Roc Community Garden Run 1

Through the arbor and into the Wide Water Gardens. (6/30/20)

Returning back to a project I began at the start of COVID-19 quarantine, I set a course prior to this morning's run for some "landmarks" of local interest. Having collected most Frederick Douglass statues and experienced of few haunted locations on foot, I set my sights on something new: community gardens.  Using a list created and posted by the Monroe County Cornell Cooperative Extension as an initial resource (as well as my own recollection from previous runs), I put together a short loop that would bring me into four gardens of varying degrees of scope. Today's six miler addressed those gardens in closest proximity to my home, though my larger intent is to get by some of those that are set throughout the Greater Rochester Community.

Click to embiggen annotated
map of all locations for four
local gardens visited on a six
mile loop through Rochester, NY.

A few things I learned while planning my route is that there are a number of organizations responsible for establishing and maintaining community gardens. These range from the grand, public displays such as the RMSC Gardens, to the secluded and functional such as those on Cypress and Rosedale Streets. Quiet a few are managed in cooperation with the City of Rochester local government, and one, the Broadway Community Garden managed by the 490 Farmers, is the oldest of its kind in New York State. In digging through some basic information for each, I once again found myself grateful for the amount of positive activity taking place in our community outside the limelight.

I set out at 6 a.m., so some of the images are not very good, and in most instances, the gardens were very quiet. On two occasions, urban farmers were arriving to water their plots as I slowed to take a few cell phone pictures. Because it is was only the last day of June, those gardens/plots that serve the primary function of growing edibles were still very green, though photogenic nonetheless. Unsurprisingly, that which was which was designed for aesthetic quality above function (though herbs are practical plants) provided the most colorful.

1. Wide Water Gardens, Upper Monroe Neighborhood, 345 Rosedale Street. "One of the largest community gardens in Western New York, Wide Water Gardens is an urban agricultural, educational and recreational resource for residents of the City of Rochester and surrounding communities." (Source: Facebook Cite)

Wide Water Gardens lies in a corner lot along the 490
Expressway. (6/30/20)

Sound barriers help maintain peace and quiet in the Wide Water
Gardens. (6/30/20)

Wide Water Gardens consists of 60 beds, each maintained by
individual urban gardeners cumulatively featuring a wide
variety of herbs, flowers, vegetable and fruit. (6/30/20)

2. The Broadway Community Garden, Corner of Broadway & Meigs Streets. "It is the first community garden on state owned land in New York, 490 Farmers is an urban farming collective that founded and maintains The Broadway Community Garden and Free Food Forest based along I-490 in Rochester, NY. We provide garden plots to residents for personal food or therapy gardens, a Children's Garden, and a volunteer Food Forest supplying pantry donation." (Source: Website)

The Broadway Community Garden is very much a self-contained,
functioning urban farm. (6/30/20)

Cool visual of stages of decomposition and readiness of
compost for use in maintaining garden beds. (6/30/20)

The Broadway Community Garden's Free Food Forest is
open for members and visitors. (6/30/20)

Signage throughout the Broadway Community Garden 
provide opportunities for both learning and appreciating the
efforts of volunteers. (6/30/20)

The Broadway Community (490) Garden. (6/30/20)

Children's Garden and picnic tables create a wonderful family-
friendly atmosphere. (6/30/20)

3. South Wedge Victory Garden, 122 Hamilton St and 162 Cypress St. "The South Wedge Victory Gardens provide an opportunity for neighborhood residents to grow their own fresh vegetables saving money and encouraging healthy eating. It also offers an opportunity for additional outdoor exercise and building community among neighbors." (Source: Website)

By acreage, the smallest visited today, but also most of what comes
to mind when I think of a community garden. (6/30/30)

Positioned between two residencies, the South Wedge Victory
Garden is on the location of a home that was demolished. (6/30/30)

4. Rochester Museum and Science Center (RMSC) Herb Garden, 657 East Avenue. “The RMSC historic gardens offer a beautiful background for photography. Garden backdrops include: Tim Sullivan Memorial Garden, Garden of Fragrance, Kearns Family Garden, Mary E. Slifer Memorial Garden, Don Lowry Garden, Main Entrance Garden (planted by FLCC students).” (Source: Website)

RMSC Gardens. (6/30/20)

Another visitor in the RMSC Gardens. (6/30/20)

RMSC Gardens. (6/30/30)

RMSC Gardens. (6/30/20)

RMSC Gardens. (6/30/20)

Serene and peaceful during an early morning run, I anticipate revisiting these locales later in the day later this summer. Each possesses it's own charm and as fruits, vegetable and herbs continue to  blossom and grow I am confident they energy and expectation will build, too.