Backyard Growers Inc

BACKYARD GROWERS CULTIVATES HEALTHY, CONNECTED, ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES AND FIGHTS FOR FOOD JUSTICE BY TEACHING PEOPLE TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD. WE PROVIDE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO ESTABLISH VEGETABLE GARDENS AT HOMES, HOUSING COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND SCHOOLS.

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023, WE'VE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE WAYS TO EMPOWER PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES AND AGENCY TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD. WE'VE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE AN ONLINE SHOP TO DISTRIBUTE THOUSANDS OF GROWING RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS PROVIDING OUR GROW BAG INITIATIVE. OUR GROW BAG INITIATIVE PROVIDES A SUSTAINABLE WAY TO GROW FOOD REGARDLESS OF ACCESS TO SPACE. OUR PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES TRAININGS AVAILABLE IN BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL FORMATS AND COOKING WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS. WE CONTINUE TO CONNECT MORE SENIORS, FAMILIES, AND KIDS TO VEGETABLE GARDENS AND HEALTHY FOOD IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES AND BACKYARDS, DOUBLING OUR BACKYARD GARDEN PROGRAMS. WE ESTABLISHED NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND SCHOOL GARDEN CONSULTING CLIENTS. DURING THE PAST YEAR, WE SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONED THE ORGANIZATION FROM A FOUNDER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. UNDER THIS NEW LEADERSHIP WE EXPANDED OUR PROGRAMS TO INCLUDE A PAID HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. WE ALSO EXPANDED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF GLOUCESTER THROUGH A COMMITMENT TO BEGIN HOSTING A COMMUNITY WIDE FARMERS MARKET IN 2024. IN ADDITION, WE SAW TO COMPLETION OF THE INSTALLATION OF THE AGRICULTURE PROJECT AT WILLOWOOD GARDENS, A GLOUCESTER HOUSING AUTHORITY NEIGHBORHOOD. AGRICULTURE HAS NOW BEEN OFFICIALLY NAMED WILLOWOOD COMMONS, AND IS A GATHERING PLACE ADJACENT TO THE COMMUNITY GARDEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE SPACE FEATURES TABLES AND CHAIRS, A COVERED PAVILION AND PATIO, FOOD GARDENS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND A CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA AND GARDEN.

IN THE FACE OF COVID-19 WE FOUND INNOVATIVE NEW WAYS TO EMPOWER PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES AND AGENCY TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD. WE LAUNCHED AN ONLINE SHOP TO SAFELY AND URGENTLY DISTRIBUTE THOUSANDS OF GROWING RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE PILOTED A SUCCESSFUL GROW BAG INITIATIVE, A NEW SUSTAINABLE WAY TO GROW FOOD REGARDLESS OF ACCESS TO SPACE. WE PIVOTED ALL OUR TRAININGS TO VIRTUAL FORMATS AND LAUNCHED COOKING WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS ENROLLED IN REMOTE LEARNING. WE CONNECTED MORE SENIORS, FAMILIES, AND KIDS TO VEGETABLE GARDENS AND HEALTHY FOOD IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES AND BACKYARDS, DOUBLING OUR BACKYARD GARDEN PROGRAM. WE ESTABLISHED NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND SCHOOL GARDEN CONSULTING CLIENTS.