Gardens/ Community by Gelmira Gourgel

GARDENS/ COMMUNITY Research

Gelmira Gourgel

Avalon Rossi Tipton

CONTENT

History of and legacy of community gardens in NYC

Relationship to urban transformations

Gardens and Community

Gardening and urban agriculture

GreenThumb program

Social origins and political implications

Liz Christy Garden / Green Guerillas

Adam Purple's Garden

Grant Shade Garden

MORNINGSIDE GARDENS PUBLIC GARDEN

Elizabeth Street Garden

History of and legacy of community gardens in NYC

Starting with the early Farm Gardens and continuing through the community garden movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s, private citizens began actively managing urban open spaces. This shift marked a move toward what can be seen as "user-generated parks," where the public took on the roles of both designers and operators of these spaces. Unlike the past, where parks like Central Park offered a structured experience with predefined paths and views, this new approach encouraged direct involvement from the community.

History of and legacy of community gardens in NYC

In the current era of social networking and user-generated content, this model has evolved further. People now engage with parks not just as visitors but as active participants, contributing to the creation and maintenance of these areas. This transition reflects a broader trend of moving from passive enjoyment to active contribution in public spaces.

Gardening and urban agriculture

Furthermore, urban gardens create abreak from the city's typicalgridpattern, offering a space that promotes relaxation and mental well-being. They encourage community engagement and empower residents by giving them ownership of a piece of land, which enriches the overall quality of life in the area. Urban community gardening offers numerous advantages for both the environment and local communities. These gardens enhance green space in urban areas, help manage waste, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels by cutting down the distance food needs to travel. Additionally, they can lower expenses on fresh produce, which is particularly advantageous for families on a tight budget, as seasonal fruits and vegetables can be costly.

Community gardens also provide valuable education on food and nutrition, making this knowledge accessible to those who might otherwise lack it. Beyond offering fresh produce, these gardens foster a sense of accomplishment and self-worth among participants. They contribute to neighborhood improvement and strengthen community bonds by generating and maintaining relationships between residents.

Source:The History of Community Gardens in NewYork City:The Role of UrbanAgriculture and Green Roofs inAddressing Environmental Racism By joanna ingrid, 2003

Source: Images:The Bubblegum project by Gelmira Gourgel, 2024

WHO OWNS THE LAND?.........

Founded in 1995 by Bette Midler by picking up trash in NYC Parks after finding many green spaces neglected and in disrepair. Has since grown to be an environmental justice nonprofit and nature conservancy.

Early significant projects included transforming an illegal dumping ground along the Harlem River into Swindler Cove Park, and removing automobiles, 8,000 tires, and 481 tons of trash from Highbridge Park on W. 190th & Amsterdam.

NYRP now owns and manages 52 community gardens, and has helped build and renovate 350 gardens and shared green spaces. They also partnered with MillionTreesNYC and have planted over 4,000 trees already in 2024 alone.

Garden of Perseverance, Central Harlem

Garden of Love, Harlem

Settlement Health, East Harlem

GreenThumb Program

Founded in 1978, GreenThumb is the largest urban gardening program in the U.S., overseeing over 550 community gardens and supporting thousands of volunteers across New York City. Its mission is to bolster and educate urban gardens and farming while preserving open spaces. GreenThumb provides free materials, technical support, educational workshops, and seasonal programs to help neighborhood volunteers maintain and benefit from these community gardens. Established in response to the 1970s financial crisis, which led to the neglect of public and private lands, GreenThumb rehabilitates abandoned lots into vibrant green spaces managed by local residents. These gardens enhance air quality, biodiversity, and community well-being.

NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY

NYCHA supports over 700 gardens throughout 329 public housing developments, and provides support and guidebooks for communities seeking to add or renovate useable public space. NYCHA also hosts an annual citywide Garden and Greening Awards Competition since 1963 to encourage participation and interaction with local community gardens.

The Liz Christy Garden was the very first Community Garden in New York City. The garden was Funded in 1973 and it is located in the northeast corner of Bowery and Houston Streets in Manhattan.

Liz was an artist specializing in graphic design and oil painting, initially knew nothing about gardening. However, her passion for designing gardens drove her to continue assisting others in starting their own gardens after their first project. She envisioned creating paths that curved and meandered through the garden space, reflecting her artistic flair in the design.

In 1973, Liz Christy and the Green Guerillas, a group of gardening activists, began transforming neglected spaces in their neighborhood, including window boxes, vacant lots with "seed bombs," and tree pits. They identified a large, debris-filled lot as a potential garden and, by December, sought official approval from the City to use the land. Volunteers cleared the site, laid down donated topsoil, installed a fence, and started planting. On April 23, 1974, the City approved the site for lease as the "Bowery Houston Community Farm and Garden" at a nominal fee of $1 a month. The garden featured sixty raised vegetable beds, with additional trees and herbaceous borders added over time. It quickly became a model for urban community gardens, winning awards and inspiring similar projects across New York City's five boroughs.

