News
July 9, 2015Capital Roots Celebrates Grand Opening of 50th Community Garden
Capital Roots, formerly Capital District Community Gardens, celebrated the opening of its 50th Community Garden at a special ceremony on July 1. The Ida Street Community Garden, located on the corner of Ida Street and 6th Avenue in Troy, was created in collaboration with the Troy Little Italy Neighborhood Association and was made possible by contributions from Capital Roots Board Member Mark Bryant, his wife Lisa Callahan, and the friends and family of the late Maria Sciocchetti.
“Capital Roots is a unique urban land trust, and this is the 26th piece of land like this that we own in the Capital Region,” said Capital Roots Executive Director Amy Klein. “When somebody comes forward and says that they’re interested in helping us make a permanent green space, that makes a lasting impact.”
Mayor Lou Rosamilia was among the Troy residents who joined Ida Street gardeners, members of the Troy Little Italy Neighborhood Association, Sciocchetti family members, and Klein to cut the ribbon on the garden and unveil a commemorative sign.
“If you stop and think about it, how many people are going to be eating from this garden, the 50th garden, and how many other people in the City of Troy are being served by community gardens? It’s a tribute to [Capital Roots] and to the residents who are involved in the community,” said Rosamilia. “As a result of you being involved in your community…not only are you going to benefit from it but others are going to benefit, too.”
More than 4,000 families throughout the region grow their own food with Capital Roots each year. Roughly 441 tons or $2 million worth of organic produce is harvested annually from the organization’s 850 plots throughout Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady and southern Saratoga counties.
“We are so thrilled to see the people in the neighborhood who are using this community garden and so lovingly planting and growing things,” said Nancy Sciocchetti. “It’s important to us, it was absolutely important to my sister and honestly, we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for this.”
