The second annual Growing Green and Sustainability Fair proved to be a great success for the team behind the Rockland Community Garden.
The event, which took place on Sunday, March 2, is held in partnership with the City of Clarence-Rockland. It serves as a fundraising and educational initiative that blends a passion for gardening, nature, and sustainable living into a day filled with vendors, community groups, educational seminars, and hands-on workshops.
“It’s a chance for many people to make connections and understand what they are trying to accomplish,” said Stephanie Marcil, Growing Green Fair founder and community building director with the Rockland Community Garden. “We have so much going on, so much to learn, and the people coming are really enjoying their time today.”
More than 50 local vendors and community groups participated in the 2025 Growing Green Fair, filling the L’Escale gymnasium. Workshops and seminars took place throughout the day.
Among the participating vendors was The Box Of Life, an organization that promotes using worm farms with special composting earthworms to convert food scraps into fertilizer.
“There is no smell, and this basically makes us more mindful about our waste and what we do with it,” said Audra Curley, a principal with the Worm School at The Box of Life.
She said events like the Growing Green Fair are important and educational not only for visitors but also for vendors, businesses, and community groups, allowing them to make valuable connections.
“People have come up, they’re interested, and they want to learn more. And let’s be honest—it’s kinda cool to look at worms and see how they can help our environment,” said Curley.
Workshops throughout the day covered a wide range of topics, including how to grow a flourishing kitchen garden, organic pest control, vegetable preservation, foraging, and the importance of trees for community well-being.
“I have always envisioned the Growing Green Fair as something the community can look forward to every year,” said Marcil. “People told us how much they enjoyed last year’s event and how they wanted to help out this year. It was so rewarding to hear that, as it shows there is a need and desire for an event like this.”
