September 27, 2024
On Wednesday, September 25, something deeply disturbing happened in our city. A group of men arrived at 20 1st St, armed with riding mowers and weed whackers, and destroyed over 1,000 square feet of a beloved pollinator garden. This garden, carefully tended by the Taproot Collective for over seven years, was a source of community pride, education, and nourishment. These men claimed they were paid $20 to “do the corner,” and when confronted, they not only refused to stop but physically threatened a Taproot Collective board member. The destruction was swift and senseless, leaving behind a barren patch where vibrant flowers and plants once grew.
This act was nothing short of vandalism. It didn’t just destroy plants—it harmed our community. Gardens like the one at 20 1st St are vital in teaching children and families how to grow healthy foods, appreciate nature, and contribute to their own neighborhoods. They bring beauty to our streets, foster connection, and provide fresh, local produce to areas that often lack access to it.
At Healthi Kids, we’ve long championed the value of community gardens. Along with the Food Policy Council, we’ve been advocating for city policies that make it easier for residents to grow food and beautify their neighborhoods. We’ve recommended changes to the zoning code, and through the Urban Agriculture Working Group, we’re collaborating with the City to streamline garden permits and improve city support for these vital spaces.
This attack on the Taproot garden is an affront to all of us who believe in a healthier, greener city. Gardens should be celebrated and protected, not mowed down for a quick buck. Sadly, this is just the latest in a string of incidents in Rochester where community gardens have been damaged or lost. Recent examples include the removal of the Flower City Noire Collective’s garden, vandalism at Foodlink’s Lexington Ave. Farm, and threats to the 490 Farmers Community Garden, among others. 
But the community won’t be discouraged. Taproot Collective is organizing a volunteer effort to rebuild and replant the garden on Saturday, October 5. This is an opportunity for all of us to come together and demonstrate that we won’t allow our shared spaces to be destroyed so easily. Taproot is also running a fundraising initiative to “match” the $20 paid to those responsible for this act. Every dollar donated will go toward restoring what was lost—and strengthening the work that Taproot does across the city.
We at Healthi Kids stand firmly behind Taproot Collective and other community organizations and individuals who maintain community gardens. Their work teaching kids and adults about gardening and healthy foods is more important now than ever. We urge elected officials, media outlets, and our fellow community members to spread this message and take action. Join us in rebuilding this garden, in advocating for better protections for urban agriculture, and in ensuring that no community garden in Rochester faces such destruction again.
To learn more, get involved, or donate, visit taprootcollective.org. Let’s show that our community is stronger than those who seek to destroy it.