News
January 19, 2023
Gaining Ground is a 3 acre non-profit, no-till, organic farm in Concord, MA that grows produce for 15 hunger relief organizations with the help of community volunteers. We donate 100% of the food we grow. In the 2022 growing season we grew over 115,000 pounds of produce, supplying more than 1,200 food-insecure households each week […]
January 12, 2023 • Gaining Ground
Eric Toensmeier, of Project Drawdown, writes, “We can’t mitigate climate change without agriculture, so we have to find ways for agriculture to be part of the solution, instead of part of the problem.” How can local farms play a role in the solution? Two area farms—Gaining Ground in Concord and The Good Food Farm in Ashby—have embarked on […]
December 21, 2022
Farmers keep the world nourished. However we get the fruits and vegetables that we eat, we know that they arrive to us thanks to people who work with the soil, sun, and rain to bring crops from seed to harvest. Uniquely, Gaining Ground’s farmers know that the produce they grow goes exclusively to people who […]
• Christine Savage, Communications Manager
Winter is officially here and although the pace on the farm has eased, our harvests don’t take a holiday this time of year. We’ve continued to distribute crops like arugula, bok choy, carrots, mustard greens, and spinach this month, and will continue to do so throughout the season. Winter farming is critical to our efforts […]
• Polly Vanasse, Board President
As Paul Simon sang to me yesterday, “Make a new plan, Stan.” Every five or so years, Gaining Ground is tasked with creating a new strategic plan. It’s an opportunity for the board of directors and the staff to steer the organization toward ambitious goals and new horizons. Our latest plan, formally adopted in November […]
November 30, 2022 • Gaining Ground
Gaining Ground is hiring for a 2023 Field Crew Member. Learn more about this farming job opportunity and how to apply.
November 21, 2022 • Christine Savage, Communications Manager
“Last time we were at the farm, it was really cool,” said Shawn Massak. “We set up two of the accessible gardening beds, which was great because it really connects into what some of our population experiences.” Shawn works as the employment services manager for The Guild for Human Services, helping to provide job training […]
• Christine Savage, Communications Manager
On Saturday, we held our annual pre-Thanksgiving distribution of fresh, organic produce in Concord. In coordination with Concord and Carlisle’s Councils on Aging and Community Services, we use this final Food for Families market to give away hefty amounts of nutritious greens and storage crops to more than 100 households experiencing food insecurity. At this […]
November 18, 2022
An Appreciation Post for the Gear That Keeps Our Farmers Going The farm’s first hard frost this season didn’t hit until November. Despite the gentleness with which we transitioned from summer to fall, the cold weather is now officially upon us. The change in seasons means the farmers have now fully rotated the clothes they […]
October 28, 2022 • David Salomón Saleh
Five years ago I accepted the responsibility of taking care of the honey bee colonies at Gaining Ground. At that time, I was looking for opportunities to learn more about beekeeping in the northern hemisphere and about sustainable agriculture. I was hooked as soon as I learned about the farm’s hunger-relief mission, and felt lucky […]
• Christine Savage, Communications Manager
When we talk with our hunger-relief partner Eastie Farm about their work over the past year, the first thing they mention is the need. The need for better access to affordable food in East Boston. The need for fresh, organic produce. The need for equitable opportunities for health and well-being. “There is one grocery store […]
This year marks Assistant Farm Manager Erin Espinosa’s second season with Gaining Ground. Erin brings with her an incredible depth of knowledge and experience, as well as the kind of enthusiasm and attention to detail that help keep the farm humming along at all times of year. What has it been like to work on […]
• Christine Savage, Communications Manager
There was an extra set of eyes looking over the crops at Gaining Ground this season. Moving meticulously down the pathways and through the beds, Manan Arora crouched with his clipboard in hand, peeking under eggplants, turning over cabbage leaves, and inspecting cucumber plants. This summer, Manan worked as a crop disease and pest scout […]
September 29, 2022 • Erin Espinosa, Assistant Farm Manager
Smells of molé simmering on the stove. Red chiles decorating the walls. A bloated belly from cheesy dishes. These are a few of my favorite food memories. Food connects us to our ancestors. Our spirits crave the foods our ancestors grew and ate. I am a white Mexican-American reconnecting with my ancestors through food and […]
If you’ve visited the farm this season, you’ve likely noticed that the structures look fastidiously cared for and the areas of lawn are immaculate. We have Groundskeeper Geoff Nelson to thank for this. Since starting on the farm in the spring, Geoff has worked diligently to keep the farm looking beautiful and functioning smoothly so […]
• Christine Savage, Communications Manager
Every year, Gaining Ground welcomes a team of local high school students who volunteer in the fields during their summer vacation. They learn and work alongside our farmers under the scorching sun and the pummeling rain, preparing the soil, transplanting seedlings, hand-weeding vegetable beds, and harvesting nutrient-dense produce for hunger relief. Throughout the 2022 season, […]
• Christine Savage, Communications Manager
There are many reasons why we love that Concord is a town flush with cyclists, but chief among them may be that a bicycle is what first brought volunteer Laurie Gleason to Gaining Ground’s fields. “I biked in many years ago. When we stopped there was one person working in the fields, and there was […]
September 14, 2022
The details: What: A new fall educational farm tour Where: Gaining Ground, 341 Virginia Road in Concord When: Thursday, October 6, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. How: RSVP to rsvp@gainingground.org As the cold season approaches, the farm begins the process of winterizing our fields and following practices to extend the growing season in order […]
August 29, 2022 • Allison Goodwin, Program Manager
Last August we wished desperately for dry, sunny days to soak up the standing rainwater in the fields, help our heat-loving summer crops grow, and alleviate the disease and pest pressure caused by days of unending rain. This year, our hopes shift instead to more rain (please, more rain!) as all of Massachusetts weathers an […]
• Gaining Ground
At Gaining Ground, our hunger-relief work is made possible by a community of volunteers that embodies a dedication to sustainable, holistic farming practices and uprooting food insecurity rivaled only by that of our incredible farmers. A standout member of this outstanding team is Allison Aley. We caught up with Allison to learn more about her […]
1
2
3
…
14
Next »