Project Name: Urban Agricultural Community Garden

Funding: 2020/2021 NYS Conservation Project Financial Assistance – Part B

Year Began: 2020

Year Completed: 2021

 

Urban Agriculture

In recent years, urban agriculture has begun to see a spike in interest and installations in cities across the world. Urban agriculture is city or suburban agriculture found on roof-tops, balconies, backyards, vacant lots and parks, and roadsides, all with a focus on community gardening.

In 2020 and 2021, we partnered with Asbury First United Methodist Church and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County to create a community garden located at the Asbury First United Methodist Church through funding from the NYS Part B grant. Ten raised vegetable garden beds were installed, as well as the planting of a pollinator bed full of pollinator flowers and shrubs. The Church said the garden has inspired a new generation of gardeners wanting to start their own vegetable gardens after learning about urban agriculture at their Bible school classes, and this garden will serve to educate more in the community about the benefits of urban agriculture. Vegetables produced by the garden exceeded expectations with several varieties of tomatoes and peppers, lettuce, chard, greens, kale, herbs, green beans, eggplant, broccoli, cucumbers, carrots, and squash all being grown and distributed to the church community and various local food programs. 

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