Catching up with Beekeeper David Salomón Saleh
November 12, 2024
Beekeeper David Salomón Saleh discusses his journey with Gaining Ground, from hardships to success, clears up a common myth and more
Explore: Staff and Farm Crew
Farmer Spotlight: Zoe Tallmadge
July 29, 2024
As we approach peak season, the farm is bustling with energy, life, and the busy growers who bring forth abundance with care and skill. New to the team this year is Field Crew Member Zoe Tallmadge, whose passion for sustainable agriculture stretches back to their childhood in The Piedmont of North Carolina. We are thrilled to have Zoe with us in 2024. To learn more about their background, we caught up with them recently while harvesting scallions.
Farmer Spotlight: Madison Latiolais
June 26, 2024
Each season at Gaining Ground brings new reasons to celebrate—including field crew members who seek the opportunity to support our hunger relief mission while strengthening their own agricultural skills! New to the team this year is Madison Latiolais, whose passion for farming traces back to her Cajun roots.
Where Are They Now? Catching Up with Gaining Ground Alumni
April 26, 2024 • Dani Capalbo, Communications & Development Manager
Our mission doesn’t end at the edge of the farm. Instead, we aim to cultivate our values within each person who visits Gaining Ground—including the growers who strengthen their incredible talents on our crew. When farmers leave the organization, they take those values with them, working to create the future we envision collectively, in which […]
Farmer Spotlight: New Growth with Farm Co-Managers Kari Bender and Chrissie Edgeworth
January 25, 2024
If you’ve spent time at Gaining Ground in the last few years—or attended one of our free no-till training sessions—you’ve likely had the pleasure of working with and learning from Kari Bender and Chrissie Edgeworth. Combined, Kari and Chrissie have almost a decade of farm experience, including their leadership last season as Co-Assistant Farm Managers. […]
Farmer Spotlight: Welcoming Director of Agriculture Mark Congdon
We’re Hiring: 2024 Field Crew
December 11, 2023 • Gaining Ground
We are hiring for three open 2024 Field Crew positions at the farm in Concord, MA. Read on for further details!
Cultivating a Legacy
December 7, 2023 • The Gaining Ground Team
Since 2021, Gaining Ground has thrived under the leadership of Farm Manager Anna Kelchlin, a skilled grower with more than 12 years of experience who also brings a strong philosophy of mindfulness, care, and gratitude to her work. Season after season, Anna has led the dynamic Gaining Ground crew to produce hundreds of thousands of […]
Farmer Spotlight: Dayanna “Day” De La Rosa
October 31, 2023
October is a bittersweet month on the farm, as productivity wanes and the season ends for some of our field crew members. Since April, they have stewarded the land with care, respect, and skill to help us grow fresh, organic produce for hunger relief. We thank them! In 2023 we were lucky to have Dayanna […]
Farmer Spotlight: Season Three with Avery Indermaur
September 27, 2023
It’s been a busy, bountiful season at Gaining Ground, and we offer heartfelt thanks to our talented farmers for leading this work! One such farmer is Avery Indermaur, a third-year field crew member who took on two new roles this year: Development Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator. In her third season at Gaining Ground, Avery Indermaur […]
The Power of Flowers at Gaining Ground
July 27, 2023
Summer is in bloom, and the flowers at Gaining Ground are alive with colors, aromas, and even sounds, like the hum of wasps in the celosia. Each year, in addition to powerhouse veggies and herbs, we are proud to grow and donate a wide variety of cut flowers through Food for Families, a program we […]
We’re Hiring: Director of Agriculture
July 17, 2023
Gaining Ground is looking for an exceptional candidate to fill the newly-created role of Director of Agriculture. The Director of Agriculture will possess significant experience with and knowledge of no-till, organic vegetable production; a demonstrated aptitude in managing a team of farmers and engaging with more than 3,000 annual volunteers; a positive, strategic mindset; and a healthy, self-motivated work ethic. This position requires a passionate commitment to hunger relief and equitable access to nutritious food.
Farmer Spotlight: Rachael Walton
June 27, 2023 • Gaining Ground
June is not only a turning point in our harvests, it is also the first full month of the season when our farming staff is at maximum capacity. New to the team this year is Field Crew Member Rachael Walton, a former Gaining Ground student volunteer who now brings her passion for sustainable agriculture and […]
Farmer Spotlight: Maddie Weikel
May 30, 2023 • Gaining Ground
This month’s newsletter offers us a great opportunity to check in with Assistant Grower and Assistant Volunteer Leader Maddie Weikel, who now has a couple months with us under her belt. We’re grateful to have Maddie on the team for the 2023 season, and to introduce her to the whole Gaining Ground community. Where is […]
2023 Board and Staff Updates
April 7, 2023 • Gaining Ground
Board of Directors Our board of directors and staff make an incredible team. Together, they have helped Gaining Ground accomplish phenomenal harvests in spite of unpredictable changes in weather patterns, guided us through the creation and launch of an exciting new strategic plan for the organization, and enabled us to strive to meet rising food […]
New Board Member Spotlight: Katie Bekel
February 27, 2023 • Gaining Ground
At Gaining Ground, we are grateful for the diverse, insightful, and compassionate voices and perspectives that support and guide the farm. We are thrilled to welcome Katie Bekel to our board of directors and to take this opportunity to learn a bit more about the newest member of the Gaining Ground team. How did you […]
We’re Hiring! 2023 Assistant Grower/Assistant Volunteer Leader
January 19, 2023
Update: This position has been filled. 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 […]
Farming for Hunger Relief
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 […]
What’s the Plan?
• 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 […]
We’re Hiring! 2023 Field Crew Member
November 30, 2022 • Gaining Ground
Update: This position has been filled. Gaining Ground is hiring for a 2023 Field Crew Member. Learn more about this farming job opportunity and how to apply.