Pittsfield Farmers Market Indoor Season

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Roots Rising announced that the indoor season of our teen-run Pittsfield Farmers Market kicks off on Nov. 11. 
 
The monthly indoor market offers local Berkshire goods throughout the winter months. The indoor market will take place one Saturday a month from 9 AM to 1 PM inside Zion Lutheran Church, 74 First St. on the following dates: Nov. 11, Dec. 2, Jan. 13, Feb. 10, March 9, and April 13.
 
The market offers fresh, local and seasonal fruits, vegetables, baked goods, meat, eggs, cheese, and artisan goods. This season will feature a mix of new and returning vendors. The market itself is completely full, with many local farmers, food producers, and artisans joining each week. Regular vendors bringing the bounty of the Berkshires each month include Red Shirt Farm, Holiday Brook Farm, Berkshire Microgreens, and Abode Farm.
 
According to a press release, the Pittsfield Farmers Market was founded with the belief that everyone has the right to fresh, healthy food, and we strive to make the market accessible and inclusive for all.
 
Pittsfield Farmers Market's Market Match program doubles the purchasing power of our shoppers using SNAP - matching up to $30 in SNAP each Market. That means at the Pittsfield Farmers Market:
 
? $10 of SNAP = $20
? $20 of SNAP = $40
? $30 of SNAP = $60
 
Plus, shoppers can use their HIP benefits at our market - getting $40-$80 in extra produce each month.
 
The Pittsfield Farmers Market also hosts a Giving Table, where shoppers and vendors can gift food to be donated to local pantries and shelters. Additionally, to help increase access to local, nutritious food, this year the Pittsfield Farmers Market is partnering with Berkshire Bounty to donate a portion of goods from each market to Mercado de Vida, a Pittsfield food access site for those in need.

Tags: farmers market,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street.  The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First. 

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said. 

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers. 

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center.  It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said. 

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it." 

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County. 

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle.  The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said. 

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories