Gaining Ground wouldn’t be what it is today without the dedication and passion of our incredible team members. One of them is Ava Lublin, an Assistant Grower who first joined Gaining Ground as a volunteer seven years ago. We sat down with Ava to learn more about her journey in sustainable farming, her connection to the land, and the projects she’s most excited about.

Where is home? How did you find your way to Gaining Ground?

I grew up in Concord and have a long-standing connection with Gaining Ground. I first came here in fifth grade for a service day, and I really liked it; I never forgot about it. When I got to high school, I volunteered on the farm team to complete my volunteer hours. The summer before I went to college, I joined the field crew and worked here for the past three summers.

This year, in March, I decided to pursue a year-round position and expressed my interest in becoming an assistant grower. I’ve been involved with Gaining Ground for about seven years now, and I truly appreciate this place and the community. I’ve had the opportunity to know a previous farm manager and many of the other farmers who have worked here, which has made my experience even more special.

Have you always had a knack for farming and growing things? Where did your interest in farming come from?

I guess my interest in farming has always been there. Growing up, we had a small garden at home, but a lot of it came from spending time with my grandparents. My grandfather had this huge garden. We’d visit for weeks in the summer, and the first thing we’d do when we got there was head straight to the garden to pick beans or peas or something from his garden.

He was also a fisherman and lobsterman, so we’d go out with him to catch fish or dig for quahogs in the salt marshes. Most nights, dinner was made from things we’d harvested or caught ourselves. I’ve always loved that connection to the land and being outside. As a kid, I was constantly outdoors, playing in the woods, and I’ve always been drawn to that kind of life.

When I went to college, I studied agroecology. It was clear to me how deeply agriculture connects to almost every societal issue—it all traces back to the land. The land is the foundation of everything: how we live, our civilizations, our culture. It’s at the core of it all.

We talk a lot about the importance of a farming practice that is sustainable and regenerative. What do these terms mean to you—both in relation to your work/career as a farmer, and as someone with a personal relationship with our larger food system and the climate?

To me, regenerative agriculture and sustainability are rooted in the practices of people who have stewarded the land for centuries, especially Indigenous and local communities. It’s about a grassroots approach, reconnecting with the land and drawing from those traditional methods, rather than relying on top-down solutions.

People often feel disconnected from nature, but if we take care of the land, it takes care of us. Sustainability is about maintaining our current stability, but regenerative farming goes further—it’s about healing the land. Practices like no-till farming aim to rebuild soil health and restore the natural ecosystems damaged by conventional farming. Everything starts and ends with the land, and regenerative agriculture is about nurturing that relationship to create a more abundant, sustainable future.

Do you have a favorite farm project/task/duty or tool to use? What do you like about it?

I honestly enjoy almost everything about this job because of how diversified the work is. We all get to do a bit of everything—planting, harvesting, working at the wash station, and helping with distribution—so I get to see the whole process, from seeding to the produce being picked up by our partners, which is really rewarding. One of my favorite tasks is cover cropping. I love seeding cover crops and watching them grow because it’s such an important part of no-till systems. 

This year, Chrissie (one of Gaining Ground’s Farm Co-Managers) and I have been working on a compost tea project, which is super exciting. Compost tea is amazing because it allows us to grow the microbiome of the compost exponentially. Essentially, we can take a small amount of compost, aerate it to feed the microbes, and create a super-concentrated liquid that can be diluted and sprayed on the soil. This method increases the diversity and number of beneficial microorganisms, making it even more effective than regular compost. 

Do you have any favorite farmers or other folks doing work that motivates/inspires you?

One of my biggest inspirations is one of our former farm managers, Anna. I worked with her for the past three years, and she taught me so much about farming, our connection to the land, and sustainable practices. 

I also have a lot of admiration for the farmers I’ve worked with here, both when I was a volunteer and now as part of the crew. Gaining Ground attracts such thoughtful, knowledgeable, and genuinely good people. Over the past four years, we’ve had an amazing farm crew, and I’ve learned so much from them every day. We have great conversations and really support one another, which has created a strong, positive culture among us.

I’m looking forward to visiting more farms in the future and continue to expand my knowledge, especially now that I have more time for that kind of exploration.

What are you looking forward to on the farm this year?

I’m really excited about this being my first year working the longer season. I love the fall on the farm and I’m looking forward to seeing how we still have so much produce coming in, even as the weather cools. I think the winter will be a great time to focus on different projects, like the compost tea initiative we’ve been working on.

Every year we’re improving systems, building tools, and refining our processes, which is something I find really enriching. There’s always something to do, and I love that constant opportunity to learn and grow through the work we do here.

When you’re not farming, what do you do for fun?

When I’m not farming, I love spending time with my dog and two cats. I also enjoy reading and drawing and in general just being outside. I’ve been going to more concerts with some of the other farmers, which has been a lot of fun. Music is a big part of my life, it’s really special that we all like to hang out outside of work.