Thank you for making 2017 an incredible year!

Happy New Year!

2017 was an amazing year for The New Garden Society, thanks of course to the  generous, ongoing support of our community. With your help we accomplished incredible feats:

1        Dumptruck of compost added to prison soils

3     Food pantries distributed prison-grown produce

12       Students, our average class size

80       Hours of horticulture instruction

600     Pounds of food grown on otherwise barren land

This Winter we also raised over $10,000.00, making it our most successful year-end fundraising campaign yet! Each of these accomplishments were made possible by the strong community of volunteers, staff and supporters around The New Garden Society who all go above and beyond to build hope and skills with our incarcerated neighbors. A huge, heartfelt thanks to all of you for investing in the future with The New Garden Society. We look forward to continuing to work with you in a bountiful and beautiful 2018.

Summer Fundraisers

As our students tend greenhouses and sow the first seeds of the season, we're going out into the community drum up support for local prison gardens. We hope to see you at one, or all, of these events!
 

FEAST Mass #14
Saturday, May 6th, 6-9 pm
ds4si, 1946 Washington Street, Floor 2, Boston MA, 02118

Join us for a fresh spring meal while you help support TNGS and celebrate creative projects in our community! During the evening, you’ll hear pitches, including TNGS's, for inspiring projects that need funding. Vote for your favorite, and watch as the winner receives a grant funded entirely from the night's ticket sales. Grassroots crowdfunding at its finest!

Reserve your spot at bit.ly/feast-mass-rsvp. Be sure to bring cash for entrance to the event (FEAST suggests a donation of $15 to cover the cost of the meal and the grant).

Trustees Spring Perennial Divide
Sunday, May 7th, 12:30-2:30 pm
Southwest Corridor Community Farm, Lamartine St. at Hoffman St., Jamaica Plain, MA

This year, we're partnering with The Trustees of Reservations on their ever-popular Perennial Divide. For the first time, all extra perennials are going to Greater Boston prison gardens. Perennials will be installed by incarcerated students to beautify and diversify prison landscapes.

Find more information on the Trustees's website: http://www.thetrustees.org/things-to-do/greater-boston/event-31380.html

Yard Sale to Benefit Prison Gardens
Sunday, June 11th, 10 am-2 pm
Lawn at First Baptist Church, 633 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain

Lemonade, Plant Lovers & Sweet Second-Hand Goods. Shop for a wide array of clothing, home goods, sports equipment and books. Check out the 'Garden Advice' booth for sage wisdom from expert growers. Every penny supports Greater-Boston prison gardens.

Winter Storytelling Tour

Our work is bound up with the seasons and winter is a time for reflection, taking stock, building community and planning for the growing season. This winter, we're bringing the stories of growing food and flowers behind bars to you! The prison courtyards and classrooms that we work in are largely invisible to the public. Through these talks, workshops and discussions, we're shining light on local prisons and sharing our experiences with the simple, transformative intervention of prison gardens.

Whenever we're out in the community- at festivals, conferences and lectures- we're selling these handsome shirts and sweatshirts. Wear your heart on your sleeve and support prison gardens at the same time! All our gear is printed in Dorchester and available in men's sizes S-XL. Hoodies and t-shirts feature TNGS' seal on the chest and 'Transforming Landscapes Transforming Lives' across the back. The New Garden Society's seal is a powerful symbol to wear out into the field featuring the native Juneberry and 'Thus I Flourish.' See you in the field!

Transforming Landscapes, Transforming Lives: Why Prison Gardens Matter

Longyear Museum with the Chestnut Hill Garden Club

Tuesday, January 10th, 10:00 am

NOFA Winter Conference: Prison Garden Ethics Workshop

Worcester State University, Worcester, MA

Saturday, January 14th

 Transforming Landscapes, Transforming Lives: Why Prison Gardens Matter

Lincoln Garden Club

Monday, February 6th, 9:30 am

 Massachusetts Urban Farming Conference

Northeastern University, Boston, MA

Saturday, March 4th

 2017 New England Farm to Institution Summit: 

Growing & Gleaning Food with Incarcerated Individuals Panel Discussion

Leominster, MA

 Wednesday-Friday, April 5th- 7th

 Transforming Landscapes, Transforming Lives: Why Prison Gardens Matter

The Cottage Gardener Club, Marblehead, MA

Tuesday, April 11th, 1:30 pm