welcome, to feel like it's theirs. 

[Arnita]: There are so many negative and distasteful things going on in this world right now. Anything as beautiful as this park is a peaceful setting, a place where adults and children can put a little more joy in their lives.