The City of Batavia Community Garden

12/01/2025

Holland Land Office Museum's Annual Wonderland of Trees is celebrating their 25th year!
This year's theme: "Nutcrackers" and their 25th Anniversary!

The Community Garden has participated in the past and is participating again this year. We've decorated a lovely tree celebrating both themes.

The Opening Night Gala was Friday, November 21st. But not to worry! You can visit the display of over 30 trees through the end of the year.

In addition to regular hours, the museum will be open Friday evenings in December for their holiday concert series. Oh, and by the way, there's an amazing Basket Raffle, too!!!

Check out their website for details - https://hollandlandoffice.com/ #

11/26/2025

Next up on Garden Talk:
“Greece Flora & Fauna, & maybe some Food!”
Thursday, Dec. 4, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Take an armchair tour with Master Gardener Catherine as she visits the fascinating land of Greece. Explore Athens, Delphi, Crete, and Santorini. Beautiful scenery, interesting plants along the way, and yes, some delicious looking food.

Please register in advance for this event.
Attend in-person at the Genesee CCE office.
420 East Main Street
Batavia, NY 14020

To attend in-person: Call 585-343-3040 ext. 132 or 101

Or join us on-line via Zoom.
To register for on-line:
https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/VT8sSupbQ52C4czZZjHzCw

This meeting will be recorded.
Anyone who registers for the zoom meeting will get a link to the recording when it is available.

Location
This is an hybrid event – you can join online or in-person at the Genesee CCE office.
Fee: FREE

11/25/2025

Good evening, Garden Members!

What a great year we've had! Many of our members are already looking forward to the 2026 season, and have reserved their garden plots. 🥰

A reminder to this year's members - If you plan on renting a bed for 2026, current garden members will be guaranteed a garden space if your registration paperwork and payment are received by November 30th. Forms are available on line; hardcopies are available at the extension office. More information can be found in Jan's email dated October 31 with the subject "Community Garden Sign Up for 2026 Season"

On December 1st, registration will be open to the public and plots will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

Looking forward to gardening with you all in 2026! 😊

10/23/2025

Next Up on Garden Talk: “Gardening Myths: Fact vs. Fiction”
Thursday, November 6, 2025, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Think you need to water your plants every day or add gravel to the bottom of your pots? Think again! Join us for a lively, science-based discussion where we'll bust some of the most common (and surprising) gardening myths. Learn what really works in the garden — straight from research-backed sources like Cornell Cooperative Extension!

Register in advance for this meeting:

Think you need to water your plants every day or add gravel to the bottom of your pots? Think again! Join us for a lively, science-based discussion where we'll bust some of the most common (and surprising) gardening myths. Learn what really works in the garden — straight from research-backed s...

10/19/2025

The Batavia High School Make A Difference Day was held on Thursday, October 17th.

Now in its 26th year, BHS Make A Difference Day partners with community organizations to provide volunteer opportunities for senior students to make a real impact right here at home. Its goal is to help students develop a sense of community pride and an appreciation for all the wonderful places that make Batavia special. The program's focus is on building a stronger community.

The Community Garden was excited to participate as a work site.
A crew of 6 Senior students volunteered to help our members get the garden ready for winter and complete a few special projects that were in the works.
- Art work was taken down and put into storage
- Compost was moved and secured for next season
- The raspberry patch and apple trees were in serious decline and needed to be dug out.

Three big jobs tackled! 🥰

A Great Big Thank You to our BHS volunteers and garden members who came out to Make A Difference! 🙏

09/28/2025

To All our Garden Members - The final 3 Weeding Wednesdays are coming up!
Oct. 1, Oct. 8 & Oct. 15 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm (or dusk)

Connie will be on hand to help direct you to the areas most in need.
Help for as long as you can. Bring your favorite w**ding tool.

Jan's email of September 19th invites us all to pitch in and get the garden ready for winter. Take a few minutes to re-read her message! 😊

Here are a few highlights from her email that focus on Weeds and the Garden's Weeding Wednesdays project:

" Mother Nature abhors a vacuum, so w**ds are her answer to keeping the ground covered!

Weeds are great places for pesky insects to overwinter, and some diseases also overwinter on w**d plants. If those w**ds are present next spring, it can give some diseases and insects a big head start.

