Deaf Kitchen Expands Garden at South Lawn Farm

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County has expanded South Lawn Farm to create a growing space for Rochester Deaf Kitchen.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Organic Food

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a raised garden bed with dark soil, green seedlings, and ripe red tomatoes against a soft green field. — Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County expanded South Lawn Farm with 12 new growing beds for Rochester Deaf Kitchen, funded by an $800 Seed to Supper grant. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County expanded South Lawn Farm to create a community garden for Rochester Deaf Kitchen, funded by an $800 Seed to Supper mini-grant. The garden adds 12 growing beds and produce is donated to Rochester Deaf Kitchen's food pantry clients.

Why it matters

The collaboration aims to increase access to fresh, locally grown food and create opportunities for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community to take part in growing food. It also extends hands-on gardening education to a community that has been underserved by such programs.

The $800 Seed to Supper mini-grant funded 12 additional growing beds, soil and compost, fencing, and accessible educational experiences. The garden has welcomed over 40 participants and produced more than 500 pounds of food donated to Rochester Deaf Kitchen pantry clients, with the 2025 pilot running more than 12 weeks versus a planned five.

The players

Rochester Deaf Kitchen, Inc.

Rochester Deaf Kitchen, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the first Deaf-led nonprofit dedicated to addressing hunger and food insecurity within the Deaf community.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County is the local arm of Cornell's extension network that operates South Lawn Farm and its Master Gardener Program.

The details

The community garden offers hands-on learning in soil health, composting, planting, integrated pest management, harvesting, and food preservation. Seed to Supper sessions are taught in American Sign Language, and all produce from South Lawn Farm is donated to local food pantries.

2022: Rochester Deaf Kitchen, Inc. was founded.
2025: A pilot program ran weekly ASL-taught Seed to Supper sessions for more than 12 weeks.

Culture Shift

The expansion extends the Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program into Deaf-inclusive education, reflecting a broader push to make community gardening accessible to people with disabilities. It shows local extension programs partnering with community-led nonprofits rather than delivering gardening education in isolation.

Rochester residents interested in growing food or volunteering can access Seed to Supper sessions taught in American Sign Language at South Lawn Farm. Produce from the garden goes to local food pantries, offering a direct path for community members to benefit from the harvest.

The takeaway

Community gardens can become more inclusive when extension programs partner with the communities they serve. Residents interested in growing food can look for accessible, locally run programs that donate their harvests to neighbors in need.