MILL CITY GROWS HOSTS 8TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY SEED SWAP ON SATURDAY, MARCH 18, FROM 10AM TO 1PM

More than 1,000 free seed packets will be available to the public, including flower, herb, fruit, and vegetable seeds!

[LOWELL, MA] – Lowell-based non-profit Mill City Grows (MCG) hosts its 8th Annual Seed Swap in person and outdoors on Saturday, March 18, from 10am to 1pm, in the parking lot at MCG’s headquarters at 19 Hall Street, Lowell. The highly anticipated Seed Swap kicks off MCG’s annual events and celebrates the spring growing season by making a variety of seeds available to the community at no cost. Attendees can choose from more than 1,000 seed packets for their home, school, or community gardens. Information about Mill City Grows’ Community Garden Program will be available, as well as MCG’s CSA Farm Share Program, Mobile Markets, and Farm to Table Cooking Classes. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved indoors to Mill City Grows’ ROOT Kitchen, also at 19 Hall Street. Event organizers respectfully request that attendees wear masks while at the Seed Swap.  

Mill City Grows is grateful to the following seed organizations and businesses who have generously donated seeds for distribution to the community (as of March 1): American Meadows, Burpee Gardens, Fruition Seeds, High Mowing Organic Seeds, Peaceful Valley, Renee’s Garden.

The Annual Seed Swap is free and open to the public, thanks to the generosity of Mill City Grows’ 2023 Annual Event Sponsors (as of March 1): The Nancy L. and Richard K. Donahue Charitable Foundation, Plenus Group, Inc., Microdesk, Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, Princeton Properties, Verizon, Enterprise Bank & Trust, Griffin Greenhouse Supply, Bootstrap Compost, Aberthaw Construction, Mahoney Oil Company, Gallagher & Cavanaugh, LLP. 

Limited handicapped parking is available at 19 Hall Street. Additional parking is available in metered spots on Suffolk Street. For more information, please contact Chaya Sophon at Chaya@millcitygrows.org or call 978-455-2620. Event updates will be posted on the 2023 Seed Swap Facebook Event. 

About Mill City Grows

For the past 10 years, Mill City Grows (MCG) has worked towards food justice in Lowell, Massachusetts, using the following strategies and programs: education in and out of schools, supporting community leadership through community gardens, increasing urban agriculture through urban farming, implementing a mobile market, and empowering people to produce their own food. MCG infuses food production spaces with food education to support their belief that a community that understands how to grow, access, and prepare healthy food will have better quality of life and deeper investment in their local environment. Visit MillCityGrows.org to learn more, and follow MCG on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Contact:
Jessica Moore-Wilson, Executive Director
Jessica@millcitygrows.org
978-455-2620
MillCityGrows.org

MILL CITY GROWS PRESENTS AWARD-WINNING LOWELL PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND AUTHOR JESSICA LANDER, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2022, AT LALA BOOKS

Ms. Lander will read from and discuss her new book Making Americans: Stories of Historic Struggles, New Ideas, and Inspiration in Immigrant Education

[LOWELL, MA] – Lowell-based non-profit Mill City Grows (MCG) is proud to host this poignant and timely conversation and discussion with Lowell Public School teacher and author Jessica Lander on Thursday, October 13, from 5pm – 7pm at lala books, 189 Market Street, Lowell. Ms. Lander will read from and discuss her newest book, Making Americans: Stories of Historic Struggles, New Ideas, and Inspiration in Immigrant Education, which will be officially released on October 4, 2022. Advanced copies of Making Americans are available for pre-order at lala books at https://www.lalabookstore.com. The event is FREE and open to the public, and is the final event presented in commemoration of MCG’s 10-year Anniversary. For complete details, please visit MillCityGrows.org or call 978-455-2620.

A compelling read for everyone who cares about America’s future, Making Americans brims with innovative ideas for educators and policy-makers across the country. Setting out from her classroom, Ms. Lander takes the reader on a powerful and urgent journey to understand what it takes for immigrant students to become Americans. She shares stories of innovative schools working with immigrant-origin students and unearths the history of cases and laws that have transformed schools. Ms. Lander also profiles some of her remarkable Lowell High School immigrant students. 

