Accomplishments

Community Gardens Greenhouse - Lowell, MA

Growing communities from the ground up!

220 Aiken Street
Lowell, MA 01852
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2008 End of Year Statistics

2007 End of Year Statistics

2009

		Provided plants for an Eagle Scout garden project at the Lowell Boys & Girls Club, to
		community gardeners at the Lowell Housing Authority sites, the Lowell Transitional Living Center (Middlesex Street Shelter), and the Casey Family Services Family Franklin Court Garden. Provided garden space and plants to UML's Conscience Alliance, who grew and cooked their harvest for the House of Hope. All plants were grown in the greenhouse or in the CGG perennial gardens.
		Developed and taught a gardening class for Lowell General Hospital.
		Launched 2009 Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) Campaign for Merrimack Valley
		Food Ban k . As an incentive to garner participation, gave away 400+ starter kits of seeds and plants, row markers, literature
		Awarded M.O.R.I. Grant to seed start and project manage work with farmers from the
		M assachusetts O ffice of R efugee and I mmigration at Franklin Court.
		Partnered with the Lowell Film Collaborative to promote Earth Day and Plant a Row
		for the Hungry. Also attended Lowell's 2nd Annual Film Festival.
		Awarded the First Bloom grant in winter of 2008 to develop a garden at Swamp Locks
		in Spring of 2009.
		Awarded $10,000 Parker Foundation grant in late fall to create an accessible garden
		for the disabled, develop the Lowell Transitional Living Center Garden, and maintain St. Patrick Church garden in 2010.

2005-2009

		Started seeding, growing, and selling local grown plants. In 2007, opened the plant
		sale to the public.

2008-2009

		In 2008, paid for a New Entry Sustainable Farming World Peas membership to grow
		garlic as a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Motorola employees planted 400 cloves of garlic in October 2008 during their Global Service Day for the greenhouse. Garlic to be sold at Farmer's Market as part of a CSA share.

2008

		Awarded a tiller/cultivator from Mantis & the National Gardening Association . The
		Community Gardens Greenhouse was selected from more than 200 youth and community gardening programs nationwide.
		Launched Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) campaign to promote community
		gardening and the Community Gardens Greenhouse.

Designated garden space at the greenhouse property to create PAR display
gardens donating proceeds to the Dracut food pantries and Council on Aging.
Community gardeners begin to participate, donating to other food pantries and
organizations
Received several requests for help to create community gardens in the JAM
neighborhoods (Jackson, Appleton, and Middlesex Streets) and from the
Coalition for a Better Acre (CBA) neighborhood.
City of Lowell requests community gardening information, recognizing citizen
efforts and interests and offers to incorporate planning of green space with
water sources into city planning efforts. Community Gardens Greenhouse
Coalition is created for urban farmers to sell at Lowell Farmers ' Market.

		Worked in an advisory capacity with UMASS Lowell CPH-NEW, Center for the
		Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace, for a Westford Nursing Home.
		Established a working relationship with American Training of Lowell
		Participated in a composting pilot program.
		Championed a Litter Barrel Art Project for Franklin Street Garden created with SOAP,
		Structured Outpatient Addiction Program
		Continued maintenance, support, and development of Dracut Children’s Memorial
		Garden, Saint Patrick Neighborhood Garden, Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association’s Vegetable Garden, Community Gardens Greenhouse Signature Garden, Eric’s Garden at the Lowell Family Y
		Sold herbs at the Lowell Farmers' Market

2007-2008

		In October of both years, Motorola employees assist in fall cleanup at the greenhouse
		during their Global Service Day.

2007

		Awarded the Parker Foundation Grant for the *City Gardens Proje*ct–the development
		of educational resources and the creation of thematic gardens in urban areas of Lowell. Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust agrees to become the fiscal agent for the grant. City *Gardens Project* includes:

		Community Gardens Greenhouse Signature Garden developed
		Rejuvenation of Eric’s Garden begins at the Lowell Family Y
		Partnered with YMCA on Franklin Street Garden Project
		Participated in the Merrimack Valley Agriculture program tour which showcased
		innovative, community-based programs in the Merrimack Valley. Tour was part of the American Community Gardening Association’s annual conference which was hosted in Boston.

2005-2007

		Continued partnerships and maintenance of the Garden of Big Ideas and Earthly
		Delights and the Mary J. Bacigalupo Victoria Garden.

2006

		Plant shelving materials, crushed stone flooring, circulating fan, seeds, flower, and
		mulch donations are received

2005

		Restoration of the Mary J. Bacigalupo Victorian Garden begins in partnership with the
		Lowell National Historic Park . .
		Lowell's Life Alive Café sponsors a spring cleanup for the Garden of Big Ideas and
		Earthly Delights and the Mary J. Bacigalupo Victorian Garden.

2004

		Community Gardens Greenhouse is founded
		Awarded a $500 grant to develop the Garden of Big Ideas and Earthly Delights in
		partnership with the Revolving Museum
		Greenhouse, heating system, and mist irrigation system are donated
		Entered into five-year partnership with Lowell National Historic Park to erect
		greenhouse and develop gardens on-site
		Created Dracut Children’s Memorial Garden sponsored by Dracut Rotary Club

Lowell Housing Authority Gardens

		Volunteer hours increased
		from 6,900 hours in 2008 to over 9,000 hours in 2009

2009 End of Year Statistics

Thank you to our past volunteers and staff for achieving these accomplishments.