Jan McDonald
Rochester, NY
The Farm
Rochester Roots is a school-community garden project that teaches elementary school students to grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Gardens have been built at two Rochester schools: Franklin Academic Campus at 950 Norton St., and Clara Barton PS #2, at 190 Reynolds St. Produce grown at the schools is harvested and distributed to students and community members who work in the gardens. Teachers are encouraged to integrate the gardens into their lessons.
Crops Grown
Chard, collards, tomatoes, beans, beets, broccoli raab, cabbage, carrots, cauliflowers, celeriac, cucumbers, edamame, eggplant, endive, escarole, fennel, garlic, herbs, kale, kohlrabi, leaf beat, leeks, lettuce mustard, okra, parsnips, peas, peppers, popcorn, scallions, shallots, summer and winter squash, tomatillo, turnip, rutabaga
Growing Practices
Rochester Roots uses no synthetic chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The farm uses crop rotation, composting, cover cropping, mulching, and companion planting to control weeds and pests. The farm seeks a diversity of plants; according to Jan McDonald, “Growing a variety of plant species within the same garden encourages a diverse and thriving living environment. Cultivating a number of ‘beneficial’ flowers and herbs attracts butterflies, bees and ladybugs—all of which help to pollinate our vegetable plants and feed on bugs that we don’t want eating our veggies. We teach the interconnectedness of the plant and insect worlds.”