Taking Root in the Community: Urban Roots Expands its Facility on the West Side
Blair Woods, one of Urban Roots' board members, speaks of the skepticism he encountered when Urban Roots initially opened on Rhode Island. "I think, for a lot of people who are jaded and have given up, they see this huge pack of member-owners and volunteers who bought a building and four empty lots and evicted a problem corner store that dealt in beer, lottery tickets, and crack cocaine. It had become the status quo, and they think we're crazy," he said. "And then a few weeks later, they get it. They start picking up the trash in front of their houses, and it snowballs. We had neighborhood kids hanging out in our yard all last summer, helping water plants, planting seeds. For the first time in their lives, they started respecting their neighbors and looking out for their neighborhood."
This is great news for Urban Roots considering that they ran out of room to store their inventory of organic, hard to find, and local foliage less than a year later from the day they officially opened. The new lots have been fenced off and plans are already underway to expand the store's outdoor nursery. There are even talks of setting up a greenhouse and an outdoor shelter to host various community workshops and seminars. "We had over forty people at our last seeding workshop," says Murphy. "We tired the best we could to accommodate them all, but an outdoor facility would make things a lot easier." The additional room available to Urban Roots did not come a minute late. With the garden walk coming up in July, the store will prepare for the busiest season of the year and is currently looking for volunteers to help prepare for this spring's surge of customers.
Urban Roots is just one example of how a little initiative can go a long way. "There's energy in the air," responds Michael Murphy when asked what drew him to Urban Roots. "You can tell that the Buffalo and Niagara region is about to explode. We have started to take back the neighborhood, and I am excited to be a part of the economic changes taking place in the city."
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pgf1948
Beautiful. Is there any mail-order service available?
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Rez
Urbam Roots has been a very positive addition to the West SIde.
Hey B Rising this a.m. on PBS I was watching a show about Europe today. In Rotterdam the city is giving buidlings away in run down areas for free to people who guarantee they will restore the buildings. This is an urban pioneering effort in which students and young people can find a way to afford a cheap home via sweat equity.
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Rez
Urban Roots has been a very positive addition to the West SIde.
Hey B Rising this a.m. on PBS I was watching a show about Europe today. In Rotterdam the city is giving buidlings away in run down areas for free to people who guarantee they will restore the buildings. This is an urban pioneering effort in which students and young people can find a way to afford a cheap home via sweat equity.
Report this
RhodeIslandBoy
Hey PGF:
We have not advanced to a full-fledged mail-order or internet order service yet, but if there is something in particular you're interested in, we can certainly help you out. Give the store a call. Our hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm until April 19th and then seven days a week and expanded hours after April 19th. 716-362-8982.
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SallyRSHom
I am excited to hear about all the revitalization happening on Rhode Island. My husband and I just bought the building between Essex Pub and the Fire station. I am a professional homeopath and have been in private practice in Buffalo for the last 16 years. I am eager to have my new office, the Healing Arts Association, moved in by September of this year. We feel with organizations like Urban Roots we have chosen a great neighborhood. We look forward to contributing to the growth of the West side! Sally Williams
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SallyRSHom
I am excited to hear about all the revitalization happening on Rhode Island. My husband and I just bought the building between Essex Pub and the Fire station. I am a professional homeopath and have been in private practice in Buffalo for the last 16 years. I am eager to have my business, the Healing Arts Association, moved in by September of this year. We feel with organizations like Urban Roots we have chosen a great neighborhood. We look forward to contributing to the growth of the West side! Sally Williams
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SallyRSHom
OOPS!! Sorry about the double post!
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