Gardens at NYCHA
GrowNYC, in partnership with the Castle Hill, Bushwick, and Melrose Houses, is building and cultivating green spaces at New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residences. We are creating hubs for community, safety, and inclusion. Gardens at NYCHA is operated with a community-first approach, focusing on the garden space and growing together using community input, events, virtual support, and access to educational materials.
-
We grow and distribute free produce to community residents.
-
We host and facilitate free events in the community garden.
-
We provide safe & nurturing green spaces for community groups, seniors, and children.
-
We welcome community members in growing food, community, and culture.
-
We provide garden assistance to new and established gardeners so that they can better support their communities.
The Roxanne Reid Memorial Garden
Castle Hill Houses
The Roxanne Reid Memorial Garden
625 Castle Hill Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10473
Year Built: 2020
Instagram: @castlehillgarden
Volunteer Hours: Wednesdays, 1pm - 3pm
The Roxanne Reid Memorial Garden was dedicated to the late Tenant Association President, Roxanne Reid, who passed away from Covid-19 in 2020 before the garden could be fully built. Ms. Reid was an avid supported and stronghold for the Castle Hill Community, and it was a pleasure to bring her dream into a reality by honoring her and the entire community. The garden was built with the support of the Tenant Association, community land stewards, and Castle Hill residents. Currently, the garden is open and available for the entire community.
Bushwick Community Garden
Bushwick Houses
Bushwick Community Garden
50 Humboldt Street, Brooklyn, NY 11206
Year Built: 2021
Instagram: @bushwickgarden
Volunteer Hours: Thursdays, 11am - 1pm
The Bushwick Community Garden was built with the support of the Tenant Association, corporate volunteer groups, NSTAT and the Bushwick residents in two spaces encompassing the Bushwick/Hylan Senior Center. The garden is regaled as a herb, flower, and healing garden for seniors and community members. Residents come out to water, plant, learn about urban agriculture, and discuss garden activities.
Melrose Community Garden
Melrose Houses
Melrose Community Garden
346 E 156th Street, Bronx, NY 10451
Year Built: 2021
Instagram: @2melrosegarden
Volunteer Hours: Tuesday, 11am - 3pm
The Melrose Community Garden was built with the support of the Tenant Association, corporate volunteer groups, and the Melrose residents. The garden encompasses two spaces within the Melrose Houses Development, directly adjacent to the Bronx Works Classic Center and the Resident Community Garden. The garden is growing a host of vegetables, flowers and herbs for the Melrose residents to water, beautify, and learn about urban agriculture.
To learn more about our work and how you can recreate it in your own community, check out our Gardens as Community Hubs Workshop.
In this workshop, learn the steps and approaches to fostering community at your garden, drawing from the experience of NYCHA community garden founders Chantel Kemp and DK Kinard.
Meet The Team
Chantel Kemp is a Garden Coordinator, an avid grower, food justice advocate, former beekeeper, hen keeper, AmeriCorps, and Farm School NYC alum. You can find her advocating for NYCHA resident green spaces, posing with an assortment of veggies, and on Hunter College's Rising Stars "40 Under 40" Awardees list.
DK Kinard is a Garden Coordinator, an avid grower, food activist, a farm educator, culinary instructor, a classically trained pastry chef, and Farm School NYC alum. You can find her stewarding, advocating, organizing, and leading across a plethora of farms and programs for Seniors, Older Adults, and Special Needs community members all around New York City.