Meet The Somerville Community Growing Center!

Published August 2025

Since 1994, The Somerville Community Growing Center’s has provided an oasis of green space in the Square. The Growing Center’s Outreach & Operations Manager, Betsy Larkin, shares some insight behind their community and programming.

Tell us a little bit about the Growing Center!

The Somerville Community Growing Center is a decades-old, city-owned, quarter-acre sized green space run primarily by volunteers and stewarded by The Friends of the Community Growing Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit.

A space for gathering, learning, and celebrating, it has a long history of building local community through environmental and multicultural educational programs and events. Overseen by volunteers, it's a community gathering space for people of all ages, not only for cultural events, playgroups, readings and festivals, but also for anyone who wants to get their hands dirty, have access to vital green space, and explore a bit of nature in the city.

What planted the seed for your organization to start? 

The Somerville Community Growing Center was born out of the rubble of the old Southern Junior High School at the corner of Vinal Ave and Summer Street. In 1991, under the leadership of then-Mayor Michael Capuano, a group of citizen activists came together to create a new kind of educational, community-focused garden and green space.  

A place for people of all ages and backgrounds to gather, learn, celebrate, and grow community, this shared space—with no private plots—has provided public access to vital green space, free cultural events and performances, and volunteer opportunities to several generations of Somerville residents.

What aspect makes you most proud to be a leader in our community?

Designed and built by local residents, neighbors, high school students, and business leaders, the Growing Center has flourished through the dedication and enthusiasm of its like-minded volunteers. And because of the collaborative nature of the space, it has also been a catalyst for the birth of other local organizations and projects like Groundwork Somerville and the Somerville Maple Syrup Project. 

In short, the Growing Center is an important model for urban land use and collaboration between city government and local nonprofit and community agencies.

How do you #LoveUnionSquare?

One of the remarkable things about the Growing Center is how much has been worked into a small space. Density is a key aspect of Somerville; that the wildness of the city can flourish even in a small space like ours is an echo of the developed land of the surrounding landscape and the character of the community. We are who we are BECAUSE of our surrounding neighborhood, rather than DESPITE it. 

We are in the midst of so much of what makes Somerville great! Regardless of the urban growth all around us, the Growing Center is here to stay as a wellspring of nature in the midst of a busy urban hub, offering a respite from the bustle of city life for years to come. We #LoveUnionSquare by supporting efforts to build community, promoting the diversity of our City, engaging children and adults alike with nature and the outdoors, and bringing people together through free public programs!

If you were to plan the perfect outing in Union Square, where would you go and what would you do?

I would start by walking my pup through Lincoln Park with my kids, giving them time to play on the playground. For breakfast, we'd either hit up Vinal Bakery or Bloc Cafe for an egg sandwich and/or scone - if you can snag a shaded table at Bloc you can bring your dog! (Another recent discovery: Vinal offers a Homesick New Englander care package you can send to friends and family out of state, complete with anadama English muffins, Teddie peanut butter, Fluff, a SkyBar, and Necco wafers!) 

We are very crafty, so a stop at Make & Mend is a must - and even if it's a gorgeous day my kids will want to stop by Play Union to say hi to Debbie and paint something! And of course, a walk through Union Square wouldn't be complete for my family without a stop at the Growing Center! We don't eat out too much these days, so some takeout from Capone's, Siam Ginger or Reliable Market to eat on our patio would round out the day. And maybe a walk to Gracie's for dessert!

Do you have any "behind the scenes" or fun facts that someone might not know already?

The Somerville Maple Syrup Project started at the Growing Center in 2000 - making it over 25 years old! It was started by a Somerville High School teacher who taught a Buildings & Grounds Maintenance course in the vocational program.

We tap trees at Tufts University, so that sap actually comes from Medford! It was run for about 10 years by Groundwork Somerville with lots of support from Tufts University students, and is now a two-day event, always the first Friday and Saturday in March. There’s an educational Boil Down on Friday for area preschoolers and students, and a public Boil Down on Saturday - open to all!

Is there anything else you think a community member would like to know?

Everyone who cares for our space, plans programs, hosts Open Hours, and fundraises is completely volunteer. If you've been looking for a new way to get involved in your community while meeting new people and maybe getting your hands a bit dirty, the Growing Center is for you!

The Somerville Community Growing Center is located at 22 Vinal Avenue. It is gated for safety reasons, but open to the public during events, and during Open Garden Hours: Thursdays 4:30-6:30 pm; Saturdays 10:00 am - 12:00 pm; and Sundays 12:00-2:00 pm.

Keep up to date with The Somerville Community Growing Center on Instagram & Facebook.