Explore: Events

Support October’s Ride for Food

For the fourth year, Gaining Ground is participating in the Ride for Food sponsored by Three Squares New England on Sunday, October 6th. During its seven year history, this event has raised over $1.6 million benefiting eighteen hunger relief food partners including us. Last year’s Gaining Ground team had 31 individuals raising over $35,000, all of […]

The Community Circuit

This year, a variety of organizations have reached out to the Gaining Ground farmers to learn more about their farming systems and to include them in various activities. They have participated in publications, podcasts, farm tours and even community cooking contests!  In March, Gaining Ground was included in the UMass Extension Vegetable Notes with a photograph […]

Upcoming Events

July is a busy month for Gaining Ground with both a field day and afternoon farm tour to learn more about no-till farming practices. September brings our Community Harvest Celebration followed by our Ride for Food in early October. We welcome all to join us. For more details about each […]

Widening the Circle with Ride for Food

On a beautiful fall morning, more than 350 bikers from all over eastern Massachusetts arrived at Nobles and Greenough School to fight hunger by participating in the Three Squares New England Ride for Food. Started in 2012, this 10- to 50-mile cycling event has raised more than $1.6 million for the benefit of its 18 […]

Forward into Fall

By participating in the Concord Food, Farm and Garden Fair on the second weekend in September, Gaining Ground jump started its fall community activities. On Saturday, September 8, the farm hosted a tent at the Ag Day Farmer’s Market, alongside Concord’s other farms. Board member Jen Flint created a hands-on activity that attracted the attention […]

Hunger Relief from the Ground Up: Secret is in the Soil

At the end of March, Gaining Ground hosted an interdisciplinary panel focused on the issue of hunger relief. In a community like ours, hunger might not be obvious, but here are the numbers:

  • 41 million Americans are hungry, and yet 40% of food in the US is thrown away during the growing, distribution, and dining process.
  • Children struggle with hunger with 1 in 8 children in Eastern MA being food insecure and 1 in 6, nationally.
  • 800,000 Massachusetts residents do not know where their next meal will come from, an increase of 71% in the last decade.

Our panel included:

  • Danielle Nierenberg, activist, author, and journalist. She co-founded Food Tank, a non-profit organization that researches food systems, hunger, and poverty.
  • Dr. Kathryn Brodowski, preventive medicine physician who specializes in food insecurity and nutrition. She oversees both program and research at The Greater Boston Food Bank.
  • Doug Wolcik, farm manager at Gaining Ground.  Doug has focused on soil health and introduced no-till agricultural practices to Gaining Ground, a switch that has vastly increased the amount of food donated to hunger relief efforts.

We had a full crowd join us for an evening of discussion about food security, human health and one of the most surprising levers for positive change: the soil beneath our feet.

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Hunger Relief from the Ground Up

Gaining Ground presents: Hunger Relief: From the Ground Up Thursday, March 29, 2018 • 7 p.m. The Fenn School—Ward Hall • 516 Monument Street • Concord, MA 01742 Please join us for an evening of discussion about food security, human health and one of the most surprising levers for positive change: the soil beneath our […]

Save the Date: Upcoming Events

Join us for two upcoming events on Saturday, December 2, 2017, and looking ahead to Thursday, March 29, 2018. Join our email list to stay in the loop on upcoming events and other news! 5% Day at Debra’s Natural Gourmet Saturday, December 2, 2017 Debra’s Natural Gourmet will donate 5% of its proceeds to Gaining Ground. […]

A Weekend of Connections and Community

This year, Gaining Ground participated in the Concord Food, Farm and Ag Weekend on September 9–10. On Saturday, we had a tent at the farmer’s market where we kicked off our conversation about the connections between vital soil, healthy food, and hunger relief. On Sunday, over 200 folks attended our Community Harvest Celebration that featured […]

Riding to Raise Funds

On September 24, under sunny skies, 11 cyclists rode for Gaining Ground in the Three Squares New England 6th annual Ride for Food. They raised more than $13,000 to help further Gaining Ground’s mission to grow organic produce and donate it to hunger relief efforts. Five volunteers donated their time by checking in riders, marshaling, […]

2017 Maple Sugaring Open House

Our March 4, Maple Sugaring Open House landed on a day with frigid temperatures. It was too windy to twirl the popular maple sugar cotton candy, but the boiling sap in the sugar shack provided steamy warmth for over 50 supporters and friends. Some sampled Gaining Ground’s syrup and honey, then compared them to store-bought […]

Community Harvest Celebration 2016

This year, Gaining Ground welcomed over 150 people to the farm for our Community Harvest Celebration on Sunday, September 19. Della’s Dinner offered a locally sourced menu of sandwiches, salads, and irresistible desserts, while Twisted Pine, a popular, local, new roots band, entertained the crowd from the volunteer pavilion. Bass player Chris Sartori had been […]

Ride for Food: Fun and Lucrative

On Sunday, September 25, a team of Gaining Ground supporters cycled between 10 and 50 miles in the Ride for Food fundraiser organized by Three Squares New England. The team raised over $20,000, doubling their goal of $10,000 — a tremendous accomplishment for our first year participating in this event. Our 2016 Ride for Food Team  Back […]

5% Day at Debra’s Natural Gourmet

Mark your calendar! On Saturday, December 3, Debra’s Natural Gourmet will donate 5% of its proceeds to Gaining Ground. Set aside the date to shop at Debra’s, 98 Commonwealth Avenue in West Concord, and help Gaining Ground, too. We greatly appreciate Debra’s Natural Gourmet’s generous and long-time support of our work and mission.

Join Us for Our Community Harvest Celebration

Mark your calendar and gather together at Gaining Ground for a community harvest celebration on Sunday, September 18! Listen to Twisted Pine, a new roots band with an unbridled, contagious spirit. Purchase locally sourced sandwiches, salads and dessert from pop-up restaurant or bring your own lunch. Participate in cider making, art projects, treasure hunt and games. WHEN Sunday, […]

Support Our Ride for Food Team This Month

Gaining Ground has a strong team of 16 riders participating in its first year of the Three Squares New England Ride for Food, a bike ride on Sunday, September 25 that raises funds to eliminate hunger in New England. The team has pledged to raise at least $10,000 with a portion benefitting Gaining Ground directly. […]

Join Our Ride for Food Team

Did you know that Project Bread’s 2014 Status Report on Hunger in Massachusetts found that the food insecurity rate has increased by 71% over the past ten years? This year, Gaining Ground will be participating in the Three Squares New England Ride for Food, a bike ride that raises funds to eliminate hunger in New England. The Details This year’s ride […]

Barn Raising and You

In the spring, we asked our community to help us raise funds to build a barn. New and long-time donors, foundations, and our Board have responded, and a barn is coming. A dedicated group of our Staff, Board, and consultants, led by Board member Jeff Young, has been working on design and siting all summer. […]

Visionaries in Hunger Relief

At the end of March at The Fenn School, Gaining Ground hosted a multi-generational panel focused on the issue of hunger relief. In a community like ours, hunger might not be obvious, but here are the numbers: 49 million Americans are hungry, and yet 40% of food in the US is thrown away during the growing, distribution, […]
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