We never want w**ds to go to seed in the garden. They are just too prolific! Fewer w**ds now, means fewer w**ds (and headaches) next spring."

A Big Thank You to Connie for heading up our Weeding Wednesdays project!

And a Big Thank You to all our gardeners - working to keep our garden healthy and beautiful! 🥰

09/25/2025

Next Up on Garden Talk
“Away with the Fairies: Plants and Folklore”
Thursday, October 2, 2025, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Plants have fascinated people throughout the ages. Their scents, appearance, and usage have spurred tales and superstitions to explain their existence and supposed magical powers. This program will explore some common plants and the folklore that surrounds them.

Register in advance for this meeting:

Plants have fascinated people throughout the ages. Their scents, appearance, and usage have spurred tales and superstitions to explain their existence and supposed magical powers. This program will explore some common plants and the folklore that surrounds them.RegisterRegister in advance for ...

09/22/2025

What a beautiful morning we had for the Batavia Community Garden Oktoberfest!

Oktoberfest was celebrated Sunday morning, September 21st with a gathering of gardeners sharing coffee, cider and doughnuts - Many smiles on happy faces.

A time set aside from busy schedules to meet and greet our garden neighbors, and distribute our community harvest! 🥰

Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Baby Beets, and Sunflowers were ready for pickup. The pumpkins got a late start this year, but will be ripe and ready by mid October - just as the garden winds down for the season.

To All Our Gardeners - Keep Smiling! Keep Growing! 😃

09/15/2025

4:00 PM - Sunday afternoon - Sunny, Breezy, and Warm. Beautiful!!
The Bills had just crushed the Jets....

Community Garden Members were postponing their after-party celebrations and gathering for the Garden Potato Harvest! In under an hour, the Kennebec and Pontiac Red Potatoes as well as our Beauregard and Georgia Jet Sweet Potatoes were dug and packed into boxes! 🥰🥔🍠 They'll be distributed at the Garden Oktoberfest....

Join us at the garden for Oktoberfest Sunday, September 21st 10:00 am - 12 noon.
Enjoy Cider, Donuts and Coffee with your garden neighbors!

Bring along a grocery bag for those potatoes! The plan is to cut back the sunflowers early Sunday morning - There will be flowers and seed heads for those interested!

A Big Thank You to all who came out for the harvest. 🙏

Many hands make light work! 😃❤️

09/03/2025

Genesee County Master Gardener Fall Gala is coming up!

Autumn is the perfect time to add new perennials to your garden! Or, pick up a bouquet of fresh flowers to give your home a pop of color!

Houseplants bring a bit of green inside and help ward off those winter blahs!

Want to learn more about gardening and the plants you grow? The Gala has a great selection of gently used books that will take your knowledge and green thumb skills to the next level! 😄

Did I mention there's a Basket Auction???
The Gala has it all! 🥰

09/01/2025

The Potato Harvest Dates are Set! 🥔🥔🥔

Sunday, September 14, 4:00 - 6:00 pm (Right after the Bills' game!)
Tuesday, September 16, 10:00 am - 12 noon. Rain date (or to finish up ;-)

This year's crop includes:
- Kennebec and Pontiac Red Potatoes
- Beauregard and Georgia Jet Sweet Potatoes

To all our garden members:
Please discontinue watering the potato beds as of September 1. This will allow the soil to dry a bit prior to digging the tubers.

What gardeners planning to participate can bring for the work:

- Cardboard boxes or bins for the produce (Please mark any containers you want returned with your name)

- Trowels/small spades

All garden members and their families are invited to participate! We had a great time at last year's harvest! 😀

Hope to see you there!

PS - Potatoes will be distributed at our Community Oktoberfest, Sunday September 21, 10:00 am - 12 noon!

08/28/2025

Next Up on Garden Talk: “House & Garden Spiders - They're your Friends!”
Thursday, September 4, 2025, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

You don't need to be afraid of spiders! Spiders are beneficial insects, and they are great predators of many insect pests. Come learn about some that you might find in the house, garden, and basement.

Attend in person or online!

Always free - Register in advance for this meeting

Garden Talk “House & Garden Spiders - They're your Friends!”Thursday, September 4, 2025, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PMYou don't need to be afraid of spiders! Spiders are beneficial insects, and they are great predators of many insect pests. Come learn about some that you might find in the house, garden, a....