 To learn more about Jessica Lander and her complete list of published works, please visit JessicaLander.com. 

 “Mill City Grows Presents Author Jessica Lander” marks the conclusion of the organization’s 10 signature events in 2022 throughout the City of Lowell commemorating MCG’s 10-Year Anniversary. In 2012, MCG launched a single community garden at Rotary Club Park in Lowell’s Back Central neighborhood. After a decade of working with residents, businesses, and city officials, the organization now manages 24 school and community gardens, more than five acres of Urban Farm land, and a range of food distribution and food education programs that engage over 15,000 residents per year. Mill City Grows is committed to ensuring that local foods, from our own urban farms and sourced from other regional growers, is accessible to residents of all income levels. 

Mill City Grows’ 10th Anniversary Celebration is made possible with the generosity of MCG’s 10th Anniversary Event Sponsors: Bank of America, The Nancy L. and Richard K. Donahue Foundation, Jim Waldo & Susan Mitchell, Plenus Group, Inc., Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, Microdesk, Verizon Foundation, Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, Enterprise Bank, and Eastern Bank. Additional support is provided by the Mass Cultural Council. Mill City Grows is a recipient of the Cummings Foundation $25 Million Grant Program. 

About Mill City Grows

For the past 10 years, Mill City Grows (MCG) has worked towards food justice in Lowell, Massachusetts, using the following strategies and programs: education in and out of schools, supporting community leadership through community gardens, increasing urban agriculture through urban farming, implementing a mobile market, and empowering people to produce their own food. MCG infuses food production spaces with food education to support their belief that a community that understands how to grow, access, and prepare healthy food will have better quality of life and deeper investment in their local environment. Visit MillCityGrows.org to learn more, and follow MCG on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Contact:
Jessica Moore-Wilson, Executive Director
Jessica@millcitygrows.org
978-455-2620
MillCityGrows.org

“CHOOSE YOUR BIKE ADVENTURE” WITH MILL CITY GROWS AND TOUR LOWELL’S GROWING SPACES BY BICYCLE ON SATURDAY, JUNE 25, FROM 1PM-3PM

Self-guided bicycle tours start at North Common Community Garden and include bike tune-ups with The Bike Connector

[LOWELL, MA] – Lowell-based non-profit Mill City Grows (MCG) is partnering with The Bike Connector for “Choose Your Own Bike Adventure,” an afternoon of self-guided bicycle tours of Lowell’s gardens, farms, and urban agricultural spaces in commemoration of MCG’s 10th Anniversary. The event takes place from 1pm-3pm and starts at North Common Community Garden, 465 Fletcher Street in Lowell. Attendees are invited to bring their bicycles and visit with volunteers from The Bike Connector who will be on site to help with bicycle tune-ups and bike repair questions. Tour maps featuring bike routes created for different cycling levels will be available, and complimentary snacks will be provided by Golden Girl Granola. Attendees must provide their own bicycles, bring water for hydration, and should wear good-fitting helmets. The event is free and open to the public. Event details are available at MillCityGrows.org and on the Facebook event page. For more information, please contact Enrique Vargas at Enrique@millcitygrows.org or call 978-455-2620.

The self-guided bicycle tours will include stops at the following spaces:

• Rist Urban Agriculture Greenhouse & Farm on UMass Lowell’s East Campus

• Stoklosa Middle School Garden (560 Broadway Street)

• Red Antler Apothecary Herbal Farm at Mill No. 5 (250 Middlesex Street)

Mill City Grows staff and volunteers will be stationed at each urban agricultural tour site to answer questions and share information. 

