About this project

Alchemy Initiative is an urban model of sustainability and community. Transforming the former Notre Dame church and rectory, we are using food, art, and music as catalysts for social change. This project will allow us to develop the former church cooking facility into a brand-spanking-new commercial kitchen. This au courant kitchen will open up lots of uncharted opportunities for our community… we will rent to small food producers (think of your aunt who wants to turn her cupcake-making hobby into a real business); we will teach cooking classes (from cheese-making to canning); and we will have good old-fashioned community meals (bringing the people of Pittsfield together with food).

The Deets on the deal : : :

Improvements:
• Green renovations using earth friendly building materials, wherever and whenever possible
• Wall dividing the kitchen from our former church bingo-hall now-turned artist studios
• Quarry tile flooring
• Replacement ceiling with improved lighting
• Stainless Steel wall treatments in cooking area
• Video cam for live teaching screen with recording capacity
• Handicapped accessible bathroom

New Equipment:
• Handwash sink
• Utility sink
• Commercial Dishwasher
• 10 Burner stove with grill and 2 ovens
• A convection oven
• Under counter refrigeration
• 30 qt mixer
• Harvest table for 12
• Chairs for harvest table

Activities to come:
• After school, after work, and weekend classes teaching healthy cooking and nutrition
• Farm to food classes (from our urban farm to our renovated kitchen)
• 4-5 small business tenants producing food commercially
• Community kitchen for Alchemy Initiative residents and others in need of a large shared cooking space

Project location: Pittsfield, MA

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Alchemy Initiative

Pittsfield, MA

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Alchemy Initiative is an urban model of sustainability and community in the heart of downtown Pittsfield, MA. We work to inspire and empower our community to transform the common into something special. We are an intentional living laboratory and a catalyst for social change, promoting the principles of holistic living, art-making, and sustainability.

Located in the former Notre Dame church and rectory in downtown Pittsfield, there are eight elements within our initiative. In just over a year we have converted the grounds into an Urban Farm. Raised beds have been hand-built; vegetables, fruit, herbs, and flowers are grown; and bees and chickens bring life to our farm. The former rectory, now the Urban Farmhouse, is being renovated into six separate living units. We work to reduce our carbon footprint and utilize environmentally sound living practices. We are an educational facility for the arts and sustainable community. Currently we function as a meeting space for the community and house Artisan Studios and a Workshop Space. Classes will include fiber-arts, culinary arts, gardening techniques, and more. Down the road our plans include a Commercial Kitchen, Reading Room, Café, Hostel and to further develop the Event Space.

We are dedicated to leading Pittsfield towards a more sustainable community and invite you to be a part of our intentional living laboratory. Learn more at www.AlchemyInitiative.org

1. crispina.com
2. AlchemyInitiative.org