We grow about 150 different species of plants at Gaining Ground—vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs. Most of our seeds come from Maine and start arriving at the office in January and February. Always organic, and whenever possible we choose non-GMO (genetically modified organism) seed sources. A special partnership with elementary school readers in Concord and Belmont helps plant these high-quality seeds into our fields.

Concord’s Thoreau Elementary School’s third-graders and Belmont Day School’s second-graders have participated in our annual Read for Seeds read-a-thon for several years. Read for Seeds is an important fundraising event for Gaining Ground and the children’s efforts contributed over $10,000 in 2014. In May and June, the children will join the farmers and Board members on the farm for a variety of farm activities to show our appreciation to the kids and to give them hands-on experience planting, weeding, harvesting, and enjoying the outdoors.

Our deep thanks to this year’s crop of readers and the teachers, parents, family members, and friends who support them.

Belmont Day School
Nancy Fell, coordinator

Thoreau School
Mary Gallagher, coordinator
Rebecca Cashman
Pamm Faricelli
Mary Gallagher
Jessica Ham