MONDAY, AUGUST 9: AUGUST OPEN NETWORKING MEETING

Join us MONDAY, August 9th, from 12:30-2:00 p.m. in the amphitheater of garden at the Union Settlement Association for a meeting on "Community Gardens -- Community Assets."

Community gardens (and their gardeners) provide healthy fresh foods; educate residents of all ages on their environment, local agriculture, and nutrition; strengthen social connections and fill a critical need for open space in the city’s most underserved communities. Did Liz Christy, the mother of the community garden movement, know back in the early 70s when she threw the first seed bomb into a vacant lot and founded Green Guerillas, that her efforts to improve the safety and beauty of neglected neighborhoods, would spawn over 700 gardens, a nearly 40 year-old movement, NYC Parks & Recreation’s GreenThumb program and a NYS Office of Community Gardens?  The story of New York City’s community garden movement has been one of growth, change, hard fought victories and loss.

The hardest won victory was the 2002 agreement between the city and the New York State attorney general’s office that settled a lawsuit in which the attorney general’s office sought to stop the Giuliani administration from selling city-owned gardens to developers.  That agreement is set to expire in September.  NYC Parks & Recreation and Housing Preservation and Development have publicized draft rules to replace the Agreement.  On August 10th there will be a public hearing on these rules.

As part of our continuing effort to educate members on pressing food systems issues and opportunities, we are pleased to highlight community gardens.

Where?: 237 E. 104th St., NY, NY. Walk through the office of the Union Settlement Association and head out the back to the garden, which can be seen from the street.  We will be in the amphitheater in the back, past the playground and garden boxes. 

When?: 12:30-2:00 p.m. on Monday, August 9th.  Please note this change from our usual Tuesday schedule for Open Networking meetings.