OUR PHILOSOPHY

Growing Places envisions a sustainable North Central Massachusetts comprised of healthy people and healthy communities.

At Growing Places, these principles guide our work every day:

• A deep belief in equity, access and inclusion – expressed through tangible action
• A shared sense of caring, respect and responsibility for our community
• A commitment to be responsive to the needs and aspirations of our community
• A commitment to celebrating and reflecting our community’s cultural richness and our social, racial and ethnic diversity
• A dedication to sustainable practices and to minimizing our environmental impact
• A strong appreciation for creativity, humor and fun!

OUR MISSION

Growing Places’ mission is to inspire and connect North Central MA residents to create equitable access to healthy food through education, collaboration and sustainable practices

Working with individuals, families, non-profit organizations, farmers, businesses, schools and public agencies, we aim to:

• Make fresh, healthy produce more accessible, affordable and widely consumed
• Increase physical, outdoor activity
• Improve mental and emotional well-being
• Foster neighborhood pride and enjoyment
• Increase social and interpersonal connections
• Provide meaningful volunteer and leadership opportunities
• Promote environmental sustainability and climate resilience
• Contribute to region-wide strategies for creating a socially-just food system

OUR WORK

We promote healthy people and healthy communities by:

• Building backyard, school and community food gardens and supporting the gardeners who use them
• Teaching gardening and healthy eating skills to all ages
• Building social and community connections through volunteer and leadership opportunities
• Managing a farmers market and promoting federal nutrition programs
• Leading and collaborating in a regional network of providers to advance food access strategies
• Teaching sustainable growing practices and encouraging environmental stewardship