Volunteers from Syracuse Grows, Jubilee Homes of Syracuse, Inc., Onondaga Earth Corps and other organizations joined forces Saturday on Community Volunteer Day.
They helped community gardens and urban farms throughout Syracuse prepare for the upcoming growing season.
Pictured are: Cooper Olds, a Syracuse University food studies graduate student, Kareem Youngblood, of Syracuse and Brooklyn, Dachaun Spencer, 16, of Syracuse, Precious Dixie, of Syracuse, a Syracuse University junior double majoring in forensic science and psychology, and Jaylen Dixie-Wade, 17, of Syracuse.
Together, they lend a hand as they spread wood chips for soil delivery at Jubilee Homes’ Southwest Community Learning Farm. More than 50 volunteers showed up to the site to spread wood chips, clean garden beds, and deliver and load soil, fertilizer and wood chips to various gardens across Syracuse.
Volunteer Darrius Marson, of Syracuse, who moved back to the area in 2022 after living in New York City said, “We take all of this space for granted, I wanted to be a part of the community.”
Marcia Rothenberg, of Syracuse, another volunteer, echoed those sentiments and said she has two beds that she plants every year.
“I love it here because it’s social,” she said. “You’re not alone in your yard. You’re a part of the community.”
Jubilee Homes’ Southwest Community Learning Farm and Urban Delights employs local youth and helps them learn about growing and selling fresh, local produce. The farm has a commercial side focusing on produce for Urban Delights and a community side where residents can grow their own vegetables, fruits, and flowers. Cabbage, collard greens, raspberries, green beans, beets, basil, peppers, sunflowers, squash, and more have been grown at the farm.
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