Lots of Food at the Squirrel

On the hottest of hot dog days in August, the Flying Squirrel Community Space on Clarissa Street hosted a planting party. Two dozen volunteers showed up, including University of Rochester students, Lots of Food Project Guild members and energetic neighbors. Pickaxes were swung and spades wielded. Compacted ground was broken. Log edgers were laid. Gallons of compost were sprinkled into newly formed garden beds. Paw paw trees (yes, the same tree mentioned in the childrens’ song is native to this area), strawberries, asparagus and herbs were planted. Thirty cubic feet (two truckloads) of woodchip mulch were spread.

In collaboration with Rochester based Lots of Food Project (LOF), the Squirrel‘s yard is undergoing transformation. LOF, a not-for-profit program of Seeking Common Ground, Inc., is dedicated to making the food in its edible landscapes freely accessible and available to all.

With the help of over 100 local volunteers led by permaculture enthusiast, designer, and teacher Patty Love of Brighton, LOF has already converted almost a dozen underutilized plots of land throughout the city into sustainable, self-maintaining gardens. LOF gardens will provide healthy alternatives to fast food restaurants and small overpriced convenience stores downtown, many of which don’t even stock fresh produce. All food will be free, with fair share harvest for neighbors. LOF hopes to gradually replace the city’s food deserts with new ways of thinking about and acquiring food.

The garden plan for the Squirrel site evolved after considering community needs vocalized at the LOF presentation made by Patty Love to the Squirrel at the Squirrel Board meeting in June, and after an informational neighborhood charette was held by LOF Guild members, Mary Lupien and Winzell Beckett, in July.

Although edible food forests take about three years to come to fruition, next summer, there should already be ample quantities of fresh food available at the Squirrel for harvest including strawberries, rhubarb, sorrel, collards, swiss chard, spinach, sea kale mustard greens, horseradish, daylillies, rosemary, thyme, oregano, chives, herbs for tea, and medicine. Informational flyers will be available describing the plants, what the fruits look like, when to harvest them, and how to use the various plants. LOF hopes that folks will be inspired to leave feedback and recipes for others after trying some of the foods. Eventually, the four young fruit trees at the Squirrel will provide shade and bear fruit.

Further plans for the site include benches made of tree trunks to be installed around the center herb circle. A Little Free Library will be installed this fall, having available food and garden books for all ages.

The LOF Project has the potential to grow something much larger than a food system, as volunteers join in co-creative participation with each other and Mother Earth to feed ourselves both physically and spiritually. Not only will LOF grow and share healthy, local, ecologically grown food, but its volunteers will also share and develop personal knowledge and skills as community bonds are built.

If you have questions or concerns about the gardens, Winzell Beckett is designated LOF lot steward for the Squirrel garden site. Winzell can be reached at 329-3128. If you have questions, concerns, or comments, please attend a general meeting of the Flying Squirrel on either the 2nd or 4th Monday of the month. An email can also be sent to FlyingSquirrel@rocus.org or call us at: 585-678-6870. Ricardo Adams, Squirrel neighbor, frequently checks on the the garden, and he also can answer questions.

For more info and updates on LOF projects, go to lotsoffood.org. There you will be able to view a calendar of LOF events, a map of all the LOF sites in Rochester, find a volunteer application, see photos, or learn how you can be involved in helping create  a resilient local food economy as we jointly regenerate and revitalize the land we steward.