Just last summer, a global NGO named Food Tank wrote about community gardens in their newsletter.
“Urban agriculture offers a multitude of economic and environmental benefits to New York City that are overlooked. When properly resourced, it can be utilized as a framework to achieve food justice and create a more sustainable food system rooted in equity, community power, and climate resiliency.”
Just one month later, Mayor Adams sent a chill through the hearts of NY’s community gardeners as he issued what is called “Executive Order 43.” This order directed all city agencies to examine their portfolio of city-owned property in search of places to build housing. By including the Parks Department, this put most of the hundreds of NYC community gardens at risk, as most lack permanent status.
A petition went out during September’s LUNGS festival, with this ask: “We demand that Mayor Eric Adams issue a clear directive exempting community gardens on city-owned land from Executive Order 43, reaffirming their protection, and ensuring that any land review process fully recognizes the irreplaceable value these spaces bring to our city.’”
On Monday, October 28, a number of local green groups gathered on the steps of City Hall to let Mayor Adams in on their fears.
A colorful group of advocates including members of LUNGS, the Green Guerillas, The Community Gardens Coalition, activists working to save the Elizabeth Street Garden, the Brooklyn Queens Land Trust as well as members of the NY City Council graced the steps of City Hall.
Christopher Marte represents all of lower Manhattan as well as much of the Lower East Side. First elected in 2022, he has been popular with the grassroots community, but not so much with the business and real estate community that supports the City of Yes mindset.
Marte stepped to the microphone rallying the crowd with a pro gardens chant. He then continued:
“I am here today to tell Mayor Adams to stop your proposal to demolish community gardens in the name of housing. This false narrative is not new. We’ve seen it before. The Giuliani administration specifically targeted community gardens. DeBlasio looked to build market rate housing on NYCHA open space.
“We are dealing with the climate crisis. We haven’t had rain for 26 days. We need our community gardens more than ever. It’s not just for community gardens — it’s a fight for social justice.
“We are in a housing crisis, but if we don’t fight this climate crisis then it doesn’t matter where you live because you are going to be displaced. Housing and climate are one thing together and both worth fighting for.”
Do no harm
Raymond Figueroa-Reyes, President of the Board of Directors of the NYC Community Garden Coalition, told the crowd that government needs to stop “scapegoating community gardens in the name of affordable housing.” He said above all, government should “DO NO HARM!”
All the speakers made the important point that community gardens to more than to just simply enhance the environment, city living, environment for our feathered friends — all vitally important benefits — but to also enhance a sense of community.
Community gardens give city dwellers a place to meet their neighbors, to volunteer for the public good, and to help promote social and cultural causes.
A case in point was the recent LUNGS festival, as detailed in the October Star-Revue. As one of the speakers pointed out, community gardens bind communties together.
Another City Councilmember, Chris Banks of East New York, pleaded that gardens “not fall victim to the greed of developers.”
Ricky Colon, a vice president of the Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens, the aforementioned LUNGS, told the enthusiastic crowd “We reclaimed these abandonded lots. When we see major endeavors such as the Elizabeth Street Garden under major threat, we must heed the warning.”
He also brought up a major benefit in these times of climate change and often excessive rainfall, that these gardens are vital for drainage.
Another speaker spoke of making sure that community boards, usually representing community wishes, are heard by the higher ups.
More than one speaker cupped their ears in the direction of City Hall above them, symbolically directing their messages to the Mayor.
