Planting some new seeds
to grow a soulful journey
that will feed my heart. — Belinda DiSilvio

With her sons off to college and a relationship ending, Belinda DiSilvio, an avid runner and fitness enthusiast, was looking for an activity to help her transition into a new season of life when she discovered Gaining Ground Farm.

“I started volunteering on Saturdays and immediately loved everything about the farm,” says Belinda, who wrote the above haiku about joining Gaining Ground as a volunteer.  

Every season, Gaining Ground is lucky to welcome thousands of volunteers of all ages and abilities. The farm hosts individuals and families with children ages 5 and older and more than 100 volunteer groups throughout the year. These groups include schools, faith groups, scout troops, representatives from partner organizations, corporate teams, community groups, and more. 

“The way that we farm at Gaining Ground involves minimal mechanization or heavy machinery,” says Gaining Ground Operations Director Allison Goodwin. “Our method of practicing regenerative, no-till agriculture relies primarily on hand labor. It is thus a perfect match for our robust volunteer program. With the helping hands of over 3,000 volunteers, we are able to accomplish a great deal, supplying more than 2,100 households each week during the height of the growing season with fresh, nutritious produce.”

There are countless jobs to be done on the farm, and no farming or gardening experience is necessary. Volunteers work alongside the farmers, who give basic instructions and demonstrations before each task.

Belinda, a senior project manager for an IT company, enjoys the opportunity the farm provides to be outside. She tries to volunteer most Fridays and Saturdays. Throughout her time volunteering, Belinda has planted, weeded, harvested, taken down plants at the end of their growing season, and distributed food to families. 

“I feel so at home at the farm,” says Belinda, who, after volunteering for a bit, joined the Community Farm Team (CFT), a category of volunteers who make a more consistent commitment to the farm.

The CFT meets throughout the year with opportunities to volunteer up to twice per week for sessions lasting 3 hours. 

“They are instrumental to the farm’s smooth operation, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their steady help and dedication,” Allison says.

Gaining Ground also offers volunteer opportunities for high school students. Like the CFT, the High School Farm Team meets for three hours twice weekly from June to August. It is open to teenagers interested in working outdoors, socializing, and deeply engaging with the mission. In addition to hands-on work in the fields, the High School Farm Team includes educational sessions in which participants discuss factors contributing to food insecurity and learn how Gaining Ground seeks to alleviate the current hunger crisis in Massachusetts. 

“Whether volunteers come to the farm once or hundreds of times, we are deeply appreciative to all those who spend time working and learning with us,” Allison says.

While the farm teams mentioned above volunteer for 3 hours at a time, large school groups and groups with young children have volunteer sessions lasting 1.5 hours. Most regular volunteer sessions for adult groups, individuals, and families are 2 hours long. 

No matter the weather or season, there is always something meaningful and impactful for willing volunteers to do on the farm. Schoolchildren with boundless energy often help to spread compost, mulch, or dry leaves to help nourish the soil before planting. Corporate teams might assist with a cherry tomato harvest, weed a field bed, gather row cover for winter storage, or remove spent plants headed for the compost pile. Those with mobility challenges might plant seeds, weed Gaining Ground’s accessible garden beds, or line banana boxes in the shade of the barn on a hot summer day. 

“Our success is possible because of a dedicated community of volunteers who have been integral to our mission since day one,” Allison says.

Want to get involved? Our online volunteer calendar is now open. Interested volunteers may choose their desired date and time and sign up through a simple website form. Individuals and families of up to 5 people at a time can book a session immediately through the website, while groups larger than five people are required to request their desired date/time, and sessions are confirmed within 2-3 business days. Written (emailed) confirmation of a booking is required to volunteer. Due to high demand, groups are limited to two volunteering sessions each season, and individuals are asked to book no more than 10 sessions each season.