Landscapes of Resilience
Large Lawn and Jamaica Bay are a scenic front yard to NYCHA’s Beach 41st Street Houses in Far Rockaway. A hidden treasure within this development has been receiving great care and attention over the past two and a half years. Through the Landscapes of Resilience research and design project, which is funded by the TKF Foundation, resident gardeners at Beach 41st Street Houses have worked together to revitalize their garden on the Bay. We gathered with them on the grounds one Saturday this July for a communal potluck meal under a newly constructed canopy. Resident gardeners used vegetables from their gardens to create healthy dishes to share; one gardener used bellflowers grown in her plot to create delicious Korean pancakes. The group was small and intimate—about 20 people in total—but the enjoyment shared was big enough to fill the entire space.
As part of the project, since 2013 researchers from the US Forest Service, NYC Urban Field Station (UFS) and landscape architecture firm Till Design have engaged resident gardeners at the development in their efforts to rebuild their gardens after the massive disruption brought by Superstorm Sandy. After the disaster, the gardens were closed, no one could plant, and all was still in the formerly lush plots for a whole year. Fortunately, NYCHA partnered with this group of researchers and designers to bring gardening back to Beach 41st Street.
Till Design hosted workshops in 2014 to hear from resident gardeners about their needs for the new garden, which is called the Workshop Garden and was designed by Till Design. The NYCHA Garden and Greening Program provided new planter boxes for the gardeners, and NYCHA and the UFS hired an outreach coordinator to support the new and returning gardeners. In 2015, we demonstrated how the gardeners can convey the meaning of their gardens to fellow residents and visitors. For example, artist Carmen Bouyer, Renae Reynolds (the UFS Project Coordinator), and gardeners created signs to display in their reoccupied plots.
For the past year, the physical landscape has been reconstructed to lessen the flooding that often occurs at the site during heavy rain or high tide. A “bioswale” landscape feature was built in the lawn next to the gardens to improve water absorption. A garden canopy was built on higher ground, which can be used for social gatherings as well as a staging area to distribute vital supplies in the event of an emergency. The canopy, which was built by Natural Garden Landscapes, was constructed through hand carving, rather than heavy machinery, with slats and pegs connecting the massive structure. “This is a great space; I can see us using it for Family Day” and other neighborhood celebrations involving food, music, and fun, said one resident gardener about the canopy.
At the time of the potluck, the canopy was not yet finished—a few finishing touches still needed to be made to the roof, which will be covered in slate to make it durable. (In addition, 15 tripods will be installed to provide simple irrigation as well as garden signs.) In June, 100 volunteers planted the Workshop Garden planting beds, and the healthy, new plants were growing beautifully.
We look forward to future seasons of growth as the plants continue to mature and the residents of Beach 41st Street Houses continue their work in collaboration with NYCHA staff to promote gardening, beauty, and community togetherness. You can stay up to date on the project here: http://b41communitygarden.tumblr.com