Rooted Together: A Garlic Planting Day on the Farm

On a crisp late fall day at Schenectady Urban Farms, the garden beds were buzzing with both activity and laughter. Gloves were pulled on, sleeves were rolled up, and neighbors gathered with one shared goal: planting garlic that would rest through the winter and burst to life in the spring.

At first glance, planting garlic in late fall might seem a little counterintuitive. Why put something in the ground just as the weather is turning cold? But that question quickly turned into one of the day’s best lessons. Garlic loves a long winter nap. When planted in the fall, individual cloves have time to establish strong roots before the ground freezes. That cold period (called vernalization) is exactly what garlic needs to form big, flavorful bulbs once the days start to warm. By planting now, we’re setting the stage for a harvest that will be ready as spring rolls into early summer.

There’s something grounding about working the land together, especially in the fall, when the season invites reflection and preparation. Each clove planted felt like a small promise to the future. We talked about snow-covered fields, cozy winter months, and the excitement of seeing bright green garlic shoots push through the soil in early spring. Those shoots will be a reminder that even during the coldest months, growth is quietly happening beneath the surface.

Events like this are at the heart of what Schenectady Urban Farms is all about. When neighbors come together to plant, learn, and care for shared spaces, the farm becomes more than a place where food grows; it becomes a place where community does, too. Hands get dirty, stories get shared, and a sense of belonging takes root right alongside the garlic.

As the last bed was finished and the tools were put away, there was a collective feeling of accomplishment. The garlic is now tucked in for the winter, and so is the memory of a day spent learning and working side by side. We’ll be thinking of this group when the snow falls, and we’ll be smiling when those first green shoots appear in the spring, knowing they grew from cloves planted together by our community.

Thank you to everyone who was able to come up and help! We couldn’t do any of this without you.