A New Season Takes Root

NYCHA kicked off the start of Spring by gathering over 260 resident gardeners on April 13 at the 16th Gardening and Urban Farming Conference. Hosted at the Johnson Community Center in Harlem, the conference provides an opportunity for gardeners to keep up-to-date on horticultural and environmental practices, connect with each other, and receive supplies including seeds, flowers, and tools; education; and technical assistance from partner organizations. Workshops covered grant writing, how to effectively run a community garden, gardening tips in Spanish, composting, what it takes to grow and maintain a winning garden, and more.

The efforts of the more than 3,500 NYCHA resident gardeners who tend 700 community and individual gardens citywide helps to make all of the City’s neighborhoods more beautiful and healthier. The conference was sponsored by Unilever as part of a multi-million dollar partnership with New York City’s Building Healthy Communities initiative.