El Garden

Could a garden be a battleground? Here at El Garden in Bushwick, that question isn’t rhetorical. El Garden, a year-old community green space, became a symbol of resistance in a fight for survival. This isn’t a tale of weeds and pests. It’s a story of a community rallying against the threat of development. El Garden, along with 16 other community gardens on public land, faced potential demolition to make way for new housing. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) invited developers to submit proposals for affordable housing on these lots. This decision pitted the mayor’s housing plans against the community’s desire to preserve green spaces. El Garden’s members, however, saw this as a false dilemma. They argued that Bushwick desperately needed both affordable housing and green spaces like El Garden. BK ROT, a Bushwick composting organization, used El Garden as its compost collection site. They emphasized the garden’s role in addressing social issues, like access to fresh produce, and providing local solutions to larger environmental problems. Adding fuel to the fire, the city made this decision without community input. The gardeners were blindsided, learning about it through community garden advocacy groups. El Garden mobilized, garnering support from City Council Member Antonio Reynoso. Reynoso, whose district includes the garden, wrote to the mayor’s office urging the removal of all active community gardens from the HPD’s list. He highlighted El Garden and BK ROT as examples of the vital public benefits these gardens provided. El Garden also sought the endorsement of Bushwick’s Community Board 4, which directed its Housing and Land Use Committee to review the request. El Garden became a hub of activism, organizing a rally at City Hall. They hoped to open a dialogue with HPD and the mayor’s office, not just for El Garden, but for all the gardens at risk. El Garden’s story reminds us that even the smallest green space can hold immense significance. It becomes a testament to community spirit and the power of collective action.