CUFF Curtis Urban Farm Foundation - An East Side Enterprise
Buffalo, NY 14212
CUFF is a not for profit that is using the concept of Social Entrepreneurs to establish agriculture as an economic driver for the East Side. CUFF was establish in the fall of 2008 on property that is part of the Buffalo Central Terminal and has now move to other vacant lots around this area.
CUFF presently has about 6 acres under management as part of the urban farm and has a diverse approach to the crop selection. CUFF is also working with University of Buffalo Engineers for a Sustainable World, Sunshine Garden and University of Buffalo. Each of these associations adds a very valuable resource and skill set that strengths CUFF.
CUFF presently has 8 formal raised beds and 5 large container gardens that presently grow Squash, Pumpkins, Tomatoes, Peppers and other typical crops. CUFF also has 12 beds that grow Hops, Peas, Beans, Water Melons, Currents, and Pumpkins. Cuff has also a large bed of Sunflowers which was our first cash crop.
NEXT STEPS
CUFF has created 10 beds to be planted with Blue Berries next spring. CUFF intends to create another 40 beds on other vacant lots for planting with Black Currents, Gooseberries, Elderberries and fruit trees in the next 2 years. CUFF will have in the next 2 years Chickens, Bees and Live Stock to expand the agricultural offerings.
CROPS WE GROW AT CUFF
Hops
Beans
Pumpkins
Sunflowers
Red Currents
Tomatoes
Peppers
Peas
Watermelon
Squash
CROPS WE WILL GROW AT CUFF
Black Currents
Blue Berries
Goose Berries
Elderberries Fruit Trees
Live Stock
Chickens
Honey
Our goals are to:
- Increase food security activities for the East Side of Buffalo. Develop capacity among existing community food resources in low income and underserved communities in the Western New York area.
- Improve economic self-sufficiency of the East Side of Buffalo.
- Increase community access to culturally appropriate and nutritious food
- Make connections between community members, organizations and resources to ensure the viability and longevity of Erie County wide food system.
- Become a depository, learning center and central location for goods and services related to agriculture and food production
- Develop the resources to become a micro enterprise incubator Incorporate value added process and functions in to our food chain which will improve the revenue for local products.
- Support and integrate other organizations that have similar goals and objectives.
Specific goals include:
- Increase family fruit and vegetable production, consumption and improved access in low-income neighborhoods.
- Improve accessibility and utilization of diverse, sustainable seed and plants.
- Increase interaction among people in low-income neighborhoods and other communities.
- Strengthen relationships between low-income/resource people in neighborhoods with both city, county and neighborhood resources.
- Expand access to fresh perennial foods such as fruit and nut trees for low-income residents.
- Expand economic activity associated with existing community gardening.
- Consolidate goods and service for the surrounding community for low cost or no charge usage
- Become the center processing location for bulk items, plants, equipment and usable items for the use by the community and as a fund raiser for further growth.
- Plant diversified crops that meet the needs of the community as a way to increase goods and services.
- Use the lowest carbon foot print allowed by reasonable programs for planning and development
- Explore new ways to increase the food sources that increase independence in the local community.
- Develop a commercial cooperative processing operation for the small urban and family farm
Yuri Hreshchyshyn - Director of Operations-Volunteer
Erwin Rakoczy - Executive Director of Funds Raising and Planning
Rakoczy12@gmail.com