Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 22, 2012
Contact: media@nycha.nyc.gov, (212) 306-3322

“NYCHA Grows with its Gardeners” Conference held for the 10th Year

500 resident gardeners receive greening tips

Resident gardeners from New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) public housing developments citywide came together on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at the James Weldon Johnson Community Center in Manhattan to celebrate and learn more about the importance and benefits of gardening during the 10th Annual NYCHA Grows with its Gardeners Conference. This is one of many events NYCHA will host this year as it celebrates 50 years of the Garden and Greening Program.

“The Garden and Greening program is a true testament of NYCHA and the residents’ commitment to their broader community,” said NYCHA Board Member and Green Agenda Coordinator Margarita López. “The residents invest a lot of time and resources into their gardens; in return, NYCHA adds to their capacity with both technical and physical resources.”

At the conference, gardeners received technical assistance, as well as seeds, flowering bulbs and written information to further their knowledge about successful gardening. They also got a chance to participate in a series of botanical and horticultural workshops that included topics such as Worm Composting and Waste Prevention, Improving Your Soil Quality, Making Herbal Teas with Plants from the Garden and Getting Children Involved in Gardening, among others.

Since 1962, the Garden and Greening Program has been providing beautification and environmental education that benefits NYCHA residents, as well as senior, community and day care centers. The program also provides year-round technical assistance as well as free seeds, flowering bulbs, and other garden resources to resident gardeners citywide.