Our Story

Gaining Ground grows organic produce for hunger relief with help from volunteers of all ages and abilities, who work and learn in our fields. In short, we grow food and we give it away to people who need it. For free. This refreshingly simple approach lets us focus on meeting the needs of our volunteers and the people we help feed. These two aspects of our work are closely intertwined—one wouldn’t work without the other.

We work hard to grow high-quality produce, provide an exceptional experience to each volunteer, serve the needs of our recipients and maximize the generous support of our donors.

See us in action by watching our introductory video below!

Who We Feed

Throughout the harvest season, produce from Gaining Ground’s farm goes to food pantries, meal programs, and shelters in Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts. Our approach is local and sustainable—most of our produce is distributed within 20 miles of our farm and within 24 hours of harvest.

Some groups use our produce to prepare a free meal distributed to people who need it. Others give it away as part of providing free food to people who need it. To see the current organizations that we support, visit Our Partners.

Meaningful Volunteerism

Volunteers of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds work and learn with our team. We attract more than 3,200 volunteers every growing season—from 3rd graders to people in their 80s, from Scouts to corporate groups, from prep school athletes to people with special needs. We believe that everyone has something to contribute, from planting beans in the ground, to tying flowers and herbs into bouquets for drying, to chopping wood for sugaring and harvesting cherry tomatoes.

We offer hands-on educational and community service opportunities for individuals and groups. Volunteering at Gaining Ground offers:

• A chance to engage in meaningful hands-on work
• Knowledge of where food comes from and how plants grow
• An introduction to food insecurity and our hunger relief partners
• An opportunity to learn about sustainable farming practices
• A change of scene from your usual environment

Interested in getting involved? Learn more about volunteering at Gaining Ground.