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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