It’s spring, and even though it’s the zombie apocalypse out there, we have people to feed! So what to plant? What crops will produce the most food? With the most calories? And the most beneficial nutrients? With the best storage capacity? In the least amount of time?

To find out, register for Backyard Growers‘ Gardening for the Zombie Apocalypse on-line workshop, which will take place on Tuesday, May 5 from 9-10:30 AM.

Your workshop fee of $20 will help support our urgent zombie apocalypse work in the community. You’ll receive an overview on how to:

🌿 Plan a small urban garden for the greatest yield in terms of calories and amounts of veggies

🌿 Maximize small growing spaces with the square foot gardening method and succession planting

🌿 Sheet mulching and container gardening to grow food anywhere

🌿 Harvest water, save seeds, find free local growing resources, and be a general DIY garden ninja

🌿 Cooperate with the humans around you to support yourself and others

🌿 Kill zombies with gardening implements

Click here to purchase a ticket.

In response to COVID-19, we’re excited to bring you our annual Early Seedling Sale in virtual format, with contact-free curbside pick-up. Visit our Online Shop to pick from a selection of great organic early spring seedlings grown by our friends at Cedar Rock Gardens, now available for purchase.

Seedlings at the start of their journey

The selection includes tasty treats like broccoli 🥦, brussels sprouts, kale 🥬, cabbage, onions 🧅, swiss chard, and more! (Look for late spring seedlings like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, basil, and more, available in May!) DEADLINE FOR ORDERS is Thursday, April 23, at noon.

The fine print: Pick-up will take place on Friday, April 24, in front of Maritime Gloucester at 23 Harbor Loop. We will send you an email with your specific pick-up time based on alphabetical order.

THANK YOU to Maritime Gloucester for supporting our community, hosting our pick-up operations, and helping us keep our gardeners safe 💚 👊🏽

Backyard Growers has launched a blog series to help Gloucester residents learn how to grow their own food from the comfort of their own home during the current public health crisis. Check it out here, and dive into the first three posts:

Start here…

I’ve Been Told That Spring Isn’t Canceled

Discover:

• Why growing your own food matters more than ever during a public health crisis
• What Backyard Growers is doing for the community during this challenging time to help increase food access and self-sufficiency
•  What capacity we still have in our community and backyard garden programs for the 2020 growing season
• How you can get involved

Then read…

I Want a Garden Something Fierce, But…

Discover:

• Tips and tricks for gardening with limited resources, everywhere from raised garden beds and containers to front steps and windowsills

Then graduate to…

Stop Fooling Around and Tell Me Where To Get Soil, Compost, and Lumber!

Discover:

•  Where to get soil and compost to make your veggies grow like gangbusters!
•  Source untreated lumber for raised garden beds
• How to have a garden built FOR you, and gift one to a local family or senior in need

Tune in to the Backyard Growers blog and follow us on Facebook for more regular how-to guides on gardening during the COVID-19 crisis.

We’ve partnered with the crew at Black Earth Compost, a local company with a mission to collect food waste, process it into nutrient-rich raised bed soil, and return it to the community. Through this partnership and our Get-a-Garden, Give-a-Garden program, you get a garden of your own and give a garden to a local low- to moderate-income family or senior in need.

As our joint thank you, in addition to a raised bed full of powerful soil, you will receive a Garden Welcome Pack, access to Backyard Growers’ garden resources, and reduced price workshops, all while providing the same benefits to a local family or senior in need.  Backyard Growers will acknowledge your tax deductible $500 donation.

Click here for more information and to order a garden for you AND a family or senior in need.

🌱 Backyard Growers has extended the deadline for this year’s Backyard Garden Program to next Friday, March 20! The 2020 Backyard Garden Program makes affordable, fresh vegetables accessible to income-eligible older adults (62+) in their own backyards 🥕🍅🥔🥒💚

We provide participants with a raised vegetable garden bed full of a compost-soil mix from Black Earth Compost, and the resources they need to grow their own food.

Click here to download an application.

The Backyard Garden Program is made possible in large part through support from the Boston Foundation, the Cummings Foundation, and Community Development Block Grant funding from the City of Gloucester.

Do you want to garden in Gloucester this year? Backyard Growers is offering two programs to help low- to moderate-income families and seniors grow their own fresh, healthy produce and connect with their communities.  Read on for more information.

 Join a community garden.

Every year, the team at Backyard Growers helps Gloucester residents put fresh food on their tables by managing community gardens in public parks, public housing developments, and at community organizations all over Gloucester.

Participants receive a garden bed as well as free and reduced cost access to our gardening trainings, cooking workshops, seeds, and seedlings, plus support from a garden mentor to help them develop their green thumb.

Click here to download a community garden application.

Apply for a Backyard Garden! 

In 2019, Backyard Growers focused its Backyard Garden Program on low- to moderate-income older adults, providing each participant with a raised garden bed in their own backyard, training, seeds, and seedlings, plus two years of mentorship to help their new garden thrive. Thanks to this program, which has served over 150 households throughout Gloucester, community residents of all ages are growing their own healthy, delicious food.

Interested in growing in your own backyard? Apply by March 1!

Click here to download a Backyard Garden application.

Can’t download or print the application? Stop by the Backyard Growers office at 3 Duncan Street, Gloucester, to pick up a physical copy!

Join us at Backyard Growers‘ first Winter Warmer, a mixology party featuring local mixologist Dawn Caraway, Ryan & Wood Distilleries, and Q Mixers. Learn Dawn’s secrets to using local craft spirits to mix artisanal cocktails inspired by the season.

Proceeds support Backyard Growers’ mission to cultivate stronger, healthier, more sustainable communities.

When: Thursday, March 5, 2020, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Where: Backyard Growers HQ, 3 Duncan Street, Gloucester

Tickets: Free event. $25 donation at the door recommended. Reserve your spot in advance by RSVPing here.

🌿 Join Backyard Growers at our Natural Skincare Workshop learn how to incorporate botanicals into your skincare routine through homemade products. By making your own skincare, you take full control of what you put on your body, avoiding the harmful chemicals and additives that the beauty industry uses to increase the shelf-life of their products.

So, treat your skin to a restorative break this winter at this workshop! Participants will leave with a take-home face mask and a “how to” lesson on making their own hand cream.

When: Thursday, February 13, 6 – 8 p.m.

Where: Backyard Growers HQ, 3 Duncan Street, Gloucester

Tickets: $20 general admission. Purchase your ticket here or call 978-281-0480.

Join us for a groovy night out at the Great Gloucester Growdown to support Backyard Growers‘ Community, Backyard, and School Garden Programs! Enjoy delicious farm fresh appetizers, dinner and cocktails, plus music, performances and a live auction.

• Tuesday, October 1, 2019
• 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM
• Short & Main (map)