mill city grows [ma]
2019 giving while living regional grant: $2,500

Woodard & Curran Foundation’s $2,500 grant supported Mill City Grows [Lowell, MA] Farm and Market Programs to train staff, new Apprentices, and youth program participants on new implements and tools to support sustainable agriculture practices.

Mill City focused on two major priorities in their farms though their Food as Medicine shares, getting cardiac rehab patients fresh produce and education weekly, and their “Local Foods, Greener Meals” campaign which included incorporating dark, leafy greens into their crop plan. The greens were also featured in every meal plan in the Farm to Table cooking classes.

During the Giving While Living Grant year, the organization purchased three new tools to ensure more sustainable and efficient production on its farms: a bed former and silage tarps (both of which help with weed management through less tillage and use efficient drip irrigation systems). The third system upgrade was the building of a hoophouse, an unheated tunnel, that will allow for longer growing seasons on the largest Urban Farm parcel. The hoophouse will shelter crops including ginger, turmeric, lemongrass and okra. Skinning the hoophouse was a half day project and the whole staff participated.

Woodard & Curran Foundation’s Giving While Living Grant helped train the Mill City Grows team on these systems and educated youths about how these tools support more sustainable agriculture. With the added efficiency of the bed former, silage tarps, and hoophouse, Mill City Grows plans to increase revenue from Mobile Market sales.

Thank you to Samantha Olney, from Woodard & Curran, Inc.’s Andover, MA, office, who nominated Mill City Grows for a Foundation Giving While Living Regional Grant.