Community Gardens
Creative Little Garden
530 E. Sixth St., between Avenues A and B; Creativelittlegarden.org
Billed as “an oasis of tranquility in New York’s East Village,” the Creative Little Garden is an example of how New Yorkers can make the most out of any space, no matter how small it is. Opened in 1982 on the site of a former tenement building that burned down, this 24-by-100-foot garden, with 40 to 80 members at any one time, features a winding birch-chip path, eight sculptures, a waterfall, a wide variety of flora and fauna, and more birdhouses than local schoolchildren can count. The path winds past colorful azaleas, tulips, hydrangeas, ferns, rose bushes and bleeding hearts, before culminating in a slate patio nestled under the shade of a large willow tree. But the best part of the Creative Little Garden is that it is open every day and everyone is welcome, including leashed pets. FLOYD BENNETT FIELD COMMUNITY GARDEN 1 Ryan Visitor Center, Brooklyn, (718) 338-3799; FBGA.NET
At the far edge of Brooklyn, bordering Jamaica Bay, lies the largest community garden in New York City with nearly 500 plots. Built on what was the city’s first airfield, this lush garden at the Gateway National Recreation Area is as big as it is beautiful. Carrots, tomatoes, asparagus, basil, green beans and Swiss chard can all be found growing during summer. But good gardening takes commitment. There is a two-year waiting list to join, and once you’re a member, you must meet an eight-hour community service requirement. Make no mistake, this is a serious garden. There is even a Conflict Resolution Committee that resolves disputes among members. HANDS AND HEART GARDEN, 293 New Lots Ave., Brooklyn, (718) 649-7979; Eastnewyorkfarms.org
Sometimes a garden is more than just a garden. It’s a community center and neighborhood revitalizer. The Hands and Heart Garden opened in 2007 on the site of a long-abandoned lot to promote local sustainable agriculture in East New York, a neighborhood with few fresh-food options. Since then, the half-acre garden has thrived, growing to 33 members, most of whom grow West Indian crops like okra, hot peppers, collard greens and tomatoes. The vegetables are sold at a market right outside the garden gate on Wednesdays and at another nearby market on Saturdays. This relatively new garden even has a wait-list now, and members often farm soil-enriching crops in winter.