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Tuesday 9am - 3pm Wednesday 9am - 3:30pm Thursday 9am - 3:30pm Friday 9am - 3:30pm Saturday 9am - 3pm

Gaining Ground

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United States
Concord, MA
Gaining Ground

Gaining Ground grows organic produce for hunger relief with help from volunteers of all ages and abilities, who work and learn in our fields. For free.

We're also part of research studies to grow healthy soil systems through regenerative, no-till farming practices. Based in historic Concord, Massachusetts, Gaining Ground grows 125,000 pounds of organic produce for hunger relief with help from 2,500 volunteers of all ages and abilities, who work and learn in our fields. In short, we grow food and we give it away to people who need it. We work hard

to grow healthy soil and high-quality produce, provide an exceptional experience to each volunteer, serve the needs of our recipients and maximize the generous support of our donors. Throughout the harvest season, produce from Gaining Ground’s farm goes to food pantries, meal programs and shelters in Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts. Our approach is local and sustainable—most of our produce is distributed within 20 miles of our farm and within 24 hours of harvest. Some groups use our produce to prepare a free meal distributed to people who need it. Others give it away as part of providing free food to people in need. In addition, we are participating in regional and national agricultural research projects to improve upon and expand methods of regenerative, no-till farming to grow healthy, more productive soils. These methods allow us to better withstand extreme weather events and can directly mitigate climate change by pulling carbon out of the atmosphere and putting it back into the soil, where it directly benefits crop health.

02/10/2025

Last week, we had the privilege of spending time with our incredible partners at La Colaborativa in Chelsea. 🌱

For over 35 years, they have been a steadfast ally to the Latinx community in Greater Boston, working to ensure food security, economic progress, and community empowerment.

Through their mobile food market, no-charge Mercado market, twice-weekly food pantry, community kitchen for cooking classes and commercial kitchen for entrepreneurs, La Colaborativa is tackling food insecurity head-on. Their work goes beyond food access—it’s about building economic opportunity and strengthening a historically underserved community. 🥕🌿

We’re proud to be part of this effort, ensuring access to fresh, nutritious food for those that need it most. 🤝

02/05/2025

🌱 A huge thank you to our friends at for supporting Gaining Ground through their Gives Back program!

Their generous support has provided us with an aquifer irrigation system for our high tunnels, essential tools and supplies for our greenhouse, and soon, a brand-new Qlipper trellising system to support our crops. 🥬🥕🍅

With food insecurity in the rise, our mission to provide fresh, healthy produce to communities in need is critical. We are so grateful to Neversink, and all of the partners and supporters that make this important work possible. 🤝🌿

02/03/2025

Gaining Ground’s Summer Internship Program is now accepting applications for the 2025 season! 👩‍🌾🧑‍🌾

We’re looking to bring on two college/university students to be compensated through their college’s internship stipend or other educational support funding. This is a great opportunity to work alongside our experienced farm team, learn sustainable, no-till farming practices, and help grow fresh, organic produce for food relief — while having a lot of fun in the process! 🥬🍅🥕

If this sounds like you, or a young person in your life, head to the link in our bio for information on how to apply to join our team! 🌱

01/31/2025

Happy Farm Friday!

Big news - the first seeds for spring are in! 🌱

We just wrapped up our earliest seeding ever, getting a jumpstart on the season with brassicas like tatsoi, radishes, and koji, along with some premium greens. 🥬

By planting earlier, we’re able to extend our growing season—meaning more fresh, nutritious food for our community.

Here’s to a strong start and a season full of growth! 🌿

01/29/2025

As our farm team plans for the growing season ahead, winter’s snowfall offers more than just a scenic view — it also plays a vital role in soil health! 🌨️

Even when it only sticks around for a few days, snow acts as a natural mulch, insulating the soil and maintaining steady moisture and temperature levels.

Beneath the surface, microbes stay active, breaking down compost and plant debris left in our no-till beds. This process transforms nutrients into accessible forms for crops in the spring while also boosting microbial populations for even greater nutrient retention. 🌱

The snow itself is incredibly beneficial—pulling nitrogen from the air and slowly releasing it into the soil as it melts.

