If you enjoy gardening and would like to share your time, consider volunteering with Grassroots Gardens WNY, which educates and leads neighborhood gardeners. They’re also looking for donations of supplies. And please spread the word about workshops for new immigrant and refugee gardeners.
Volunteer
As an individual or part of a group—class, church group, coworkers, club, circle of friends—you can volunteer with Grassroots Gardens. It can be one-time special event or you can volunteer on an on-going basis.
See the locations of the gardens here.
For more information or to volunteer, contact Sara at 783-9653 or gardens@grassrootsgardens.org.
One of the gardens is Pelion Community Garden at City Honors School, 206 Best St., Buffalo, which needs help watering. If you volunteer, you could earn fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs for your efforts. Families, office and community groups, fraternities, classes or individuals are welcome to sign up for a week or a day. The best time to water is in the morning; watering the Pelion Garden takes about an hour. No skills are necessary—Pelion Garden’s staff and volunteers will train and guide new volunteers. For more information or to sign up, contact Caesandra Seawell, garden coordinator, at peliongarden@gmail.com or 803-5566.
Supplies and services needed
Grassroots Gardens is looking for donations of board games (for game nights), carpentry services, garden gloves, garden tools, pavers, seedlings, seeds, spades, stone, tomato cages, trellises, weed fabric, wooden barrels for container gardening and yard waste bags.
Workshops for immigrant, refugee gardeners
Grassroots Gardens will hold Safe Roots workshops for new immigrant and refugee gardeners. Topics will include safe growing practices and what produce grows well in Western New York. The workshops will be translated into Burmese, Nepali, Swahili, Karen and Arabic.
Help spread the word to anyone you know who might like to attend.
Dates and times are:
- 4-6 p.m. Thursday, July 28 at International School 45, 141 Hoyt St., Buffalo
- 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2 at Buffalo Public School 18, 125 Hampshire St., Buffalo
- 3:30-5:30 p.m.Thursday, Aug. 11 at Lafayette High School, 370 Lafayette Ave., Buffalo
A gardening guide is available in English and seven other languages.
For more information, contact derek@grassrootsgardens.org or call 716-783-9653.
