2019
Annual Report

Building a Just Food System That Works for All

We believe that all families, regardless of their income level or race, deserve fresh, affordable, culturally relevant food that is grown sustainably and without exploitation. Our mission is to provide this life-giving food to our community, in partnership with local farms, so that all Springfield families can thrive. As a group that is led by people of color, we are building a more equitable and sustainable food system that is locally controlled, created by and for the community.

Walnut Street Community Farm Store

2019 was the first year our beautiful new Farm Store was open for the entire year, serving approximately 750 families!

We sold produce directly through the store, as well as through our Farm Share program which operated for 27 weeks of the year.

The Farm Store is a permanent resource for the community with the potential to grow in impact each year. It brings people together across many differences and gives them a sense of their own power to create change.

“Look, you’ve got a farm stand in the community that’s run by youth of color. It’s in a neighborhood that’s of color and it’s part of our own self determination…. GTC has created a space where we’re able to come and get healthy food and it’s within walking distance or it’s on a bus route. Or even if you’re driving, you don’t have that far to go. Those two outcomes are really major for me, very major. Not every city can brag about that.”

—Sister Anna Muhammad, neighbor and former board member

“Hey, if they can grow this right around the corner, and we’re in the dead middle of the hood, and we think that we can’t do it because we’re in the hood... I’m super happy about the fact they’re right there. There’s times I could be cooking, and I need an onion. I just run down the street, and go pick up this one little onion!”

—Neighbor

The impact on our neighbors, our youth and the organization has been profound:

“We’re pretty ecstatic about the fact that we have this little market here at the end of the street, ecstatic about the culture it brings with the kids. We go by there on Saturdays. Especially in the summer now, you’re pretty busy over there.”

—Neighbor

“I didn’t know how beautiful it was going to become. In the end, I really feel like it was a very good impact. We got not only a farm, but we have a store now and we’re able to advertise and we’re able to let people know that we’re really there for the community. We’re there for them.”

—Natalisha, GTC youth

Walnut Street Farm

The Walnut Street Farm is flourishing, creating a peaceful green space that grows healthy food and brings the neighborhood and our youth hope and a sense of well-being.

Photo credit: Dan Madsen

“It shows the people in Springfield, and the people outside of Springfield too, that anything really is possible if you have the determination to help your community and or do what you want to do. Because a lot of people didn’t think that. A lot of people probably never knew that the Walnut street Farm was going to look the way it does now. But we were determined to make it into a beautiful plot of land that turned out to be a really great farm. So determination is key.”

—Jihan, GTC youth

“I ran into a young man who lives in the community. This is a young African American man and he’s about 18 years old and suffers from depression, and what helps him is to be around nature, around flowers and beautiful things. ... He said that every day he would go by and just stand there [at the Walnut St. Farm] after work, after school, and that helped him. I was totally amazed because for one thing, young men usually don’t talk to older ladies about flowers. He was saying just [seeing] the whole flower, things growing and stuff, that that made him feel a lot better. He was able to reduce his medication as long as he is, on a daily basis, getting in touch with natural things and growing things. I was very moved, I almost cried.”

—Awilda, neighbor and Board member

In 2019 we grew 4,400 pounds of beautiful, delicious and nutritious pesticide-free vegetables, herbs and fruit. We continued our work to regenerate our soil, planted more flowers to attract pollinators, and had our first crop of apples!

GTC EATS Farm Share Program (CSA)

GTC EATS! had an amazing year, impacting the lives of its 95 members in important ways. We ran two weekly seasons: a 20 week season for 70 families over the summer and fall, and a 16 week winter season for 25 families from November through March. Thanks to generous sponsorships from Health New England, Baystate Health and CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture) we were able to offer 65% of our summer members and 85% of our winter members a subsidized price. GTC youth help lead the program, developing their skills and leadership as a result.

Impact

The vast majority of our share members live in neighborhoods without affordable access to fresh, locally grown produce. GTC EATS! helps them improve their eating habits, get healthier, feel more hopeful about their community and build connections with their neighbors and Springfield youth.

