A volunteer group of community gardeners and urban farmers is trying to clear the way for more urban farms in Rochester.
The Urban Agriculture Working Group has been around for several years, but co-chair Lauren Caruso says there's a renewed sense of energy and purpose.
"Rochester has had sort of a hit or miss history in trying to build a movement like this for the past couple of decades,” she said. “We hope this is a new time in our city to have all different communities and people from different backgrounds and experiences come together to address food security issues in Rochester and seeing urban agriculture as an economic driver."
The group recently awarded Rochester Area Community Foundation funded grants of $250 to ten community gardens, and hopes to find more funding to sustain the micro-grant program.
Next, they want to help people overcome barriers to building their own community garden or urban farm. For instance, Rochester residents can get free compost or mulch from the city's materials give back program, but Caruso said the compost can't be used in gardens that grow food.
"When you have towns like Brighton, Pittsford, and other places that do have access food-grade compost, we want to know why that is and why that can't be something we do in Rochester," she said.
The Urban Agriculture Working Group also wants to look at how other cities allow residents access to vacant or abandoned properties for their gardens, and advocate for those changes in Rochester.
"If a garden is located on a city-owned property (in Rochester), because of the fear or the potential liability with growing in that soil, whoever wants to grow on that land has to build raised beds and cannot then sell the foods that they grow in their community," Caruso said.
The group is gathering at the Lexington Avenue Urban Farm in Rochester this evening from 5:30 to 7:30 to celebrate the end of its third growing season. The event will feature food, cooking demonstrations, and art.
