A LEADERSHIP TRANSITION AT BACKYARD GROWERS

A letter from Executive Director Alison DiFiore

Hello friend, 

After more than three wonderful years leading Backyard Growers, I’ll be stepping into a new chapter and concluding my time as Executive Director on October 3. I’m so happy to pass the torch to Development Director Katy Marques who will be stepping into the role of Acting Executive Director to lead the organization.

Katy is a steady, thoughtful leader with deep knowledge of Gloucester and Backyard Growers.  She has my full confidence and I know you’ll all join me in welcoming her to this role.

Little kids with dirty hands and big smiles. A mother and son planning their veggie garden together on a rainy day in March. Community gardeners swapping their bountiful harvests and sharing recipes. Neighbors connecting in Burnham’s Field over fresh, local food at the Backyard Growcery.

These are the images that Backyard Growers evokes for me. It’s warm, it’s inspiring, and it helps our community be its very best. 

Since taking the reins at Backyard Growers, I’ve experienced firsthand the way our community cares for one another. Backyard Growers is a grassroots organization that started by neighbor helping neighbor, and a shared desire to make growing fresh food accessible to everyone. 

In my time at the organization, we’ve made big strides to deepen our programming and impact, from expanding our school programs to include a Gloucester High School internship program and a veggie garden at Gloucester Alternative Program, to bringing a new farmers market, the Backyard Growcery, to our community every Wednesday, and more.

I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for Backyard Growers. I’ll be cheering the organization on from the sidelines, and I’ll see you at Burnham’s at the Backyard Growcery!

Happy growing, 

Outgoing Executive Director Alison DiFiore & incoming Acting Executive Director Katy Marques in Burnham’s Field Community Garden