Mill City Grows’ “Choose Your Bike Adventure” is one of 10 signature events in 2022 throughout the City of Lowell commemorating MCG’s 10-Year Anniversary. Mill City Grows started as a single community garden in Lowell’s Rotary Park in the Back Central neighborhood. After a decade of working with residents, businesses, and city officials, MCG now manages 24 school and community gardens, more than five acres of Urban Farm land, and a range of food distribution and food education programs that engage over 15,000 residents per year. Mill City Grows is committed to ensuring that local foods, from our own urban farms and sourced from other regional growers, is accessible to residents of all income levels. 

MCG’s 10th Anniversary Celebration is made possible with the generosity of Mill City Grows’ 10th Anniversary Event Sponsors: Bank of America, Nancy L. Donahue, Jim Waldo & Susan Mitchell, Plenus Group, Inc., Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, Microdesk, Verizon Foundation, Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, and Enterprise Bank. Additional support is provided by the Mass Cultural Council. MCG is a recipient of the Cummings Foundation $25 Million Grant Program. 

About Mill City Grows

For the past 10 years, Mill City Grows (MCG) has worked towards food justice in Lowell, Massachusetts, using the following strategies and programs: education in and out of schools, supporting community leadership through community gardens, increasing urban agriculture through urban farming, implementing a mobile market, and empowering people to produce their own food. MCG infuses food production spaces with food education to support their belief that a community that understands how to grow, access, and prepare healthy food will have better quality of life and deeper investment in their local environment. Visit MillCityGrows.org to learn more, and follow MCG on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Contact:
Jessica Moore-Wilson, Executive Director
Jessica@millcitygrows.org
978-455-2620
MillCityGrows.org

MILL CITY GROWS HOSTS ANNUAL SPRING PLANT SALE ON SATURDAY, MAY 21, AT UMASS LOWELL’S RIST URBAN AGRICULTURE FARM

Dozens of locally grown plant varieties will be available for sale, including flowers, herbs, vegetables, and fruit!

[LOWELL, MA] – Lowell-based non-profit Mill City Grows will host its Annual Spring Plant Sale outdoors on Saturday, May 21, from 10am to 2pm, at UMass Lowell’s Rist Urban Agriculture Farm at 91 Pawtucket Street. An abundant variety of Lowell-grown plants – herbs, vegetables, flowers, and fruit – will be available for sale at this free, public event presented as part of Mill City Grows’ 10th Anniversary Celebration. The Spring Plant Sale will accept cash, debit, and credit, and SNAP/HIP will be accepted as payment for fruit and vegetable plants. Masking and physical distancing is strongly encouraged. All proceeds from the event will benefit Mill City Grows programs providing food access and education for residents of Lowell. Event details are available at MillCityGrows.org or by calling 978-455-2620.

All the plants available at the sale, including tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, melons, zucchini, kale, leafy greens, basil, cilantro, parsley, herbs, and flowers, were seeded and nurtured by Mill City Grows at the Rist Urban Agriculture Farm, the location of the Spring Plant Sale. The 1,800 square foot greenhouse on the farm site was built in 2017 in partnership between UMass Lowell’s Office of Sustainability and Mill City Grows, and operates year-round. 

Mill City Grows’ Spring Plant Sale is one of 10 signature events throughout the City of Lowell commemorating MCG’s 10-Year Anniversary. Mill City Grows started as a single community garden in Lowell’s Rotary Park. After a decade of working with residents, businesses, and city officials, MCG now manages 24 school and community gardens, more than five acres of Urban Farm land, and a range of food distribution and food education programs that engage over 15,000 residents per year. Mill City Grows is committed to ensuring that local foods, from our own urban farms and sourced from other regional growers, is accessible to residents of all income levels. 

For details on Mill City Grows’ Spring Plant Sale, please contact Maddie Grant at Maddie@millcitygrows.org or call 978-455-2620. The Spring Plant Sale and MCG’s 10th Anniversary Celebration is made possible with the generosity of Mill City Grows’ 10th Anniversary Event Sponsors: Nancy L Donahue, Jim Waldo & Susan Mitchell, Plenus Group, Inc., Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, Microdesk, Verizon Foundation, Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, and Enterprise Bank. Additional support is provided by the Mass Cultural Council. MCG is a recipient of the Cummings Foundation $25 Million Grant Program. 

