SPICES
Tomatos & Peppers
In the 2026 season we helped start 80 tomato plants, about a dozen of which ended up in one of our garden beds. In another bed, we grew several kinds of hot peppers, and found ourselves tending ten or so tomato plants that grew up voluntarily in the pepper bed!
Fruits
such as strawberries, red raspberries & black currants, a service berry bush (aka June Berry) as well as Himalayan Blackberry and River Grape.
Nut Trees
American Hazelnut, Black Walnut & English Walnut
Fruit Trees
We currently have one bewildered mulberry tree, which hasn’t fruited & two baby cornelian dogwood trees.
Soon we plan to grow a “paprika tree”
We would love to grow pawpaw and shipova
History
Garlic on Glenwood began in October of 2022 on a City-owned vacant lot on Glenwood Avenue in Edgerton, a low income, food insecure neighborhood of the City of Rochester. We aimed to be for the neighborhood what garlic is to roses: a promoter of health & wellbeing, a protection from affliction, and a partner for flourishing.
In May of 2023 we moved the entire garden - with its raised beds full of growing garlic - to its current location in Irondequoit. Wherever we go, we bring GARLIC: Gratitude, Abundance, Relationships, Liveliness, Investment & Creative Community
Mission
Garlic on Glenwood exists to generously grow good garlic. We aim to be for the neighborhood what garlic is to roses: a promoter of health & wellbeing, a protection from affliction, and a partner for flourishing. Wherever we go, we bring GARLIC: Gratitude, Abundance, Relationships, Liveliness, Investment & Creative Community
What Is This?
Garlic on Glenwood is currently a front yard garden on private land in the Rochester area. The garden operates according to the “common work, common harvest” community garden methodology. For more on our philosophy, go here.
Currently, we have 6 raised vegetable beds.
Every year we grow garlic and other alliums.
Beyond that, we grow various annuals like peppers & tomatos, and have a growing repertoire of edible & aromatic perennials.
A Loose Network of Weak Ties
its at the edges of who you know where the magic happens.
According to research conducted at the University of Chicago Business School, people just outside of your network are the ones chok-o-blok full of opportunity for you.
If you eat food, or grow things, or aspire to do either of these, here are some other organizations we’ve run into. We are grateful for all of their contributions as well:
The Institute for Nonviolence, The Father’s Heart, Cameron Community, Lyell Avenue Business Association (LABA), Color [Your Community] Green, the Irondequoit Farmer’s Market, All the vendors at the The Rochester Public Market, Flower City Pickers, ROC FNB, Monroe County Soil & Water,
Find The Food Lists
The Little Free Pantry Network, Falling Fruit, LemonTree, the ROC FNB Find Food List, The Library’s Find Food List, Foodlink’s Find Food List,
And for Community Supported Agriculture: Local Harvest
To read about how food waste and hunger might be the problems that solve one another, read this: Sharing Excess Org
Seeds
Seed Saving
The Seed Libraries: Irondequoit Public Library, Chili Public Library, Gates Public Library, Hamlin Public Library, Henrietta Public Library, Mendon Public Library, Ogden Farmers’ Library, Parma Public Library, Scottsville Free Library, Webster Public Library, and the Monroe Branch of the Rochester Public Library.
Seed Swaps
Seed Companies: Experimental Farm Network, Truelove Seeds,
Plants: Flower City Days at the Market, County Tree and Shrub Programs: Monroe, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming (link), Livinsgton, Ontario, Wayne, The Master Gardener Expo & Plant Sale, the Iris Society Show and Sale, the Orchid Society’s Annual Orchid Show, Fall & Spring Plant Sales at the The George Eastman House Museum
Composting: ROC City Composting, Impact Earth, Northeast Worms, DIY Backyard Composting. There used to be a map online for local compost drop off, but I haven’t seen it recently.
Flower Gardening: Blocks in Bloom (City of Rochester only), The City of Rochester Materials Giveback, EcoPark Material's Giveback, ChipDrop
Plant & Landscape Expertise: Gardener Helpline from Cornell Master Gardeners, Technical Services from Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District, City of Rochester Forestry Division (phone number), Town of Irondequoit Tree Department, Bartlett Tree Experts, Remove My Poison Ivy,
Wildlife: Deer & Rabbit Out, HavaHeart Humane Traps, List of Liscenced Wildlife Rehabilitators,
And it bears repeating, that many great resources can be found on Craigslist, Freecycle, and other “free” sites such as Trash Nothing and Buy Nothing.
