For Immediate Release:
July 26, 2014
HARLEM GREEN, 9th ANNUAL TOUR OF HARLEM COMMUNITY GARDENS—FREE!
Come see outstanding vegetables, unique herbs, fruit, gazebos, hoop houses, grape arbors, ponds, highly-developed composting systems and more in this
sampling of Harlem’s Community Gardens on Saturday, August 30th, 2014 (RAIN DATE,Sunday, August 31ST),10 AM-5 PM.
Contact: 212.662.2878
On Saturday, August 30th, Harlem’s community gardeners will once again invite the public to share the miracles of grassroots development. Starting at 10AM with a sumptuous breakfast at the J.D. Wilson Garden on 122nd Street, and ending at 5PM with a traditional Harlem Barbeque at the William A. Harris Garden, 153rd Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, the tour will take in over fifteen of Harlem’s green gems.
Tourists will see lush oases with verdant flora and fauna, rain water harvesting systems, solar pond aeration and lighting, vertical gardens, bee hives, gazebos, established fruit trees, abundant herbs, vegetables, extensive composting systems, and more. Some gardens began over 25 years ago on what was then sun-parched and rubble-strewn abandoned city lots. Tourists will also visit new gardens where neighbors have more recently come together to sow wildflowers and excavate and reclaim unused, debris-strewn lots.
Community gardeners have long been visionaries when it comes to community development and a healthy urban landscape. Harlem’s gardens exemplify that well. Moreover, gardens are much more than the healthy, oxygen-promoting ecosystems we all need to survive. Community gardens are oases of healing. They give individuals a sense of purpose and dignity. They strengthen communities. They host CSA’s and farmer’s markets. They help to decrease aggression and violence. They help to mitigate ADD, ADHD, and many other emotional and learning “abilities.” Community gardens soften our harsh urban environment, and decrease its toxic carbon footprint. As Haja Worley, the tour guide, has said, “Community gardeners are guardians of the land.”
Attendees are encouraged to bicycle or walk the tour; however, thanks to the NYC Parks Department, a bus will transport folks who cannot walk or use alternative transportation.
Sponsors for the event include Greenthumb and The Parks Dept. of NYC; Harlem Gardens*,The William A. Harris Garden; NYCCGC (The NYC Community Garden Coalition); Project Harmony, Inc.
*Gardens included in the Tour as of this date (BUS WILL NOT STOP AT ALL) are: The JD Wilson Garden; Our Little Green Acres; 5 Star Garden, Carrie McCracken/TRUCE Garden; The New 123rd Street Garden; Clayton Williams Garden; the PCB Wm. B. Harris Garden; Unity Garden-Park Association; The New 127th Street Miracle Garden; Mandela Park Garden; Harlem Rose Garden; The 132ndStreet Garden; Margrichante Garden; The St. Luke’s Community Garden; Success Garden/Harlem Grown; The Morris-Jumel Community Garden; The Convent Avenue Garden; The Wm. A. Harris Garden.
