In 1998, we started the Rochester Roots School-Community Garden Project with School #9. There are now eight raised beds and a Japanese garden. A 40’ x 120’ heirloom market garden is located behind the school at Bethany House. At this site we grow a multitude of vegetables, herbs and berries.

In 2005, we began working in the Franklin Greenhouse with the Montessori students to start seedlings for the 12 urban gardens. The students help make our potting soil mixture and sow seeds. Additional plants are grown for home gardens and farm market sales. In 2006, we planted the central courtyard of the school with over 200 heirloom tomato plants and squashes. In 2007, the courtyard will be designed as an "outdoor classroom" that not only grows produce and herbs, but allows teachers to integrate botany, geography, history and language arts into the garden experience.

In 2006, we expanded our gardens to include a one-acre parcel of land on the grounds of School #2. This parcel provides a majority of the produce used for distribution and marketing. Over 40 varieties of vegetables are grown here. In the courtyard of the school there are raised beds and an herb garden. The entrance to the school is landscaped with flowers.