Author: Roma Mandzyk
In a quiet neighborhood near the Broadway Market and Central Terminal, the steeples of Saint Stanislaus Church dominate the landscape. The many vacant lots in this area make it feel like a quiet, small midwest town rather than an urban neighborhood located minutes away from Buffalo’s downtown.
One such vacant patch of land at Coit and Peckham Streets is now a growing urban farm, feeding the trend toward locally raised food. Started in 2012, the Common Roots Urban Farm, set on one acre of land, grows over 35 different types of vegetables, with many different varieties of each, including Rose de Berne tomatoes to Dragon Langerie beans to Rossa Lunga Tropea onions.
The farm is a member of the Farmer Pirates Cooperative and it offers what’s known as Community Supported Agriculture or CSA. What that means is that members of the farm, or shareholders, pay a fee and in turn can pick up vegetables and fruits every week during the growing season. By sharing a farmer’s production costs, members become partners in sharing the harvest and in turn get to eat with the seasons.
There are two sizes for this year’s share (a total of 16 weeks), starting at $175 for an Individual share (feeds one person and perhaps a little one) and $350 for a Full share (feeds a family of two to three). Pickup is available weekly at a Richmond Avenue location. At $11 to $23 a week, it’s a relatively inexpensive way to make sure you’re eating fresh vegetables.
Shares for the season are still available, but going quickly. To learn more and sign up, visit www.commonrootsurbanfarm.com or call 716.292.9109.
Related Story: www.buffalorising.com/2016/02/farmer-pirates-composting-crew
