Gaining Ground

Thank you to our friends at NEDS for volunteering with us this week! Our work is made possible through our community of supporters. We appreciate you!

Want to grow with Gaining Ground? 🌿 We're #hiring for a Development & Communications Manager to join our team in August! Follow the link for more information, and please share this post with your network. Thank you! https://lnkd.in/ea2TB69i

“Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” - Mary Oliver Photography is one way to tell about the things we witness when paying close attention, and our foodshed communities are particularly rich with storytelling detail. Have you taken a picture that tells a story about farming, gardening, cultural foodways, community nourishment, food and environmental justice, or another related topic? If so, we'd love to see it! Submissions are officially open for the second annual Photography on the Farm exhibit at Gaining Ground, where we'll showcase the creative gifts of the community while educating visitors on the state of food security in the region. To learn more about the seasonal gallery and share your artwork for consideration, follow the link below! Deadline to share your artwork is August 8. 📷: Tony Rinaldo Photography https://lnkd.in/drgFK4qa

As the farm season heats up, Gaining Ground is excited to announce a refreshing, creative partnership with Night Shift Brewing, Inc. and Life Alive Café. Night Shift has brewed its 🍉 first beer EVER with all organic ingredients 🍉 — and proceeds from The Optimist will go toward Gaining Ground! This creative IPA was inspired by Life Alive’s seasonal Watermelon Poke Salad and features mango, toasted brown rice, and chili-lime salt. For each taproom pour or 4-pack sold, Gaining Ground will receive $1 to support our hunger relief mission. 🍉 The Optimist 🍉 will be available at Night Shift in Everett and Lovejoy Wharf beginning May 28, until the limited batch runs out. If you're feeling fancy, you may also visit Night Shift at Lovejoy Wharf on Thursday, May 30, for an exclusive launch party and tasting event, with dishes dreamed up by Night Shift and Life Alive chefs. Gaining Ground is grateful to benefit from the Share the Night craft beer series. Cheers! https://lnkd.in/ef9x8yNg

🥬 Fresh, healthy food is a basic human right! 🥬 Yet it's becoming a luxury. The Boston Globe recently reported that grocery prices have gone up 25% since 2019. In that time, food insecurity in Massachusetts has also doubled. More families than ever are turning to food assistance programs for help. When they do, we believe they should find nutritious, high-quality options that nourish them, spark joy, and reflect their tastes. That's why Gaining Ground farms sustainably for hunger relief, and donates *everything we harvest* to regional food pantries, soup kitchens, day shelters, schools, and more. Will you support our work with a tax-deductible contribution today? Your financial contribution will yield fresh, organic produce this year for 2,100 households experiencing food insecurity in #Boston, #Lowell, and the #MetroWest. https://lnkd.in/e5vKvS7P Thank you!

Did you hear that The Sudbury Foundation has announced $320,000 in grants to transform lives and strengthen communities? We are deeply grateful to receive a generous $15,000 investment in our work, as we grow healthy, organic produce exclusively for hunger relief. Thank you, Sudbury Foundation! This announcement comes as spring heats up on the farms. (That’s not a typo...) 🌱 Gaining Ground is officially producing food at our main Virginia Road site *and* the land we now steward in Minute Man National Historical Park 🌱 In this milestone season, contributions from community partners like The Sudbury Foundation are even more meaningful. Let’s grow!

Tomorrow our generous partners at The Boston Foundation will host an important panel conversation with recipients of their transformative Food, Fuel, and Shelter Fund—including Gaining Ground. This event is open to the public. We hope you'll consider attending to hear from our Executive Director Jennifer Johnson and other leaders of organizations that serve individuals and families vulnerable to the rising costs of food, shelter, and utilities. Follow the link below to learn more and register. https://lnkd.in/egkPNNcV

Submissions are now open for the fourth annual Poetry on the Farm exhibit at Gaining Ground, a free and public celebration of language, food, nature, and farming! This special art installation will take place from Saturday, April 27, to Saturday, June 8, featuring original poems from our food recipients, partner organizations, volunteers, and community members like you! Do you have a poem to share? If so, please follow the link below to let us know by Friday, March 29. We hope you'll also share this call for artwork with creatives in your network! https://lnkd.in/ecAP2uSi

Spring is just around the corner, and we can't wait to welcome volunteers back to the farm—from individuals and families to school groups, corporate teams, and more! Sessions begin Wednesday, April 10, but you may begin signing up now to learn and grow with our farmers. Follow the link below to join our team in the fields, growing organic produce for regional food security. We welcome volunteers of all ages and abilities, and no previous experience is necessary! Our goal is to provide a safe and fun environment for all. Volunteer shifts are available from mid-April through October, Wednesday through Saturday. Come learn about food justice, connect with the land, and have fun with us! https://lnkd.in/dMuNeeA

With spring on the horizon, we have two exciting announcements about the Gaining Ground team: 🌱 Outstanding farm leaders Chrissie Edgeworth and Kari Bender have been promoted to Farm Co-Managers, having served as Assistant Co-Managers in 2023! 🌱 Esteemed no-till grower Mark Congdon has joined the crew as our first-ever Director of Agriculture, to oversee our milestone expansion to Minute Man National Historical Park! In the latest GG newsletter, we caught up with Chrissie, Kari, and Mark for in-depth Q&As about their backgrounds in farming, their agricultural philosophies, and what they're looking forward to come spring. Click below to learn more—and to sign up for farm updates as we prepare for another abundant season! https://lnkd.in/e8BpsfqM