~~ even More Resources ~~
Transportation: Walking, Walk | Bike Irondequoit, R-Community Bikes, Breaking Free Bikes, REI & Thousand Bike Helmets, RTS, RTS On Demand, RTS Genesee Valley Routes, Trailways Bus to Mount Morris, ABC School of Driving, FloShare Electric Car-Sharing, The ‘DriveOn’ Program at Rochester Rehabilitation, AARP’s ‘Car Fit’ Program, CCCS ‘Project Ride’, CCCS ‘Driven to Success’ Lending Program, Oz Brothers Auto
Footwear: Faute de Mieux, à Votre Choix. ‘e-m-e-r-g-e-n-c-y’.
If you’re feeling fancy, Daphne Board & Guidi.
Mike’s Shoe Repair in Evanston Illinois.
Or, you can always join the Barefoot Club!
Winterwear: 100% would recommend.
For womens snow boots I recommend SOREL’s Joan of Arctic Snow Boots.
Clothing: The Yards Community Closet, The Butterfly Boutique, Cameron Community Clothing Boutique,
Clothing Swaps: The Yards, Color [Your Community] Green, Marilla’s Mindful Supplies.
More Clothing: Solstice Handmade, Serpent and Bow, Ms. Amy Taylor, The Panty Witch, Pansy LA, Harvest & Mill, Juliemay USA, Svaha USA, Fair Indigo
Jewelry: The Butterfly Boutique, RMSC Fantastic Findings, Craft Bits & Pieces, Crafting For Good, Savers Webster, Canandaigua Restore, Let’s Bead! East Rochester,
More Jewelry: Fanta Celah, K Fleye, Tuwharetoa Bonecarving, The Bangkok Amulet Market
Silver Etc: Powers Handcrafted, Solder and Sage, Peggy Skemp, Fox and the Fawn, Sapling and Flint,
Even More: Cafe Calico, The Littlest Inuksuk, Copper Canoe Woman, Nichola Te Kiri,
Ceramics:
Tech: PCs for People
Cats and other Companion Animals
Adopting: Verona Street Animal Shelter, Lollypop Farm
Rescues: Hearthside Cats Geneseo, RocKats, Barn Cat Outreach,
Food: Lollypop Little Free Pantry for Pets (I can’t find the map of these), Lollypop Pet Pantry, Roo’s Kindness Cupboad
Furniture, Toys, Treats:
Care: Lollypop Vaccine Clinics (2026 calendar), The MaryEllen Program at Lollypop Farm, Free Visit at Banfield Pet Hospital, Cats Exclusively Veterinary Practice, DoorBell Vet, Harper Sounds Pet Ultrasounds, Rochester Emergency Veterinary Services (24/7), Cornell Companion Animal Hospital in Ithaca,
Oncology Funds: Frankie’s Friends JLACF Fund, Maggie’s Friends (cats only), The Riedel & Cody Fund
For Qualifying Conditions: RedRover Relief Fund, The Pet Fund, Pet Assistance Inc^,
For Medications: Bobo Fund^, The Pet Fund One-time Medication Grant,
Income Restricted: Frankie’s Friends National Fund, For the Love of Alex, Help-a-Pet Fund, Guardian HEALS Heals Pets^
Local Funds: Rochester Hope for Pets*, RescuePit Community Fund (dogs only), All4PetsWNY (? no application?), Healing Haven Fund (currently closed),
National Funds: The Peanut Fund*, STARelief Home for Life Grant, Violet’s Friends, Pet LifeLine Fund*(? application broken?), Paws 4 a Cureᕽ (currently closed),
Onyx & Breezy^, and a nationwide list, and another list
TNVR & Caring for Community Cats: Feral Cat Focus of WNY, CNY Cat Coalition, Barn Cat Outreach, Rochester Community Animal Clinic, Operation PETS WNY, EACH Pet* in Erie County, Save-a-Pet (Orleans & Niagara Counties only)
Cat Grooming: Tech services at Cats Exclusively Veterinary Practice, The Cat Spa in Victor, Uni-Pet Salon on Winton, Clip-n-Cuddle in Webster.
