Research

This project was developed through 2022, initially started in the Spring, while field research and data collection were conducted mostly over the summer. The data was gathered from observations, literature reviews, interviews, and personal participation. I visited Mertz Library at the Botanical Garden, the Bronx Historical Society, the New York City Public Library, the Museum of Reclaim Space, the Bronx Historical Society, and participated in several community garden tours. These included a walking tour on the history of activism on the Lower East Side, that walked us through some of the community gardens of the area (La Plaza Cultural, 9th Street Community Garden, Earth People Community Garden). Also, the Bronx Food & Farms Walking Tour Highbridge Gardens, where we visited La Isla Youth Garden, Woodycrest Community Garden, Las Casitas, and Taqwa Community Farm to explore their history, and meet the gardeners who currently care for them, all part of the network of “green thumb/nygb” local community gardens.

Informal interviews were conducted with the garden managers, other gardeners, and youth members from La Isla. These interviews served to identify key factors that contribute to the success and sustainability of the garden. Participating in the tours facilitated additional networking for other interviews with representatives of city organizations. Highbridge was chosen as my research site because it is a neighborhood with a rich immigrant history, which is currently under housing redevelopment.