About Mill City Grows

For the past 10 years, Mill City Grows (MCG) has worked towards food justice in Lowell, Massachusetts, using the following strategies and programs: education in and out of schools, supporting community leadership through community gardens, increasing urban agriculture through urban farming, implementing a mobile market, and empowering people to produce their own food. MCG infuses food production spaces with food education to support their belief that a community that understands how to grow, access, and prepare healthy food will have better quality of life and deeper investment in their local environment. Visit MillCityGrows.org to learn more, and follow MCG on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Contact:
Katherine Davis, Mill City Grows Director of Development
Katherine@millcitygrows.org
978-455-2620
MillCityGrows.org

MILL CITY GROWS HOSTS FREE VIRTUAL GUEST PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE 2022 LOWELL COMMUNITY FOOD ASSESSMENT REPORT, APRIL 21 AT 4PM EDT

The complete 2022 Lowell Community Food Assessment Report is now available to the public at MillCityGrows.org.

[LOWELL, MA] – Lowell-based non-profit Mill City Grows (MCG) will host a free Virtual Guest Panel Discussion on Thursday, April 21 at 4pm EDT, to present an in-depth review of the newly released 2022 Lowell Community Food Assessment (CFA) report. Registration for the Guest Panel Discussion is now open at MillCityGrows.org, and the event is free and open to the public. The Lowell CFA was a collaborative project implemented by Mill City Grows with funding, support, and participation of the REACH LoWELL initiative and the Greater Lowell Health Alliance (GLHA). More than 1,000 Lowell residents were interviewed for the assessment, which evaluated the city’s food system, determined the food security of Lowell residents, and proposed solutions to barriers and challenges to accessing food.

Event updates will be posted on the Lowell CFA Guest Panel Discussion Facebook Event Page and at MillCityGrows.org.

The Lowell CFA Guest Panel Discussion will feature five panelists – Solimar Berrios, Jeanmerli Gonzalez, Tara Hong, Ali Jacobs, and Edith Parekh – and will be moderated by Mill City Grows Co-founder, Francey Slater. Together, they will share and expand on the results of the CFA and how this information will impact and guide citywide efforts to increase healthy food access.

Mill City Grows’ Lowell Community Food Assessment Guest Panel Discussion is the second of 10 signature events throughout the City of Lowell commemorating MCG’s 10-Year Anniversary. Mill City Grows started as a single community garden at Rotary Club Park in Lowell’s Back Central neighborhood. After a decade of working with residents, businesses, and city officials, MCG now manages 24 school and community gardens, more than five acres of urban farmland, and a range of food distribution and food education programs that engage over 15,000 residents per year. Mill City Grows is committed to ensuring that local foods, from our own urban farms and sourced from other regional growers, is accessible to residents of all income levels.

MCG’s 10th Anniversary Celebration is made possible by the generosity of Mill City Grows’ 2022 Annual Sponsors: Nancy L Donahue, Plenus Group, Inc., Microdesk, the Verizon Foundation. Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, and Enterprise Bank. Additional support provided by Community Business Sponsors: Market Basket, Golden Girl Granola, Alpine Butcher, and Red Antler Apothecary. MCG is a recipient of the Cummings Foundation $25 Million Grant Program.

For more information and to view Mill City Grows’ 10th Anniversary Event Series lineup, please visit MillCityGrows.org/10th-anniversary-events.

About Mill City Grows

For the past 10 years, Mill City Grows (MCG) has worked towards food justice in Lowell, Massachusetts, using the following strategies and programs: education in and out of schools, supporting community leadership through community gardens, increasing urban agriculture through urban farming, implementing a mobile market, and empowering people to produce their own food. MCG infuses food production spaces with food education to support their belief that a community that understands how to grow, access, and prepare healthy food will have better quality of life and deeper investment in their local environment. Visit MillCityGrows.org to learn more, and follow MCG on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Contact:
Katherine Davis, Mill City Grows Director of Development
Katherine@millcitygrows.org
978-455-2620
MillCityGrows.org