GLCF Site Visit 2021: Gaining Ground
A Sunny Day at Gaining Ground Farm
On a rare bright July day, GLCF Grants Team Jennifer and Sharon, toured Gaining Ground, a nonprofit organic farm in Concord, Massachusetts, that grows vegetables and fruit with the help of several thousand community volunteers to donate to area meal programs and food pantries.
Gaining Ground’s Executive Director Jennifer Johnson and Farm Manager Anna Kelchlin showed us around the farm, and we met members of their team as we toured the three acres that are actively cultivated to grow over 50 organic vegetables and herbs in fields interspersed with perennial hedgerows.
Last year, GLCF awarded Gaining Ground grants to address food insecurity to get fresh produce to people struggling to put food on the table. Gaining Ground normally relies on the help of thousands of volunteers to grow, harvest, and donate the nutritious produce from the farm. The grant support last year helped make it possible for them to continue their normal operations and levels of food production despite needing to temporarily suspend their volunteer program to comply with CDC recommendations. Most recently, Gaining Ground received a GLCF grant for Youth Food Insecurity to expand produce distribution to 3 HeadStart locations in Lowell and 1 in Dracut. This award will allow them to supply fresh produce to the kitchen staff at each location to be incorporated into healthy meals for the children.
The farm was buzzing with a crew of high school volunteers as well as abundant pollinators. After the rainiest July on record, it was heartening to see the bounty being harvested as a result of planning and proactive farming methods. There is much ingenuity at Gaining Ground. We saw the “rolling thunder” movable greenhouse solution that allows for movement of the greenhouse on a rail system to change the growing area to be covered. Another interesting element of the farm included a washing machine that was converted into a giant salad spinner Jennifer and Anna shared how sought-after that fresh, nutritious greens are from partner recipients.
Another highlight was the cutting flower garden beside the greenhouse. This cheerful, colorful space not only attracts beneficial insects that help protect crops from pests, the flowers also are used to create beautiful bouquets for GG’s recipients. “The inclusion of beautiful flowers in my Food for Families allotment sure cheers up my spirits while I steam up the fresh veggies. Thanks.” Gaining Ground’s Food for Families is a program for Concord and Carlisle residents who are referred to us by the Town of Concord’s social worker and both towns’ Councils on Aging. Funding from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation’s mobile market grant helped support this program. These special touches make a difference.
We are grateful to GG for their incredible hunger-relief work in Greater Lowell. We are #StrongerTogether
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