If you live in the country, where your nearest neighbor is a mile away, you can have the largest garden imaginable. Multiple vegetables and flowers could be grown and space wouldn’t be an issue. Frequent trips to the grocery store for fresh produce would be a thing of the past. Unfortunately, in large cities like NYC, space is a hot commodity. Many apartment dwellers who wish to have their own garden space will have to opt for products like the AeroGarden or join a local community garden. 

Community gardens are a great alternative option for those who seek a taste of domestic gardening bliss. These spaces are now commonplace in NYC – you just have to know where to find them. There are over 550 community green spaces in NYC alone so hopefully this task won’t be too hard to achieve.

History of NYC’s Community Garden

In April 1974, the first community garden started in NYC. In the early 1970s, many parts of the city struggled financially. Multiple lots and buildings were vacant. The Green Guerillas, a local environment group, began tossing bags of seeds, fertilizer, and water into vacant areas. This grassroots program was the start of something truly beautiful and would change the landscape of NYC forever. 

The founders of the Green Guerillas, Liz Christy, Amos Taylor, and Martin Gallent, went on to eventually found the “Bowery Houston Community Farm and Garden” in a large, debris-filled vacant lot on the corner of Bowery and Houston Streets. This first garden contained 60 vegetable beds and trees. This movement continued and spread throughout the city and now there are a multitude of community gardens in the city. 

Today, GrowNYC, an environmental non-profit, has built over 160 of these new gardens. Some of the gardens they’ve built are part of the GreenThumb community gardens. GreenThumb is a part of NYC Parks and they are the nation’s largest garden program found in an urban area. There are a few things to know before visiting a GreenThumb Garden. If you are interested in joining a GreenThumb garden, click here.

• Most gardens are active between April and October
• You can join as a member or volunteer
• Gardeners work together to take care of maintenance tasks
• Some gardens require a membership fee

We have compiled a list of the best community gardens in NYC. We hope that you find time to visit and/or eventually join.

NYC Community Garden List

El Sitio Feliz

Located in East Harlem, this community garden was founded in 1992 and was rebuilt in 2013. This massive 20,000-square-foot space is home to a garden, playground, amphitheater, and pergola. The garden was heavily damaged in Hurricane Sandy and received a full overhaul after the disaster. 

GrowNYC Teaching Garden at Governors Island

This one-acre urban farm is a beautiful community space that aims to educate the public in all areas of urban gardening. Field trips and summer camp participants visit the Teaching Garden regularly. 

The Teaching Garden is open to the public on the weekends, during Governors Island’s open season. The Teaching Garden offers tours and workshops. This large garden boasts 20 raised vegetable beds made of environmentally friendly materials. Other features include a greenhouse, an outdoor kitchen, a rain garden, and fruit trees.

All People’s Garden

One of the oldest community gardens in NYC, the All People’s Garden was started in 1974. This Lower East Side garden was started by a volunteer, Olean For, who was trying to deter drug trafficking in her neighborhood. 

A major renovation was completed in 2003. A new gazebo and mural were added and many features were refinished. The BBQ patio and tool shed were overhauled and the pathways were given new pavers.

Dorothy K McGowan Memorial Garden

Located in Washington Heights, this memorial garden was founded in 1995. Dorothy McGowan was an activist who convinced the Trust for Public Land and GrowNYC to provide materials and technical assistance to the garden. 

This community garden contains ornamental plants, vegetable beds, an arbor, a flagstone patio, and bluestone pathways. The garden is used by local schoolchildren for easter egg hunts and other activities throughout the year. 

Randall’s Island Urban Farm

This massive urban farm was created in 2010. This one-acre farm provides schools and other groups with tremendous learning opportunities. 

The farm features 72 raised vegetable gardens. It also contains four rice paddies and a chicken coop. Some of the produce that Randall’s Island yields include cucumbers, beans, kale, artichokes, eggplants, tomatoes, corn, and peppers. 

Volunteer at a Community Garden

If you have the desire to be a part of a movement that is important to Mother Earth, then consider joining or volunteering at a community garden. This is a great way to work with your neighbors and grow produce to serve your family or community. If you do not wish to grow vegetables, then it’s a great way to unwind and enjoy nature at the end of a long workday. 

Take the time to read up on each of the community gardens around your area. If you have time, try stopping by and taking a look in person. Perhaps even meet some of the other volunteers, members, and organizers. Just be sure to go during opening hours! Once you’ve found a garden that fits your preferences then you can learn how to join here. 

You will learn a lot of things after joining a community garden. Some things to learn include:

• How to grow produce and/or ornamental plants.
• Learn how to cooperate and work with others to maintain a garden.
• Learn other skills like carpentry, event planning, community outreach, accounting, volunteer management, and more. There are a lot of different skills involved with keeping a community garden running!
• Socialize with local community members who are either there to volunteer or there to visit during open hours. Volunteers may be asked to man the garden during open hours to help answer any questions that visitors may have.

If all of this sounds good to you, then joining a community garden is the volunteer activity for you!