“I am my family. As a single, low income senior, my food choices are pretty limited, truth be told. GTC EATS enabled me to eat vegetables and fruits, which are always the first to go if other expenses become overwhelming, because it’s always the food budget which gets cut. There’s no other place to make any… So Thank you so very much, GTC, I ate well for a change, and my health improved because you were there. You saved me.”

—Farm share participant

“Seeing GTC blossom in the Mason Square neighborhood has helped me become more appreciative of the community, and it makes me hopeful that other great developments will follow to bring about more beauty in our city. My son and I eat more fruits and vegetables since I began GTC EATS. He never ate pears or apples but now loves them!”

—Farm share participant

“I’m a diabetic and eating these delicious fruits and vegetables helped me prepare meals that make me feel better.”

—Farm share participant

Youth Leadership in Action

We had 36 young people develop their leadership with us throughout 2019, ages 12–18. They worked in all kinds of weather to grow food for their community, spoke eloquently about their experiences at community events and house parties, learned about everything from systemic racism, to how to plant seeds, helped manage the farm store and GTC EATS!, wrote thank you notes and made calls to our supporters, and spread the word about GTC within the community. They made us proud!

36 youth contributed 7,000 hours over 2,260 sessions!

Program Impact

Youth responding to our survey last August reported that the program has impacted them in many important ways.

“My time at GTC has made me into a better person. I’ve become more tolerant of others’ views and ways of life. I’ve had chances to better myself and teach others ... Seeing Walnut go from weeds and trash to now an amazing garden with the Farm Store, I feel proud of myself and GTC.”

—GTC youth participant

“GTC has made me more independent and hard-working, helping me motivate myself to go further.”

—GTC youth participant

“GTC has given me experience in working in a team and planting. It also made me more confident as a person.”

—GTC youth participant

We were inspired this year by the ways that our youth demonstrated leadership and shared what they have learned!

Five GTC youth leaders and one staff worked with youth from the Regional Environmental Council in Worcester (YouthGROW) to co-lead a workshop for the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group gathering in Jersey City.” Together with YouthGROW, they presented a workshop titled “Youth Perspectives from the Frontline of the Food Justice Movement.” Within the presentation, the youth spoke about what each program does for their communities.

GTC youth leader, Malik Muhammad, testified before the MA Joint Oversight Committee on Public Health. Malik discussed the impact of food insecurity and nutrition on public health, focusing on the importance of youth-based urban agriculture programs like GTC.

GTC youth spoke out about their experiences publicly at house parties and other community events.

Sustainability

Bicycles

We love our bikes! Teams of youth delivered farm shares to their neighbors all summer long. That’s enough bike miles to go to Boston and back TWICE!

Building Community

Community sustains and energizes our work and is the foundation for building a movement for change. We work to build relationships across our community and the wider region whenever we can and to challenge people to understand and address the systemic racism and classism that permeates our food system.

Farm to Soup Event

In November, GTC celebrated the harvest season, our youth, and our community with our first ever Farm to Soup event, featuring home-made soups and pies! We had a record crowd in attendance and enjoyed an inspiring youth panel and a musical performance by hip hop artist Tem Blessed.

Plant Sale and Gardener’s Gathering

Every year we partner with the Springfield Food Policy Council to host this amazing event where families come together to learn about the benefits of growing their own food and purchase beautiful starter plants grown by a local farm.

Tastings and Cooking Demonstrations

We create community throughout the growing season, bringing people together around food, health and justice. We organized over 25 tastings, cooking demonstrations and community events where neighbors and CSA members came together to learn, share, and connect.

Volunteers

721 volunteers gave 6,549 hours of their time to support GTC, a new record for us! Volunteers helped us in so many ways—from farm work and site improvements to community engagement, event management, and data analysis. We are grateful to the many ways that these wonderful folks helped us meet our mission in 2019. We wouldn’t be where we are without you! Thank You!!!