With the help of cardboard, mulch, and/or compost, we add nutrient to the beds. This way, the ground will be replenished for the growing season next semester- pesticide free.

We collect all the gardening tools, seeds, and saplings necessary for when it comes time to plant and maintain the garden.

Our goal is to have a majority of our plants be local and perennial. This way we won't have to worry about re-planting every year. We will also feel reassured, knowing that local plants will be more prone to survive Rochester's harsh weather.

We plant each seed/saplings in their respected beds. Unlike traditional mono-cultural planting techniques, the Gilbert Gardens have plants from the entire plant-spectrum, making sure plants are not only taking nutrient from the soil but also replenishing it naturally.

With helping cultivate the garden, we will build a compost bid on-site to keep replenishing the garden when needed. Although the EcoReps are the main facilitators of the Gilbert Gardens, UofR grounds keeping will also help with watering and trimming -primarily in the summer months when classes end. For future reference, the EcoReps would like to built a rain barrel on-site as well. This way the garden could be more sustainable, collecting rainwater to water plants with.

Depending on the plant type, our harvest season ranges from spring to fall. Anyone is welcome to reap the fruits of labor though - simply walk on by the garden and pluck what suits your fancy! Keep in mind that this is a community garden though. Take only what you will use!

You can eat the produce straight from the vine- but there are also many other ways to use the plants within the garden! This is why we have this website! On this site we list ways you can cook the produce as well as use the produce (and certain plant parts) in less conventional ways.

Based on what survives and what students like, the garden is prone to change. Ultimately, our goal is to break done the bed barriers, integrating the plants to create one permaculture garden!