This weekend, my husband and I took a drive towards the Hudson river to meet a friend for a walk. On the way there, we passed a beautifully kept garden in Nyack, NY, fenced in, with vegetables and flowers growing in abundance. We also saw people working in the garden. We decided to stop by on our return journey, because I really wanted to learn more about this very urban vegetable patch.
Nyack Community Garden, NY
I learned a lot from the friendly people who happened to be working in their garden plots during my visit, they were so friendly and took the time to answer all my questions, even posed for photographs in the garden. Gardeners are happy people, that’s for sure, and vegetable gardeners have lots of information to offer as well. I was allowed into the garden by Christine Randolph, and as she gave me a tour of the garden, we discussed some of the basics and benefits of community gardens in general.
Chris Randolph at her plot, with a freshly picked cucumber
I counted roughly 45-50 individual plots, and some plots are co-gardened by two members, while others are managed by a single member. Some members plant flowers as well as vegetables, some choose to decorate their plots with personal accents and then there’s this plot that is truly a state of the art:
Raised garden bed with a solar panel irrigation system
Some benefits of a raised garden:
~Weed control
~Pest control
~Portability if necessary
~Higher yields (better soil can be used in individual raised containers)
~Longer growing season (gardening seasons depend on soil temperature – the soil in individual pots will heat up faster than on the ground below
~Accessibility: easier to move around individual containers and get to every plant, as well as offering wheelchair accessibility
Community gardens stimulate social interaction and also provide opportunities for inter-generational and cross-cultural connections. Truly a way to get to know your neighbours! In tough economic times, community gardens can reduce the family food budget by providing nutritious food, and there is actually a waiting list to become a member at many community gardens, for this very reason. It encourages economic development and can provide an income opportunity, it nurtures self-reliance and independence in communities. Green space is preserved, and in the warmest months of summer, gardens reduce heat from nearby parking lots and streets. It is also visually pleasing; consider the alternative of an urban, open space going to waste, and it reduces crime (more active community involvement). Gardening also creates opportunity for recreation and exercise, and most people find it therapeutic. A well-run community garden can be a great educational resource in any city, teaching families and children to become involved, work together and reap the benefits of team work.
That's what she said 
According to the American Community Gardening Association, there are currently about 18,000 community gardens in the US and Canada. The ACGA have a broad definition of what a community garden entails. It can be urban, suburban, or rural. It can grow flowers, vegetables or community. It can be one community plot, or can be many individual plots. It can be at a school, hospital, or in a neighborhood. It can also be a series of plots dedicated to urban agriculture where the produce is grown for a market. The ACGA also has unique programs to develop and encourage youth involvement, and offer workshops to communities who request help.
Some gardens are wheelchair-accessible, and the ACGA offer help and advice on layout of the gardens to accommodate special needs.
Oh, the joy of a fresh-picked, sunripened tomato....
Onions growing in the far corner
Flowers thriving amidst the vegetables
I also spoke with Steve Luongo (I did kind of catch him on the job tending his garden Steve offered advice on how to get a community garden project going, and I will write more about that after speaking to him again, in a subsequent blog.
Steve Luongo watering his plot
If you need any more inspiration to get a community garden going growing , I hope this photo will convince you to take action. Let’s grow together!
A wonderful variety of vegetable, almost ready for the table!
Sources: My own research, as well as http://communitygarden.org/about-acga/
Photographs taken by Mathilda Williams, with permission of Nyack Community Garden members.
Hi Mathilde, I am so glad that community gardens are finally taking off. Too many people have no idea how to grow their own food. If you are going to have a veggie garden at your home be sure to fence it in or else you will be just setting out a smorgesbord for all your four-footed neighbors!
I am glad too, Gail. And believe me, the critters in my “community” know exactly where every local gardener lives. Squirrels, deer and bunnies…..(if I’m lucky, a bear too!)
Anon, the garden is kept locked because of past vandalism and theft. It’s unfortunate that we have to do this but that’s the reality. Not sure what you mean “begrudge others a pleasure” though. Do you mean the community garden denies others the pleasure of gardening? Actually the garden is open to all inhabitants of Nyack, for a modest fee of $15.
Brian, thanks for you comment, I appreciate it. I have to say that I was very impressed with the layout, variety and health of the garden, as well as the friendly co-operation of the members who happened to be there when I stopped by.
They were most helpful, taking time to talk to me, answer questions and show me around. Hats off to you and all the members for a well-run community garden!
Mathilda Williams
OK, I understand. If you want to learn more about the garden you can go to http://nyackcommunitygarden.info or email nyackcommunitygarden (at gmail.com). There’s a bunch of us who organize the garden each year, that email will reach us.
No, Brian, not at all – my comment was aimed at those that would vandalize something as noble as a community garden or rob the members of their hard-earned fresh produce. I really am most impressed with your efforts (I assume you’re a member). And the pleasure referred to is getting your hands dirty, seeing the produce (pun intended) of your labor, and the unbeatable taste of fresh-picked produce.
I noticed it too, and I applaud their efforts – I think it’s wonderful that urbanites can experience the joy of a garden. However, it was rather ironic that they have to have a “PRIVATE PROPERTY” sign on the fence. It’s a pity that there is always someone, somewhere who begrudges others a pleasure of some kind.
Your photographs, as always, are wonderful, Mathilda. Thanks for the walk on Saturday – I really enjoyed it!
We enjoyed getting together and our walk too
Yes, I also noticed the sign. Every member is given a key to unlock the garden, it is locked when no one is working there. I suppose they might have had vandalism or theft. I didn’t ask about it, it’s a question for the community garden management.
Mathilda, I really like your “variety” picture, the one on the bottom. Can I use it in our ACGA listing?
Brian, you are welcome to use any and all of the pictures, in fact, I have more and can make them available to you, please let me know if you need larger-sized files.
Cool! Here’s the listing:
http://acga.localharvest.org/garden/M3396?ul
Thanks! Makes me wish I was living in Nyack as well, I would apply tomorrow! I am going to work very hard at getting a garden started here in Emerson, NJ though
How cool that your garden has been in existence since 1976?? Kudos to all the members, it is a wonderful project. I am so happy that I stopped to look around and found your friendly co-gardeners to show me around.
What a pleasant surprise to see my blog featured in your online newspaper Nyack News and Views.
Nyack can be proud of its residents, they welcomed me and my questions and took the time to show me around the garden, and educate me. I tip my hat to you, Nyack!