New Work :: School Gardens :: Clara Barton Elementary School - Rochester Roots x2

New Work :: School Gardens :: Clara Barton Elementary School - Rochester Roots

Spring Kick-Off Events

The last week has been busy with farm and garden kick-off events in/around Rochester, NY. Below are a few quick digital photos from the last week.

Sunday Farm Drop-off Turns into Impromptu Farm Market, 4/18/10
Attendees stand in line for pre-ordered eggs and vegetables from Clearview Farm:

Garlic greens from Fraser's Garlic Farm:

The next drop-off/farm market will be this coming Sunday, 5/1, in the parking lot of the Cornell Cooperative Extension, 249 Highland Ave. You can contact me for additional information, or check out the Rochester Farm Connection: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RochesterFarm/ for postings.

RIT Community Garden Kick-Off, 4/22/10



Volunteers work in the Rochester Roots Franklin Greenhouse, 4/22/10



Onion Planting Party at Mud Creek Farm, 4/24/10



GVOCSA Spring Kick-Off, 4/25/10
A walk in the woods, Kraai Preserve:

Joe Bean Coffee Roasters

Thanks to Joe Bean Coffee Roasters for showing me around their shop at 182 North Ave., Webster, NY, yesterday morning! The company roasts fair trade, organic beans from around the world. If you're a Rochester local, their products can be purchased at their shop and additionally are available elsewhere around town, such as at Abundance Cooperative Market (62 Marshall Street) and Lento (274 N. Goodman Street), a restaurant dedicated to utilizing small-scale, local food production. If you're from out of town, you can make purchases here. Also, check out their Facebook page for updates on events and open houses.

I watched as the coffee was 'cupped', a tasting technique performed in order to determine each coffee's flavor profile:

Making cappuccinos:

Earlier this month, I also caught Joe Bean baristas serving coffee at the Rochester Roots "Growing Together Community Garden Conference." To see these photos and more, visit my Flickr page.

Rochester Roots

Rochester Roots is an exciting organization "committed to the creation of urban school and community garden-based educational programs for youth and adults" in the city of Rochester, NY. Director Jan McDonald and volunteers work with the school community to develop a garden which complements lessons children are learning in such subjects as science, history, and math. To teach participants entrepreneurial skills, a portion of the produce is sold at the South Wedge Farmers Market. To learn more about Rochester Roots, check out their video, Let's Dig In.

I spent several chilly autumn mornings photographing at one of the elementary school gardens, watching children enthusiastically pick produce, pull dying plants, and feed the compost pile.

At the end of the season, Rochester Roots hosted a fund raising event that included a delicious harvest dinner, a dessert table filled with homemade pies, a silent auction and a lecture presented by guest speaker Samina Raja, professor at the University of Buffalo.
If you're a Rochester local, consider joining Rochester Roots this Saturday, Jan.16, 2010, for Growing Together: A Community Garden Conference. The day includes a morning bus tour of local community gardens (sold out) and an afternoon of three breakout sessions: 1) Soil Health 2) A-Z Organic Garden Planning and 3) Community Garden and Urban Agriculture Development. Walk-Ins for the conference are allowed, however pre-registration is encouraged. Phone registrations can be made to 585-232-1463.

Date: Saturday, Jan.16, 2010
Times: 9:00-12:00 Bus tour (sold out)
12:30-5:30 breakout sessions
Location: Rochester City Hall
Address: 30 Church St. Rochester, NY 14614
Free parking available at City Hall