Gaining Ground

MISSION To grow food for hunger relief with the help of a diverse group of hundreds of community volunteers. Based in historic Concord, Massachusetts, they grow more than 25,000 pounds of organic produce every growing season. All of their produce is donated to Boston-area meal programs and shelters. DESCRIPTION Founded in 1994, Gaining Ground is a dynamic, grassroots organization dedicated to growing produce for hunger relief with the help of a wide range of volunteers - young and old, and from all walks of life. While the hunger-relief and social-service organizations appreciate the thousands of pounds of high-quality, nutritious food they provide, their activities go beyond vegetable and fruit production. Gaining Ground works with a wide range of volunteers to grow produce, giving participants: a chance to engage in meaningful work; knowledge of where food comes from and how it grows; a chance to see diverse plant and animal life; and a much-appreciated break from the urban environment Gaining Ground's main garden is located on the Thoreau Birthplace Property, a 9-acre property leased from the town of Concord, Massachusetts. IMPACT Gaining Ground grew and gave away a total of 24,500 pounds of organic produce this season. This produce came from the Thoreau Birthplace garden, the Old Manse garden, Gaining Ground's orchard and donations by Hutchins Farm as a result of 1,512 volunteer visits and 3,720 volunteer hours.