Rootwork Commons stewards vacant city land for shared use.
We restore soil, build simple infrastructure, and establish long-term care so that land can support food production, dignified work, and neighborhood life.
Using the city’s Adopt-A-Lot program, we are restoring the commons, one lot at a time.
Our Prototype: The Patch
The Patch is our first neighborhood garden and stewardship site, located on formerly vacant city land in the Barclay neighborhood.
During the 2025 growing season, we:
Produced over 100lbs of food
Planted, tended, and harvested together as adult and child neighbors
Hosted children from the nearby Rec Center, sampling watermelons and apples, and observing growth cycles
Harvested pumpkins and roasted seeds with children in time for Halloween
Tested the soil and added restorative organic matter
Established relationships with city government
Up Next, We Will:
Build more permanent infrastructure at The Patch: garden beds, shed, trellises, rainwater collection
Hold collaborative neighbor meetings to design and manage the 2026 growing season
Involve children throughout the entire growing process
Cultivate food and native plants on every inch of available land
Experiment with value-added products
Continue collaboration with city government and community groups