Volunteer Spotlight: Barb Sommers

At Gaining Ground, we’re fortunate to have a community of volunteers who embody the spirit of generosity. One such volunteer—who has shown incredible dedication and warmth to our farm and farmers this season—is Barb Sommers. Barb joins us on the farm nearly every week—toiling in rain or shine—from nearby Acton. This is her first year […]

A Throughline from Food Access to Health Equity

We know that food security in Massachusetts—and throughout the country—is caused by many interconnected social and economic conditions. The effects of the pandemic have added yet another layer of complexity to the issue.  Looking at the populations that have been hit hardest by both food insecurity and COVID-19, it is clear that access to food—or […]

A Closer Look at a Farm Favorite: Garlic

Some crops that we grow have a singular presence on the farm. Some have a similar bearing on our cuisine. Garlic is one special crop that manages to have both. On a normal year, we harvest our garlic from the fields the week of the Fourth of July. It’s not quite like clockwork, but it’s […]

Meet This Year’s Farm Team: Avery Indermaur

Our 2021 farm crew is flush with knowledgeable, talented, and overall delightful human beings. At Gaining Ground, we believe good things are meant to be shared, so we want to take the opportunity to introduce you to this year’s team, one member at a time.  Let’s get started with Field Crew Member Avery Indermaur. Avery, […]

Meet This Year’s Farm Team: Ava Lublin

Our 2021 farm crew is flush with knowledgeable, talented, and overall delightful human beings. At Gaining Ground, we believe good things are meant to be shared, so we want to take the opportunity to introduce you to this year’s team, one member at a time.  Let’s get to know Field Crew Member Ava Lublin. Ava, […]

Learn About Gaining Ground Inside and Out

Have you ever wondered how Gaining Ground grows so much food on such a small piece of land? Do you have questions about how our produce reaches local individuals and families experiencing food insecurity? Would you like to learn how Gaining Ground organically manages pests and weeds to maximize yields?  We have a great opportunity […]

From Concord to California, Read for Seeds Brings Us Together

This year, Gaining Ground was surprised—and delighted—to have a new school participating in our Read for Seeds program from far off in sunny California! Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders at Raymond J. Fisher Middle School in Los Gatos joined us in our Concord-based efforts to grow vegetables for folks without enough to eat.  And we […]

Partner Spotlight: Daniel’s Table Provides More Than Meals in Framingham

Our newest recipient partner is Daniel’s Table, which provides food and nutritional education to folks struggling with food insecurity in Framingham. Gaining Ground’s communications manager, Christine Savage, recently interviewed Daniel’s Table’s co-founder, Alicia Blais, about the organization’s mission, programming, and what they’re getting up to this busy summer. Alicia, could you please give us an […]

Through the Eyes of a Young Farmer

Growing up in Chicago, summer was always my favorite season. It meant wiffle ball in the streets, ice cream cones larger than my face, lightning bugs, movies in the park, running through sprinklers, and annual camping trips. But as I’ve gotten older and travelled around more, spring is something I look forward to most. It’s […]

Gaining Ground is Featured in “Concord Farms: Open for the Season”

We’re grateful to the Concord Agriculture Council for including Gaining Ground in their video about the arrival of this year’s growing season at some of the fantastic local farms in Concord. It’s a pleasure to be featured among some of our wonderful neighbors, Verrill Farm, Brigham Farm Stand & Greenhouses, ScimoneFarm, and Saltbox Farm! Check […]

Food for Families Market is Back!

Our Food for Families market—serving the Concord and Carlisle communities—returns this month. Staff and board members pre-assemble produce fresh from the farm into grocery bags, which they deliver to the distribution site in Concord. Rain or shine, the market takes place Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., from June 19 – October 2, 2021. […]

Gaining Ground Awarded $350,000 Cummings Grant

Gaining Ground recently received a $350,000 grant from the Cummings Foundation to support the farm’s operations and volunteer program that grows, harvests, and distributes its fresh, organic produce to emergency food programs. Gaining Ground is one of 140 local nonprofits to receive grants of $100,000 to $500,000 each through Cummings Foundation’s $25 Million Grant Program. […]

One for the Record Books

Gaining Ground’s 2020 growing season was memorable for many reasons. A pandemic altered our lives and behaviors forever. Food insecurity skyrocketed, both in Massachusetts and across the nation. Our caterpillar tunnels were damaged by a microburst storm in April, and we reluctantly suspended our volunteer program for the first time in the organization’s 26 year […]

Growing Community Together with the Greater Lowell Community Foundation

Last March, as the pandemic swept across the country, it didn’t take long before the folks at the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) started to hear stories of people in need of personal protective equipment—gloves, masks, hand sanitizer. So they set to work creating an emergency fund for grants to address these new needs, and […]

Getting to Know Gaining Ground’s New Farm Manager, Anna Kelchlin

What drew you to farming? When and how did you start farming?  Initially, what drew me to farming was the fact that I didn’t really understand where my food came from and I was curious about our food system, which I have come to learn is in a sense our healthcare system. In 2012, I […]

A Gift from the Sugar Maples

Last year, because of the pandemic, our Maple Sugaring Open House in early March was the only public event we were able to hold at Gaining Ground for the entire season. This year, we had to cancel the big celebration entirely.  Even when so much changes, though, we take heart that many things remain the […]

Thank You to All of Our Supporters

The board and staff would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those who gave generously and shared their time and talents with Gaining Ground last season. Special thanks go to: Belmont Day School, Thoreau Elementary School, Tenacre Country Day School, and all of the individual students who participated in our 2020 virtual Read […]

2021 Staff and Board News

In tumultuous times, we are more grateful than ever for the dedication of our board of directors and staff. Their talents and skills have helped Gaining Ground achieve record-breaking harvests year after year, and have enabled us to strive to meet rising food insecurity associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.  At the end of 2020, we […]

A Warm Welcome Back to Our Volunteers!

Gaining Ground was thrilled to announce the reopening of our volunteer program this growing season. After a year of isolation and overwhelming challenges, it feels important for all of us—our farmers and our volunteers—to have the opportunity to reconnect with the land and come together in support of hunger relief. Volunteers are essential to the […]

The Measure of a Year

“Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes.How do you measure,Measure a year?” Musical theater buffs may recognize the lyric above from Rent and a song that explores how one defines the truly important events that occur during the course of a year. The Tony award-winning play celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and multiple casts have […]
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