Like so many aspects of life around here, immigration from across the world is changing the area's gardens and crops.
Those newcomers want to grow as much of the crops from back home as they can and they pass along planting tips and recipes on what they grow to other gardeners.
Grassroots Gardens Executive Director Melissa Fratello says there will be 94 gardens this year on city-owned property. Fratello says one thing not common in the gardens is fruit trees.
"They take so long to really bear any fruit, so while we might have a few people with the idea of an orchard," Fratello said.
"I think the need for that instant gratification or something that bears fruit that year sort of takes over and they never get around to planting those trees. We've got a couple of gardens with fruit trees, but no real orchards."
Fratello's organization is involved with gardens on private property and that includes rooftop gardens on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and on the roof of the Gloria J. Parks Community Center in North Buffalo, a city section with almost no Grassroots Gardens.
