GreenThumb Urban Gardener Profile #7:
Sara Jones has been a gardener at the LaGuardia Corner Community Garden for over 20 years. She brings her community together by organizing at the grassroots level, and is committed to providing a safe open space for all to enjoy. She also loves the fresh peach cobbler and roasted kale chips that the gardeners prepare from their harvest each year. Here is Sara’s story!
GreenThumb (GT):
Why did you start urban gardening and how did you learn to garden successfully?
Sara Jones
(SJ):
I watched the LaGuardia Corner Gardens spring up from an empty lot in my neighborhood. It's been in Greenwich Village more than 35 years now. We have developed from a green guerrilla urban vegetable garden into a perennial park. We keep the gate open daylight hours, like a park, from April through October. We believe green spaces are important public amenities for all neighborhoods.
GT:
How has GreenThumb helped your garden?
SJ:
GreenThumb has been an amazing partner over the years. GreenThumb has been instrumental in getting our 8-foot chain link fence installed and the boards that map out the plots of our garden. GreenThumb has been supportive through the years, we grew up together. GreenThumb has such interesting programs, I continue to learn at the annual GrowTogether event and workshops throughout the year.
GT:
What are your favorite memories in the garden?
SJ:
I love all the special events we have in the garden. My favorite is Make Music New York’s free music programs on June 21 each year. We have a wide variety of interesting programs like the annual rose walk, identifying over 100 rose species we have in the garden.
GT:
What has gardening taught you about community and your connection to neighbors and other gardeners?
SJ:
We are lucky enough to have a beehive and that has been an interesting experiment. It's a great educational tool. We have partnered with our local schools and have kids come and learn in our open garden. They enjoy the worm composter and look forward to the apple picking. Keeping the garden open daily has gained the respect and admiration of a whole variety of people who work in the neighborhood who now come with their lunch to spend some relaxing outdoor time. Fighting to save the garden over many years has made our neighborhood much closer knit.
GT
: What is the most challenging thing about gardening in New York City?
SJ:
It’s sometimes hard to keep the garden looking clean. We do a lot of education events and fun events for the community, but not everyone wants to come and clean up the garden. Gardens can be a lot to take care of, so that can be challenging.
GT:
What are your favorite vegetables to grow in the garden?
SJ:
Everyone loves warm, ripe tomatoes right off the vine. My favorite is when the peaches are ripe and we pick them and distribute them to gardeners and neighbors. Then Karin makes peach cobbler & brings it to the garden. There is nothing quite like eating fresh peas while you're gardening. There's always the decadent dinosaur kale leaves dipped in salted olive oil & lemon and then broiled to make kale chips.
GT:
Who inspires you?
SJ:
Kids eating peas off the vine inspire me. Little kids who insist on helping me and have the need to dig inspire me. The young scientists who are studying hydroponics and aquaculture inspire me and give me hope.
GT
: Do you have any advice for the next generation of gardeners?
SJ:
Please let your kids get dirty. Teach young kids where their food comes from & how to grow & prepare it.
Thank you for your inspiring words Sara
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