We’re always happy to see snowflakes in the air, helping us prepare the land for a healthy and abundant growing season ahead! ❄️❄️❄️

01/28/2025

We measure the impact of our work not just in pounds of food harvested, but through the experience of those who receive it. 🤝

Thank you to our partners for sharing these stories reflecting the important impact of this work. 🌱

01/24/2025

Happy Farm Friday!

Today we continued our farming workshop series, with special presentations from our in-house experts — our farm team! 🧑‍🌾

They led our team and community farm team through topics including crop planning, cover cropping, irrigation, composting, soil testing and even a brief chemistry lesson! 🌱

It’s so important to us to continue sharing and cultivating knowledge in our farming community. We’re lucky to have such bright minds to work alongside and learn from as we continue farming sustainably for food relief. 💭

Stay tuned for what we learn in our next community farming workshop!

01/22/2025

Today, our team had the privilege of volunteering at Women’s Lunch Place in Boston, preparing and serving meals to their guests.

WLP does incredible work, providing nutritious meals, essential care, advocacy, and a safe space for over 2,200 women each year—meeting their needs with compassion and dignity. 🤝

Gaining Ground is proud to be a longtime partner, donating over 7,550 pounds of fresh produce last year to support their mission. It was a joy to see firsthand today the impact they have on our community, offering meals, hope and compassionate care. 🫶🌱

01/21/2025

Snow? No problem! ❄️

Our spinach is tough and so are our farmers. A couple of inches of snow didn’t stop us from bringing in today’s harvest! 🌱

01/17/2025

Happy Farm Friday!

This week, we started pruning our orchard trees, including apple, pear and mulberry. Winter is the perfect time for pruning, as our trees are dormant, allowing us to shape them without losing vital nutrients. 🌳⚒️

Pruning begins with removing damaged, diseased, or dead branches, followed by thinning the canopy to improve air circulation and sunlight exposure. These practices improve the longevity of the free by reducing the risk of pests and diseases. 🌱

Pruning is just one way we care for the land during the off-season, ensuring a fruitful harvest season. 🍎🍐

How are you caring for your trees this season? Let us know!

01/16/2025

Today, the Gaining Ground team had the privilege of visiting one of our incredible partners, the Bedford Food Bank! 🤝

Since 1999, Gaining Ground and Bedford Food Bank have been working together to provide relief for those experiencing food insecurity in our community. 🥕🥬🍅

Serving approximately 500 people each week, the Bedford Food Bank prioritizes providing nutrient-dense foods like fresh produce and frozen proteins, as these are often the hardest to find at food pantries and banks. Like Gaining Ground, they value dignity and convenience in food distribution and installed an outdoor locker system so recipients can access food independently and after hours.

We’re so proud of the 25-year-long partnership we’ve grown with the Bedford Food Bank, and grateful for their dedication to our community! 🌱

01/13/2025

We did it — thanks to YOU! 🎉

We’re overjoyed to announce that our fall appeal campaign has raised over $250,000 — far surpassing our goal of $200,000! 🥳

We want to thank the donors of the generous $50,000 gift that helped kick off the campaign, as well as all of you who contributed to make this success possible. 👏

Your support means we’ll start the year strong, growing even more fresh, organic vegetables and donating them to those in need, all while taking care of the land, our team and our community. 🌱

Thank you! Here’s to a vibrant, food-filled 2025. 🥬🍅🥕

01/10/2025

Happy Farm Friday!