Companion Animal End of Life: Lap of Love, Stillwaters, Doc Marissa Weaver, Pets at Peace, White Haven Memorial Park in Pittsford, Lollypop Farm Lengeman Memorial area, Serenity’s Wish Fund
Housing
Home Maintenance and Repair: Flower City Work Camp, NYSERDA, Habitat for Humanity, Sheen Housing, Neighborworks, Home Headquarters, HIP & IHIP, City of Rochester’s Home Rehabilitation Program & T-HIP
Roofs: City of Rochester Roof Lottery, Neighborworks Roof Program, Long Construction
Heating & Cooling: The “WAP” Weatherization Program, Comfort Home & Empower+ from NYSERDA, “Feel the Love” Program from Lennox
Windows: Rochester Colonial,
Kitchen/Bath Remodels: Indē Design Studio, Empire Kitchen & Bath,
Homebuying: Habitat for Humanity First Time Homeownership, SONYMA, Genesee Regional Bank, Pittsford Federal Credit Union
Misc: The Giving Center
Emergencies: Entertainment Community Fund Emergency Financial Assistance, CERF Emergency Relief Grant
Healthcare Costs
Lowering your bill:
the NYS Uniform Hospital Financial Assistance Application, works for Rochester Regional Health and for Univerity of Rochester Medicine
Directly Negotiating with Your Provider (‘settling your account’)
Indirect Negotiation like with DollarFor
Having Health Insurance (paying the “contracted rate”)
Paying the Provider Directly (‘self-pay’/‘paying cash’/ ‘paying the uninsured rate’)
Finding Funding: the Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grant for Artists from NYFA, HealthWell Foundation, TotalAssist Funds, Having Health Insurance, Having an HSA account, CareCredit*
Finding Health Insurance:
the ACA Health Insurance Market Place (aka “Obamacare”)
enrolling in a workplace plan
enrolling in your spouse’s insurance plan
Dealing Direct with an Insurance Provider (‘private pay’/‘buying your own plan’),
Grants: The Blue Foundation, My Good Days*
Prescription Medication: Having ‘pharmacy’ insurance, understanding health insurance ‘formularies’ & drug ‘Tiers’, ordering a 90-day supply, Having an HSA account,
This website has a great summary of the four main ways to get lower cost medication.
Pharmacy and discount-card programs: GoodRx, RxSaver, SingleCare, and other similar programs
Drug Manufacturer Patient Assistance Programs:
Nonprofits/Foundations: Dispensery of Hope (not yet in Rochester), Rx Outreach, RxHope, RxAssist, NeedyMeds,
Government Programs: Medicare’s “Extra Help” / Low-Income Subsidy, the 340B program, etc.
best local compounding pharmacy: Twelve Corners Apothecary
Dental Care: Dental Lifeline
Vision:
Hearing: NYS TRAID Program, The Hearing Aid Project, Help America Hear, Miracle Ear Fund, TPA Hearing Trust, Friends of Man, the Hearing Aid Project resource directory
Mental Health: Open Path Psychotherapy, The Nava Center, the Theravive directory, Psychology Today directory
Spiritual Health: Mercy Spirituality Center (https://mercyspiritualitycenter.org/retreat-info)
Oncology: The Wilmot Cancer Institute, Oncology of Northshore,
Before You’re Sick: Do your annual screenings!!! Cancer Services Program of the Finger Lakes Region (CSP-FLR), Center for Community Health and Preventio
Paying for Treatment: MTCP, New York Cancer Foundation Grants, CancerCare Financial Assistance Program, CancerCare Copayment Assistance Fund, Musella Foundation’s Brain Tumor Drug Copayment Assistance Program, ABTA Financial Assistance Program (with the Glenn Garcelon Foundation), Path to Relief Fund (brain tumors only), David’s Dream and Believe (currently closed)
Getting To Treatment: Angel Flights East & Northeast, Air Charity Network, Corporate Angel Network, Mercy Medical Angels, Road to Recover,
Staying for Treatment: Hosts for Humanity, Hope Lodge directory, Joe’s House directory, Ulman House (in Baltimore), Nick’s House (Boston, Philly, Durham)
During Treatment: Chemo Cozy, Cleaning for a Reason,
Non-Medical Funds: Embrace Your Sisters (Canandaigua Based, Breast Cancer Only), Sully and the Ladies in Pink (no application form?), Thrive to Survive (only Wayne, Ontario, Yates, Seneca, and Schuyler counties), The Living Well & Hope Walk of Yates County (Yates County only)
Mission4Maureen, Vital Options Fund*, Special Love Fund (for children, geographically limited), Light of Hope (geographically limited), Life Interupted Grant (rare cancers only), Path to Relief Fund (brain tumors only), ABTA Financial Assistance Program (with the Glenn Garcelon Foundation), Adrienne Wilson Spirit Award (currently closed),
Cameron Siemers Life Grant, Seas It Grant, BoStrong Wellness Grants (currently closed),
Emotional Support: Irmans Angels, Free Counselling from CancerCare, Kin (not yet in Rochester) Cactus Cancer Creative Workshops, Harmony Retreats, Justin’s Beach House, Pete’s Dream
Aesthetic Support: Look Good, Feel Better, Soul Ryders NY, Clips of Kindness
Survivorship: Wilmot Cancer Institute’s Survivorship Program, Young Survival Coalition, YASU Financial Assistance, Professional Development Micro-Grant, Expect Miracles SAM Fund, ABTA Financial Assistance Program (with the Glenn Garcelon Foundation),
Scholarships: Miles of Hope or Kliedman Scholarships (Hudson Valley only), Harvey Simon Memorial Scholarship,
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Who Supports Us?
