Little Garden in the Big Apple
Community gardens ARE possible and they are wonderful things! Living in New York City, I was fortunate to live right across from Central Park. However, to afford living there, my apartment also was on the bottom looking into a courtyard, meaning zero light for plants. My body functions with natural light, so this was pretty difficult, but the wonderful thing about New York City is how many great initiatives are happening to promote local food.
Just Food, for example, is a fantastic organization that promotes a sustainable food system in New York City. My old professor, the venerable and renowned Joan Gussow, sits on the board.
See her book here–great read!
With my nonexistent light, I found a little community garden in Spanish Harlem, just north of Central Park on the East Side. A few plots were already filled with greens and I cleaned up my spot and planted basil, lavender, thyme, mint, and sage. For months, I had fresh herbs and dried the rest. I hardly had to do anything because the soil was rich with nutrients and fat worms and the shade appropriately shared with the sun.
I moved before I could really get involved as I would have like, but these spaces are perfect for things like community yoga classes, resume workshops, and children’s gardening activities.
What I found is there is no real excuse for not trying. These spaces can be found, and it just needs a little initiative and watchful eye to avoid your plants being overrun, but in a community garden, you are all in it together.
Category: Featured Articles: Food Politics, Food Politics
Being a back yard farmer myself, I can tell you that a small 4×8 bed can render a generous bounty. Lettuce and herbs can be grown in window boxes.
I’m trying to grow herbs in window boxes too! Any advice for cilantro? They just looked sad and then died…trying to grow a lemon tree too. Anyone have any luck?