Somerville Farming Nonprofit Receives National Grant

The Gardens for Good program has awarded more than $1 million to 150 organic community gardens across North America since it launched.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Aug 4, 2026 2:01 PM EDT

SOMERVILLE, MA — A local nonprofit has been selected to receive funding through a North America-wide grant program supporting community gardens and food access initiatives.

Groundwork Somerville will receive a $3,000 grant from Nature's Path Organic Foods as part of the company's 16th annual Gardens for Good: Plant It Forward program. The organization was one of 15 grassroots organizations across the United States and Canada selected through the competitive program, including 10 in the United States. Nature's Path said recipients were chosen for their commitment to organic agriculture, community-led leadership, food access, and education.

The funding will support Groundwork Somerville's work promoting environmental stewardship, urban agriculture and equitable access to healthy food throughout the city. The nonprofit operates South Street Farm, Somerville's only urban farm, while partnering with local schools and employing teenagers through its Green Team environmental leadership program to grow fresh produce and provide hands-on environmental education.

The Gardens for Good program has awarded more than $1 million to nearly 150 organic community gardens across North America since launching in 2010. This year's program will distribute a total of $45,000, with each recipient receiving a $3,000 grant.

"Real change begins from the ground up when communities are empowered to grow their own food," Nature's Path Vice President of Mission and Strategy Jyoti Stephens said in a statement. "The 2026 Gardens for Good winners represent the true spirit of grassroots resilience – turning local soil into centers of health, connection and long-term food security."

Nature's Path said this year's recipients include organizations operating urban farms, school gardens, food sovereignty projects, and community food security initiatives serving underserved and underrepresented populations while promoting sustainable organic agriculture.