We are thrilled to share the news that Gaining Ground plans to expand our farming operations to five acres of land within Minute Man National Historical Park. The new land will help us meet growing demand for fresh, nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables at emergency food programs in Greater Boston and the MetroWest.

“Food insecurity continues to rise in Massachusetts,” said Gaining Ground Executive Director Jennifer Johnson. “For nearly 30 years, Gaining Ground has worked to address this issue by growing food exclusively for hunger relief. Our license agreement with Minute Man National Historical Park provides the opportunity for Gaining Ground to significantly increase the amount of nutritious, organic food we grow and donate as we farm in a way that respects the health of the land, the health of people who work and volunteer on the land, and the health and dignity of everyone who eats our food. We are grateful to everyone at the National Park Service for making this opportunity available to us.”

The addition of farmland within Minute Man National Historical Park will more than double our current footprint, upon which we already grow more than 115,000 pounds of produce for hunger relief each year. This expansion will help us serve the increasing needs of our recipient partners—food pantries, meal programs, schools, and homeless shelters—while continuing to provide meaningful experiences for the many volunteers who contribute to the farm’s work.

Gaining Ground will use the new land to expand our efforts to grow high-quality produce through regenerative, no-till agricultural practices. The process of building soil and ecosystem health is gradual and can take several years. For this first season, we will begin improving soil structure and organic matter content at the new site by planting cover crops.