VOLUNTEERS MAKE IT HAPPENd

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GRATITUDE REPORT

2013

WHEN I WENT TO THE ORIENTATION I WAS WORRIED ABOUT STARTING A FOOD GARDEN. I’ve been able to grow flowers and have really enjoyed it. But food, I wasn’t sure. At the time they were talking about all the bugs you encounter and weeds. Gosh, I just wasn’t sure. But it was really easy. I loved it. Thank you, Growing Places, for giving me and my family this opportunity…thank you.WENDY, 1ST-YEAR COMMUNITY GARDENER, SHOLAN FARMS COMMUNITY GARDEN

Even though you don’t feel like you necessarily have something to offer, there is always something that you can offer. It makes me feel like I have some-thing to share. And I get really nice feedback from the people I help.

IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD. LUCI, FOURTH YEAR MENTOR, SHOLAN FARMS

COMMUNITY GARDEN, LEOMINSTER (SHOWN

AT RIGHT WITH SOME OF HER MENTEES)

HAVE YOUR FAMILY’S EATING HABITS CHANGED AS A RESULT OF YOUR GARDEN?1st Year Gardeners:

“We are eating fresh veggies, trying new ones and engaging with fellow gardeners.”

“We started to eat more vegetables as a family, not just myself individually. We also started to come up with some interesting recipes, some of which I have shared with Growing Places.”

“I eat more fresh veggies than usual. I love it. Harvesting and eating it the same day is a wonderful treat for me. Beats all the sweets you can buy.”

2nd Year Gardeners:

“We are adding kale to smoothies. I also made homemade sauce from garden tomatoes.”

“We are able to incorporate fresh vegetables in every meal now.”

WHAT DID YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR GARDEN?

1st Year Gardeners:

“Ver crecer las plantas y ver tener los drutos, poder llevarlos al hogay y con-sumirlos. Watching the plants grow, and having the benefits, being able to take them home and consume them.”

“Peace and quiet while working in my garden. No phone ringing.”

“Getting outside and having a purpose to my day. I get exercise and sunshine. I have formed new friendships.”

“I like seeing more community neigh-bors at the garden and watching them teach their children about gardening.”

2nd Year Gardeners:

“I enjoy the peace and quiet of my garden and being in the fresh air.”

“I like the reward of watching every-thing grow and then being able to har-vest it and eat it. The kids get excited to see how everything is growing.”

THANKS TO OUR KEY CORPORATE SPONSORS

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THESE FIGURES ARE BASED ON OUR INTERNAL ACCOUNTING RECORDS AND HAD NOT BEEN REVIEWED BY OUR ACCOUNTANTS AT THE TIME OF THIS PRINTING. OUR MOST RECENT 990S AND A COMPLETE LISTING OF THE INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, AND FOUNDATIONS WHO HAVE LENT THEIR TIME, TALENT AND TREASURES TO MAKE THIS WORK POSSIBLE, CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE WWW.GROWINGPLACES.ORG

40 New raised beds installed

9 Tall accessible beds installed

17 New backyard gardeners

34 New community gardeners

1 New institutional garden at Hosmer Head Start, Fitchburg

237 Volunteers!

2 Restorations of two community gardens

BUILDING GARDENS

93% Eat out less (including fast foods)

74% Eat vegetables 5 or more times a week, compared to 33% prior to receiving a GP garden

87% Cooked more meals at home

91% Spent more time outdoors

87% Report being more physically active

87% Report feeling more relaxed and less stressed

96% Learned more about food gardening

91% Shared produce from their gardens with people outside of their household

74% Reconnected with their neighbors

85% Used a food pantry less for fresh vegetables

91% Spent less money on foodBASED ON SURVEY RESULTS FROM 87% (59) OF THE 72 FIRST AND SECOND YEAR GARDENERS SERVED DIRECTLY BY GP THIS PAST YEAR.

IMPACT OF RECEIVING A GROWING PLACESGARDEN

30 Backyard gardeners supported

41 Community gardeners supported

7 Institutional gardens supported, serving over 200 individuals, including school children, Head Start families, veterans, and seniors

26 Mentors supporting 62 gardeners

85 People attend 2nd Annual Gardeners Gathering in partnership with The Trustees of Reservations

98% Of first and second-year gardeners will continue another year!

GROWING GARDENERS

you make an

impact in the

community

BY THE NUMBERS

THANKS TO OUR KEY CORPORATE SPONSORS

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FY 2013 OPERATING INCOME

Program Income: 2% Individual Contributions: 23%

Grants: 68%Events: 7%

INCOME $139,200

68%

23%

2%

7%

75%

15%

10%

FY 2013 OPERATING EXPENSES

Programs: 75%Fundraising: 10%

Administration: 15%EXPENSES $134,800

ASSETS

Total Current Assets $103,658

Total Fixed Assets $ 907

Total Other Assets $ 900

TOTAL ASSETS $105,465

LIABILITIES & EQUITY

EQUITY:

Retained Earnings $101,067

Net income $4,398

Total Equity $105,465

TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY $105,465

VOLUNTEERS MAKE IT HAPPEN

237 volunteers, representing businesses large and small, congregations, schools and scout groups, lent their time and talents to help Growing Places build gardens across the region! A grant from the Mass Service Alliance enabled us to recruit 72 new volunteers during National Volunteer Week, April 21st to 27th, to build new gardens, restore and expand existing gardens, deliver frames and sort seedlings.

At Growing Places (GP), we believe in the power of gardening to improve lives. We help low-income individuals, families, and communities in North Central Massachusetts realize the many health, economic, and social benefits of growing their own produce by building food gardens and teaching the skills to maintain them. We seek opportunities in which gardening can:

• Increase access, affordability and consumption of healthy and nutritious food

• Enhance physical and mental well-being

• Promote pride and enjoyment in neighborhoods

• Increase social and interpersonal connections

• Provide satisfying volunteer opportunities

• Enhance strategies to create a socially-just, regional food system for all

325 LINDELL AVENUE LEOMINSTER, MA 01453 TEL: 978.598.3723 WWW.GROWINGPLACES.ORG

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1 | Volunteers from the First Church in Lancaster, and the community, pose after a

long day installing six accessible beds at the Lancaster Senior Center. 2 | Students

and teachers at Minuteman High School load the new, tall, accessible raised beds they

built into the GP truck. 3 | Outgoing Board Chair, Andrea Freeman presents volunteer

awards at our annual fundraiser. 4 | A Head Start child helps install the program’s

new garden. 5 | Employees from the Leominster Home Depot join gardeners at the

Prichard Street Community Garden in Fitchburg to restore and expand the garden. 6 | One of the 17 Fitchburg State University student volunteers helps install garden

beds at the Hosmer Head Start in Fitchburg. 7 | Youth and teachers from the

Boxborough UCC Congregation help build new raised bed frames.

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