GREEN GUERILLAS

The Green Guerillas continued to run workshops, plant experimental plots, and distribute plants to new gardens. In 1986, the garden was renamed Liz Christy’s Bowery-Houston Garden in honor of its founder. By 1990, amid community support, the Cooper Square Committee committed topreserving the garden during neighborhood renovations, and a 2002 agreement with the City of New York and the NYS Attorney General ensured its continued preservation.

Founded in 1973, the Green Guerillas, a nonprofit environmental organization, aimed to enhance urban landscapes by using"seed bombs"—blends of fertilizer, seeds, and water—tossed over fences intovacant lots that were otherwise difficult to access. Their goal was to transform these neglected spaces into vibrant green areas and improve the appearance of urban blight.

Adam Purple's Garden

Adam Purple and The Garden of Eden

Source:Adam Purple andThe Garden of Eden (Youtube)

The Adam Purple's Garden emerged in 1975. Purple explained that the idea of the Gardenfirst came to him when one day he looked out his window in his tenement housing apartment in the Lower East Side of New York City and he observed two children playing in a pile of rubble. The scene reminded Adam of his own childhood and inspired him to create a safe, debris-free spacewhere children could experience the joy of feelingsoilbeneaththeirfeet. Thus, he began developing his garden, named Eden Garden. Over the next five years, Adam dedicated himself to expanding this garden, which ultimately grew to 15,000 square feet, featuring a concentric layout.

As nearby abandoned buildings were demolished, the garden continued to flourish, which Adam metaphorically compared to a garden overpowering the structures around it. He actively contributed to this transformation by physically removing bricks and construction debris from the site. and hauled in manure from the horses in Central Park. The Garden of Eden offered a secure refuge for the community and grew a variety of foods, including corn, berries, tomatoes, and cucumbers. By the early 1980s, it had become a renowned and cherished landmark in the Lower East Side.

MORNINGSIDE GARDENS PUBLIC GARDEN

Originally formed in 1957 to providemiddle income

for employees of Columbia University.

Part of a larger process ofslum clearingand rebuilding that was common at the time.

Underwent a large scale renovation in 2023.

Morningside Heights Housing Corporation Source: terrain-nyc.net

Elizabeth Street Garden

Elizabeth Street Garden, located in Nolita, has been used as an outdoor & recreational space since the 1800s. The lot was utilized as a public school, providing free night classes to people of color and public education lectures.

The school was rebuilt in 1904 and designed to include a large playground, the “outdoor kindergarten.” This was partially in response to tuberculosis outbreaks.

In 1991, a local gallery owner began leasing the garden on a month-to-month basis. He cleared the lot of trash, planted greenery, and added statues from his collection.

The proposed development includes 123 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS FOR SENIORS and 16K SQ FT of PUBLIC, BUT PRIVATELY OWNED, OUTDOOR SPACE. The land is being sold to developers for $1, and housing is only required to be “affordable” for 30-60 years.

There has been a fierce battle over the future of Elizabeth Street Garden since NYCHA took ownership in 2012, and sited 21 Spring Street for housing development.

21 Spring Street, 1991.

Source: elizabethstreetgarden.com

THE PROJECT SITE + LOCAL URBAN / COMMUNITY GARDENS

The St. Nicholas Miracle Garden borders the St. Nicholas park. Though small, the community garden hosts Farmers’ Markets every Thursday and Saturday. They are seeking local artists to contribute to the beautification of the space.

ST. NICHOLAS MIRACLE GARDEN : 330 ST. NICHOLASAVE

ROOSEVELTTRIANGLE: W 125TH & MORNINGSIDE

Roosevelt Triangle has been a park dedicated to former president FDR since 1941. The large bronze sculpture by Richard Hunt was donated in 1976 and entitled Harlem Hybrid, and evokes plant life and geological formations. An extensive renovation of the triangle park was completed in 2000 and 354 new shrubs were planted.

This community garden is located within low income housing project General Grant Houses and was established by Columbia students in 2011 to serve the community. It is now funded and maintained by NYCHA, however it took many years to be approved and campus governing boards to recognize the group and the project.

GRANTHOUSESTRANQUILGROUND GARDEN

NYCHA was initially weary of providing funding for the project given Columbia’s expansion into Harlem, and wanted to make sure its development wasn’t simply a PR move. However, the garden was well received by residents and made positive impacts in providing food and bringing people together.

Project

Proposal Site + Local Gardens

SOURCES

The History of Community Gardens in New York City: The Role of Urban Agriculture and Green Roofs in Addressing Environmental Racism By joanna ingrid, 2003

Film by Harvey Wang and Amy Brost, Adam Purple and The Garden of Eden

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2015/10/garden-of-eden/

https://www.nycgovparks.org/

https://work.ac/work/pf1/

https://joannaingrid.wordpress.com/

https://www.greenguerillas.org/history

https://www.nyrp.org

https://www.columbiaspectator.com/2011/02/15/grant-hou ses-garden-finally-takes-root/

https://www.terrain-nyc.net/morningside-gardens-landsc ape-master-plan

https://www. elizabethstreetgarden.com/intro

Gardens and Community