Today, we hosted a tool-sharpening skill-sharing workshop for our crew and community farm team members! 🛠️🪚

Well-maintained tools are essential to farming, as is the knowledge to care for them properly. By maintaining our equipment, we live out our sustainability values — longer-lasting tools, higher efficiency, and reduced waste. ♻️

Workshops like this remind us of the importance of knowledge sharing in the farming community. Exchanging skills and ideas allows us to equip ourselves and each other with the tools (literally and figuratively!) to farm more sustainably. 👨‍🌾👩‍🌾

Thank you to everyone who joined us today, and a special thank you to our friend Paul Ruhlmann for leading the workshop with expertise and insight. 🌱

01/07/2025

Today’s harvest: Upland Cress! 🥬

This hardy green is resilient to cooler weather and grows beautifully in our greenhouse, making it a perfect late-season crop. 🌱

Sturdy greens like cress and spinach help us keep fresh, nutritious vegetables flowing to our community, even as the temperatures drop. ❄️

Sending warmth & resilience your way!

01/06/2025

We are so grateful to the Garden Club of Concord for their generous grant in support of seed purchasing costs!

As a non-profit farm, we rely on the generosity of individuals, organizations, and foundations to live out our mission. The Garden Club of Concord has been a steadfast partner of Gaining Grounds’ in aiding our seed budget each year so that we can continue to grow a diverse range of fruits, vegetables, and herbs for communities in need. 🌱

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12/23/2024

We’re so proud of the work of our volunteers, supporters and team members. 💪 Here’s what we accomplished this year:

🥕 138,697 pounds of organic produce grown and donated - that’s 582,365 individual servings!
🌎 10,000 people receiving our fresh, organic produce
🧑‍🌾 3,835 volunteers gave over 7,503 hours of their time
🌱 6.5 acres, including an expansion plot in the Minute Man National Historical Park, farmed using regenerative, no-till practices

These numbers represent real impact—healthy meals, stronger communities, and sustainably tended land.

Help us grow even more in 2025. Make a gift today and ensure we can continue this important work. Your support makes all the difference!

Make a gift here: https://gainingground.org/support-us/make-a-donation/

12/21/2024

Happy Farm Friday!

We’ve officially begun our 2025 maple sugaring season! Special thanks to our neighbors for allowing us to tap over 100 maple trees all over Concord! 🍁 This is such a special time of year for Gaining Ground and our community.

Stay tuned for updates as we continue collections and begin the syrup process in our sugar shack on the farm!

12/19/2024

Food insecurity is a crisis affecting our neighbors 365 days a year. That’s why Gaining Ground is a year-round farm for hunger relief, growing and donating fresh food every month of the year. You can support our work year-round by becoming a monthly donor!

Monthly donors provide reliable support, sustaining our mission long into the future while allowing donors to give generous gifts in smaller increments. 🌱

Set up your monthly gift today here: https://gainingground.org/support-us/make-a-donation/

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Address

341 Virginia Road
Concord, MA
01742

Opening Hours

Tuesday	9am - 3pm
Wednesday	9am - 3:30pm
Thursday	9am - 3:30pm
Friday	9am - 3:30pm
Saturday	9am - 3pm

Website

http://gainingground.org/

Alerts

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Videos

On cold days like today, we’re thinking back to sunny memories on the farm — like this friendly bee waving hello to Assistsnt Grower Maddie this summer!🐝☀️ #hungerrelief #regenerativeagriculture #gaininggroundfarm #communityfarm #notill #sustainablefarming #foodinsecurity

2024 Read for Seeds Update

Much like worms play a vital role on the farm, so do bookworms in the region who participate each spring in the Read for Seeds program at Gaining Ground! 📚🪱 These young readers sign up to strenghten their literacy skills—and they raise funds with each page they complete for one of the most important things on the farm: seeds! This year, the result has been record-setting... We are thrilled to share a fun, meaningful update that Farmer Avery (also our Volunteer and Outreach Manager) provided to students, letting them know the total amount they generated for our hunger relief mission—with dontions still coming in! Special thanks to the following classes for helping us promote food security in Eastern Massachusetts: 🌱 2nd Grade - Alcott Elementary School 🌱 2nd Grade - Belmont Day School 🌱 4th & 5th Grades - Fenn School 🌱 2nd Grade - Nashoba Brooks School 🌱 6th Grade - Tenacre Country Day School 🌱 3rd & 5th Grades - Thoreau Elementary School We are so impressed with your reading and community care!