Merrimack Valley Growers Aid Program

Dedicated to sustainable farming and strengthening Lowell’s diverse food system.

Some gardeners come to Mill City Grows with an abundance of agricultural knowledge, but access to little or no growing space. In 2022, Mill City Grows developed the Merrimack Valley Growers Aid program (MVGA) to support these growers with land access, supplies, and technical assistance. Growers learn sustainable growing practices and the critical details of selling produce locally alongside MCG staff. Beyond the physical space and opportunity for engagement, participants emphasize the rapport they share with the other growers and Mill City Grows team members.

Participants in the MVGA program grow a variety of crops that are culturally meaningful and often impossible to find at local markets or grocery stores. Participants currently grow food on fertile land at MCG’s 4-acre urban farm in Pawtucketville and the Rist Urban Agriculture Greenhouse and Farm at UMass Lowell’s East Campus.