Mill City Grows

Did you ever explore a thriving, working farm as a kid? Well THESE kids from Washington Elementary School, Shaughnessy Elementary School, and Bartlett Community Partnership School did that and MORE at our July Mill City Grows Farm Field Trips! 😁

Our Farm Field Trips offer kids the chance to touch, smell, taste, explore, and even *document* everything that's growing all around them. Our MCG Education Team and Interns lead them through our Ed Garden and other fields at our 4-acre urban farm, where students can actually see the cycle of food first-hand and learn about healthy local food systems. 🍅 They enjoy fresh air, camaraderie, and using all their senses -- the impact and experience is priceless, as you can see in these photos!

We are so grateful to the summer school staff and students at these 3 Lowell Public Schools! 🙌 We hope your farm experience stays with you throughout the school year to come!

🌿 A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM MILL CITY GROWS:

The current outbreak we are experiencing is caused by a parasite called Cyclospora, which is transmitted via human f***s. This means that vegetables were irrigated, washed, or otherwise contaminated with waste somewhere along the harvest and processing line.

Outbreaks like this are almost exclusively linked to industrial farming practices such as lax regulation in processing facilities and poor labor conditions for workers. In addition, the parasite is much harder to track this year since the Trump administration ceased active monitoring of Cyclospora contamination last summer. The administration’s scaling back of the FOODNet surveillance network that tracks pathogens in our food system is a direct result of federal budget cuts to food safety systems.

The best thing to do during an outbreak like this is to support your local farmer. Purchasing from local producers shrinks the distance between food and the consumer and supports sustainable farming practices and a regional food system. When you shop at your local farmers market, you have the opportunity to meet the people who grow your food face-to-face, to ask questions about their business and farming practices. This makes YOU, the consumer, an ACTIVE, supportive participant in your local food system! 🍅

Come shop with us at Mill City Grows at our Mobile Farmers Markets throughout Lowell, and encourage others to shop local when possible. All our MCG Markets accept SNAP/EBT, HIP, WIC & Senior Farmers Markets Coupons, WellSense, Apple Pay, cash, credit, and debit. We also accept Mill City Grows Mobile Market e-Gift Cards, which you can purchase online at MillCityGrows.org/markets.

Finally, we hope you make the choice to support your local farmers in the LONG TERM, and make shopping local a permanent part of your daily life.

Thank you, and we'll see you soon! 👋