Urban Roots renewed our commitment to the community this year through partnership with Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo. The two city focused groups (Grassroots a nonprofit, Urban Roots a cooperative) offer Community Garden Workshops the West Side community with the tools to create and maintain a sustainable network of community gardens to improve quality of life and environmental awareness.

The two organizations received a grant to support awareness and workshops from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Environmental Justice Community Impact Grant program. In addition to the workshops, the grant also provides funding to establish new Community Gardens, perform soil testing, and improve existing Community Gardens.

Zoe Lavatelli, Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo Garden Coordinator believes that “These workshops can have an impact on people of all ages. The community members who attend the workshops or engage with the gardens in their neighborhoods will learn about horticulture, economics, urban revitalization and, importantly, meet their neighbors and engage as a community.”

The workshops empower residents by addressing the following environmental harms and risks:
• Soil contamination
• Increased water runoff
• Exposure to debris and garbage
• Decreased sense of safety due to property upkeep
• Lack of green space
• Lack of access to fresh, affordable produce for many city residents
• Lack of neighborhood-based community revitalization and beautification
• Lack of education and leadership opportunities for West Side Residents

“We are giving gardeners the knowledge they need to succeed and to increase the sustainability of their own gardens and the great Grassroots Gardens throughout Buffalo.  We’re happy to partner with Grassroots Gardens to teach seed-saving, composting, use of rain barrels and other water management strategies and increasing use of environmentally-friendly and organic gardening methods,” stated Kristen Smith Armstrong, Chair of Urban Roots Education Committee.

See additional photos here!