Mrs. Frances Nash's Garden Basket
Healthy produce should be available to everyone.
The Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission (MSAAHCC) had a fantastic year with our launch of Mrs. Frances Nash’s Garden Basket. This program began on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 in partnership with the African Heritage Food Co-Op, Buffalo Go Green, and the East Side Garden Walk.
With the support of a dedicated anonymous donor, East Aurora Unitarian Universalist Church, and Highmark Western New York, Frances Nash’s Garden Basket distributed 30 free Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Farm Shares, enough food to feed over 120 people per week, every week from June through October 18, 2022.
The CSAs were provided by Urban Fruits & Veggies and Dirt Rich Farm and were available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the corner of Michigan and Broadway.
Mrs. Frances Nash
The program is named after Frances Nash, wife of Rev. J. Edward Nash. After attending various health lectures, Mrs. Nash developed an interest in nutrition and became an advocate for healthy eating. She became knowledgeable about vitamins, food-groups, proteins, and starches. In the 1940s, Mrs. Nash developed a large vegetable garden in the back of her home at 36 Potter Street. For many years this garden supplied the neighborhood and the Nash’s friends with organically grown foods.
Our Goal
This program’s development began in late 2021 as a way to help mitigate challenges created by a lack of affordable healthy food in the Michigan Street Corridor. In light of recent events, the MSAAHCC considers a long-term solution for providing healthy food options to residents of the East Side more important than ever.
Mrs. Frances Nash’s Garden Basket initiative hopes to grow from a free produce distribution point in 2022 to a fully fledged affordable farmers market in 2023. The MSAAHCC and partners are currently planning and preparing to operate a weekly farmers market in the Corridor beginning next year to ensure that healthy food options remain a regular resource on Michigan Avenue for years to come.
Get Involved
Individuals who would like to get involved are encouraged to reach out to the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission by calling 716-322-1002 or emailing aclark@michiganstreetbuffalo.org. We are looking for assistance to help plan our affordable farmers market for 2023, as well as volunteers looking to help distribute food this year. If you would like to volunteer to help distribute food this summer, please use the sign up link below.
Take Our Survey
It has been a fantastic summer, and its hard to believe that it is already October. Our last day of Mrs. Frances Nash's Garden Basket will be next Tuesday, October 18, 2022. We would still like to hear from YOU on how we can improve next year. Please consider taking the brief survey below to share your feedback with us.
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