Virtual Farmers' Market Storytime
The Belmont Public Library is hosting virtual storytime on Wednesdays, from 10:00 - 10:30am. Celebrate the Belmont Farmers' Market with stories about great food and summer fun. For ages 2 to 6. Register online to save your spot. each week.
We’re starting the season with Covid-19 safety rules in place. There are fewer than last year, but we want to make everyone feel as safe and comfortable as possible.
Perhaps we’ll get back to in-person Storytime and other events during the season.
Food assistance organizations
These local organizations provide food assistance to those in need
Find out more about these organizations, and support them if you are able.
Belmont Food Pantry provides a range of non-perishable food and some seasonal perishable foods to residents of Belmont in need.
Belmont Helps! provides emergency aid with the utmost confidentiality, including groceries, meals, technical assistance, mask drives, phone buddies, tasks and more.
Boston Area Gleaners rescue fresh food from farms and get it to people who need it.
Food Link is a community organization that rescues fresh food, alleviates hunger, and contributes to environmental sustainability.
The Food Project has a mission to create a thoughtful and productive community of youth and adults from diverse backgrounds who work together to build a sustainable food system.
Project Restore Us partners with restaurants to supply groceries to worker families in partnership with community organizations
Food assistance at the Market
Increasing access to fresh local food.
Belmont Farmers' Market has a great food assistance program, thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors.
SNAP benefit match (formerly Food Stamps) up to $20 per shopper each week
WIC FMNP coupon match (for moms and infants)
Senior FMNP coupon match (for qualifying seniors)
Most of our farmers accept HIP (Healthy Incentives Program), which offers free produce to SNAP users
See our food assistance page for details and make a donation to support our programs.
In the 2020 season, we matched almost $10,000 in SNAP benefits, and almost $2000 in FMNP coupons. We’re glad to give local families more access to fresh local food, and to support our vendors at the same time.
“Farmers markets are making real strides in increasing fresh food access for low income SNAP participants. $24.4 million in SNAP benefits were redeemed at farmers markets across the US in 2017, a 35.2% increase from 2012. This dramatic increase can be attributed to markets investing in innovative outreach, education, and incentive programs, and support from federal, state, and local government.” Source: Farmers Market Coalition.
Can you help? Our ability to improve our neighbors' access to fresh fruit and vegetables depends on your donations. Please consider donating through our parent organization, The Belmont Food Collaborative. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Curbside composting in Belmont
The Town of Belmont is partnering with Black Earth Compost to offer a once-a-week household curbside food waste collection service.
Black Earth Composting is giving Belmont a volume discount. There are currently 783 Belmont subscriptions paying $49.99 for six months [as of mid-March 2021]. The cost per Belmont household will go down even more as more people sign up. When 1,500 households are enrolled in the program, the price will fall to $44.99 for six months. Also included with every subscription, you will receive a voucher for a 10 lbs. bag of finished compost, redeemable at Wagon Wheel in Lexington.
Belmont Composts! is part of the Belmont Food Collaborative, the parent organization of the Belmont Farmers Market. Belmont Composts began in 2018 with the mission to reduce Belmont’s trash by increasing curbside composting.
Get more information or sign up for Black Earth Compost today!
National Magic Week, Oct 25–31, 2020
Ryan Lally, one of our favorite Events Tent performers
One of our favorite Events Tent performers, Watertown native Ryan Lally is a professional magician. He has been performing shows, from corporate functions to theatrical productions, for over a decade.
Ryan wrote an article in the Citizen Herald about National Magic Week.
Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to have magic, music, Storytime or other events during the pandemic. And we miss performers like Ryan, who’s been at the Market for years. We look forward to his return!