Join Backyard Growers at the 9th annual Great Gloucester GrowDown to celebrate another successful season growing fresh food in our community!

Enjoy farm-fresh food & libations by Oak to Ember, live entertainment, and a fund-a-need auction in support of Backyard Growers’ work connecting communities to the resources, knowledge, and space they need to grow their own food.

Learn more & purchase tickets here.

Starting on Wednesday, June 19!

🥬 Stop by Gloucester’s new weekly farmers market, the Backyard Growcery, managed by food equity non-profit organization Backyard Growers.

🐟 The Backyard Growcery is located at Burnham’s Field, an urban park near Gloucester’s thriving waterfront, and features small-scale North Shore farmers, bakers, a seafood vendor, an artisanal pizza maker, and more, throughout the season.

The Backyard Growcery accepts SNAP and Senior Coupons. Burnham’s Field is accessible via CATA bus. It is located near the Sheedy Park stop on the Gloucester Crossing & Business Express Loop.

Stay tuned for a calendar of free food-growing, gardening, and art workshops taking place at the Growcery that are designed to bring our community together. The Backyard Growcery also features a Community Resources area where visitors can access essential services and learn more about innovative nonprofit organizations making an impact on Cape Ann.

 This Saturday, May 4th, Cedar Rock Gardens is donating all profits from plant sales to Backyard Growers! Our team will be there throughout the day (8am – 4pm), ready to answer veggie gardening questions and share stories of our impact in the community. Cedar Rock Gardens is such an amazing partner to us and supporter of our work – we can’t thank them enough for their generosity! All money raised on May 4th will go directly towards our programs in the community and Gloucester’s schools.

Visit Cedar Rock Gardens at 299 Concord Street in West Gloucester on May 4 to support Backyard Growers and pick up some beautiful plants for your garden. We’ll see you there!

Workshop: How to Plan Your Vegetable Garden

Dates & Times: April 10, 10am-12pm & April 16, 5:30-7:30pm

Location: Backyard Growers HQ, 103R Maplewood Ave, Gloucester

Event Summary: Learn the Square-Foot Gardening Method in this vegetable gardening workshop with Backyard Growers. Backyard Growers will introduce attendees to this growing approach which maximizes small spaces and crop yields. The organization uses this method across school gardens, backyard gardens, and community gardens all over Gloucester. Learn to plan your vegetable garden according to what you like to eat, the space you have for growing, and the amount of time you have to spend tending to it, with time at this workshop to map out your individual garden alongside Backyard Growers and your neighbors.

Tickets: Free for Backyard Growers Program Participants. $15 general admission. Proceeds support Backyard Growers’ work empowering people to grow their own food. Backyard Growers is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization.

Workshop: How to Grow Vegetables in Containers

Date & Time: Thursday, May 2, 2-3pm

Location: Backyard Growers HQ, 103R Maplewood Ave, Gloucester

Event Summary:  Container gardens are great when space or sunlight is limited or as a way to easily control the height and placement of your garden to eliminate bending over or to ease other mobility concerns. Join Backyard Growers to learn the nuances of container gardening so that you’re set up for a successful (and space-efficient) season. Attendees will receive free vegetable seeds and the option to purchase GrowBags from Backyard Growers to start or add to their vegetable garden.

Tickets: Free for Backyard Growers Program Participants. $15 general admission. Proceeds support Backyard Growers’ work empowering people to grow their own food. Backyard Growers is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization.

Stop by Burnham’s Field Community Garden (on the side closest to the basketball courts) for our second free vegetable seed giveaway of the year. We’ll have plenty of seeds available for people to sow directly into their gardens this spring, including peas, lettuces, spinach, beans, beets, radishes, and more. All are welcome.

Plus, meet Susan Wood, Backyard Growers’ new Community Programs Manager, who will be getting her hands dirty in community gardens, backyards, and container gardens all over Gloucester this growing season.

**RAIN LOCATION: Backyard Growers HQ at 103R Maplewood Ave, Gloucester, MA**

Questions? Reach us at community@backyardgrowers.org or 978-281-0470. 

🌱🌿🍅 Join Backyard Growers for an ONLINE WORKSHOP and FREE SEED GIVEAWAY to jumpstart your growing season. We’ll be sharing tips and tricks, plus offering a live Q&A, on how to successfully start seeds indoors this winter, followed by a drop-in free seed giveaway at our offices at 103R Maplewood Ave in Gloucester.

Online Workshop: How to start seeds indoors
February 27, 6-7pm
FREE for Backyard Growers Program participants / $15 general admission

Free Seed Giveaway
February 29, 3:30-5:30pm
Backyard Growers HQ @ 103R Maplewood Ave, Gloucester
FREE vegetable seeds for all!

APPLY NOW: Applications are now open for Backyard Growers’ 2024 Community Programs, with a mission to empower more Cape Ann residents to grow their own food and connect people to veggie gardening resources. Learn more & apply here: www.backyardgrowers.org/community-programs

Programs include:

Community Garden Program: Join one of six community gardens in Gloucester to connect with neighbors and grow your own food, including Burnham’s Field Community Garden and gardens in Gloucester Housing Authority and Caleb Group communities.

Backyard Garden Program: Backyard Growers builds raised garden beds for Gloucester residents each spring, enabling them to grow their own food at their homes. Your backyard could be next!

GrowBag Garden Program: Cape Ann residents receive a container garden (3 GrowBags) with resources to grow fresh food at home, without needing to install a garden bed. This is a great option for renters or people without traditional outdoor growing space.

All program participants receive access to growing space with nutrient-rich soil, gardening & cooking workshops, vegetable seeds & seedlings, and an optional gardening mentor.

Questions? Reach out to Backyard Growers at community@backyardgrowers.org or call 978-281-0480.