Garlic on Glenwood is extremely grateful to all the people, plants, and organizations that have helped us. We especially want to thank these organizations:
In 2022 & 2023
Taproot Collective, Fruition Seeds, Equicenter, Foodlink, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Master Gardeners, 490 Farmers, Wegmans, The Garden Factory
At the City of Rochester:
From the Department of Neighborhood and Business Development: the Division of Real Estate
From the Department of Recreation and Human Services: the Environmental Programming Division, the Rochester Public Market
From the Department Environmental Services: the Forestry Division, the Bureau of Buildings and Parks
We also wanted to especially thank JOSH Landscape Co. for removing our chainlink fence and poison ivy hedge.
In 2023 & 2024
Taproot Collective, Fruition Seeds, Equicenter, Foodlink, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Master Gardeners, The New York State Seed to Supper Program, The Southland Drive Seed Swap, Irondequoit Garden Walks, 490 Farmers, R-MAN, The Syracuse Herbal Study Group, Upcycle Irondequoit
In 2025 & 2026
Taproot Collective, Fruition Seeds, Equicenter, Foodlink, Keene Organics, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Master Gardeners, Healthy Yards Monroe County, Re-Tree Irondequoit, Sunscape Farms, Wilson Nursery, Off the Muck
In 2027…
probably something like this: Taproot Collective, Fruition Seeds, Keene Organics, Equicenter, Foodlink…
If you want your name on this list, give us a shout, and we’ll let you know how you can help us out :)
What We Do
We distribute spices and other flavorful items.
To read more about our spices click here
To request spices click here
In addition to direct distribution, we distribute via:
Okay, but why Garlic? Where did this idea come from?
In Rochester, our frost free dates are from May to October. So October is usually the end of gardening season, and most crops are already harvested and cleaned up.
But one crop doesn’t follow this pattern: Garlic. Garlic is planted in October and harvested in June.
So in October, when other options were looking bleak, Taproot handed us a bag of Garlic from EquiCenter and said “Go!”
—-
Garlic on Glenwood is related to two other projects by the same artist: the now-defunct Edgerton Creative House, and the latent Object’s Wisdom concept shop.
Garlic on Glenwood is conceptually, philosophically, and aesthetically indebted to:
Foodlink’s Public Demonstrations, The Spicy Moustache Guy, Venus in Leo Bodycare, Agnostura Bitters Bottles and lo-fi labeling in general, Noir d’Ébène Chocolat, Alice Waters and the Slow Food Movement
Rekindle/Resourceful Ōtautahi, PlantGang, Life In Vacant Spaces, Kākano Café & Cookery School
Koha Apparel, alt_market, Freedom Square
The Really Really Free Market & derivatives thereof
the writings of Lewis Hyde & RJ Foster & Edith Schaeffer & Paul Tounier, Reba Place, The Settlement House Movement…
(and Andersonville pride for over 150 years!)
…and the geo-specific indigenous wisdom(s) of the Ngāi Tahu and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
What We Grow
Garlic on Glenwood exists to generously grow good garlic. Every year we grow garlic and other alliums. Beyond that, we grow various annuals like peppers & tomatos, and have a growing repertoire of edible & aromatic perennials. In 2026 we harvested tomatos, peppers, brassicas, celery, lovage, and culinary herbs like oregano.
Brassicas, Leafy Greens
Think kale, brussel sprouts, brocoli, & cabbages…
…but also think nasturtum, celery, and potatos ….!
Perennial Herbs & Vegetables
Inclucing lawn vegetables, fiddlehead fern, lovage, rhubarb, and garden sorrel (not hibiscus sorrel). .
Culinary Herbs
including oregano, sage and rosemary.
medicinals
We also have some medicinals like yarrow and boneset
We expect to begin growing Echinacea purpurea soon. This is also called Echinacea & ‘Purple Cone Flower’
We would like to grow Aralia Racemosa, American Spikenard.
Garlic and Friends
Every year we grow garlic and other alliums.
In the 2026 season we grew several kinds of hardneck garlic, as well as onions, chives, and softneck garlic.
We are working on cultivating our very own one-clove garlic.
We would love to add the following:
Mouse Garlic, Bear Garlic, Society Garlic, Nodding Onion
spices & aromatic botanicals
We are also expanding our perennial spices & aromatic botanicals. Currently we have: spicebush, balsam fir, white pine, white spruce, quaking aspen, rose, and Iris Florentina which is used to make orris root.
We expect to begin growing ginger soon.
We would like to grow green alder, and Soon we plan to grow a “paprika tree”