We’ve all heard the phrase “April showers bring May flowers,” and, now that it’s finally May, we’re looking forward to colorful petals and blossoms to pattern our cities. But it seems that the very idea of blooming nature and the cosmopolitan climate that characterizes city life is dichotomous—we usually don’t associate the natural world with the man-made one that is an urban environment.
It turns out, though, that the beauty of nature can, indeed, be found in our cities in the form of urban gardens. In New York City, specifically, organizations such as GrowNYC have taken it upon themselves to populate the city with hundreds of urban gardens—little natural oases amongst the concrete jungle.
GrowNYC was founded in 1970 as the Council on the Environment of New York City (CENYC) but has since transformed into the renowned green space and conservation organization it is today. GrowNYC has built more than 135 gardens in all five boroughs of New York City. Their green spaces have been adapted as community gardens, gardens in public housing communities, schools, and senior centers.
According to GrowNYC’s website, their mission is to “improve New York City’s quality of life through environmental programs that transform communities block by block and empower all New Yorkers to secure a clean and healthy environment for future generations.”
GrowNYC has certainly succeeded in helping New Yorkers connect to their natural sides, but the organization does more than build community gardens. GrowNYC also sets up Greenmarket farmers markets around the city—allowing for greater access to fresh produce and antibiotic-free meat and dairy. They have implemented a recycle program by planting waste collection bins throughout the city. This encourages citizens to do their part in protecting our environment. On top of all that, GrowNYC provides over 70,000 children every year with environmental awareness programs and nature education courses.
GrowNYC doesn’t just help people living in the city—they partner with farms outside of NYC to bring quality products to the Greenmarkets. Access to healthy foods has become an even more pressing issue during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March of 2020, GrowNYC developed an Emergency Fresh Food Box program, which provided fresh food to the neighborhoods in the city that were most highly impacted by the virus.
Interested in learning more? GrowNYC is always looking for volunteers and educators, and they welcome donations.
As we transition further into Spring, we’re enjoying sunny days spent picnicking in the park, reading a book in a garden, and smelling the blossoms on the trees as we walk past. We are lucky to have so many lovely outdoor spaces in the middle of one of the world’s largest and most bustling cities, NYC, and we owe all of our thanks to special organizations like GrowNYC.
