Ingersoll Garden of Eden Gardeners circa 2009
In 2007 a group of eight Ingersoll residents, all women ages 60+, expressed their desire for gardening plots on NYCHA grounds to beautify the space and grow their own food. We were honored to assist.
A partnership with the NYCHA Garden & Greening team, Ingersoll grounds staff, MARP and the residents ensued and the creation of the Ingersoll Garden of Eden came to fruition in 2009. What began as 8 gardeners with 8 plots has grown to be 40 gardeners with 40+ plots. A long wait-list of other residents interested in gardening has been growing over the years as they see the success of the Garden of Eden.
The core group of original gardeners responded to this demand and formed themselves as the Governing Body – maintaining a wait-list, applying for grants, meeting monthly and driving communication between residents and partner organizations. In 2013, the Governing Body applied for and received the New York Restoration Project (NYRP) “Gardens for the City” grant, a program that aims to “help communities transform public spaces”. The selection process identifies spaces with “committed community stewards that need the most help”. NYRP then lends their materials, muscles and expertise.
The design process began in the winter of 2013 with NYCHA Garden & Greening staff assisting in the process – supporting the gardeners as they chose the new location and working with NYRP on the design of the new garden. Once all the physical logistics were completed we worked with the gardeners to prepare and disseminate the news that wait-listed residents will now have their own gardening space!
On March 27th, 2014 all community partners, as well as the youth of Green City Force, joined together to welcome the new gardeners and move fresh soil into 23 gardening plots. We look forward to seeing the plots become green over the year.
Take a look at the day in photos on our Flickr page and read the story from DNAinfo.
Thank you and congratulations to all community partners and Ingersoll Gardeners!
