UB Media Advisory: 100 UB students will get hands dirty tilling Buffalo gardens

BUFFALO, N.Y. – While most freshmen are deciding on dorm decorations, more than 100 students and faculty members in the University at Buffalo Undergraduate Academies will get their hands dirty weeding and pruning in local community gardens.

Partnering with Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo for the fourth year, groups of students led by UB faculty members will travel to eight Western New York community gardens to handle tasks that range from raising garden beds to moving hundreds of cobblestones.

The community projects are scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 20, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Media are invited to attend. The gardens, all located in Buffalo, include:

• Art Space Community Garden, 1070 Ellicott St.
• Pelion Community Garden, 206 Best St.
• Barakah Community Garden, 384 Sweet St.
• Cambridge Avenue Community Garden, 249 Cambridge Ave.
• Cottage District Community Garden, 60 York St.
• Black Rock Heritage Garden, 269 Dearborn St.
• Riverside Peace Garden, 179 Ontario St.
• Marine Drive Apartments Community Garden, 147 Marine Dr.

“Our gardeners love how hard working the Academies students are and how they actually care about the work they’re doing in the neighborhoods,” says Derek Nichols, Grassroots Gardens program manager and former Academies graduate assistant. “From just working with the Academies, I know the program builds future leaders.”

The Academies connect students with courses, real-world experiences and research opportunities in their field of study. The community service projects are a part of its Early Move-In program.

Freshmen in the Academies are invited to move to campus two days before other first-year students, and enjoy the opportunity to meet program faculty, connect with peers, tour Buffalo and perform community service.

“It’s all a blend,” says Hadar Borden, Undergraduate Academies administrative director. “Whether we’re in the community or the classroom, we’re trying to connect activities for the students so they’re learning about sustainability efforts in classes and they’re actually doing it.”