Guerrilla Gardening: Community Led Regeneration
When I first heard of the guerrilla gardening concept just a few days ago I was fascinated. Then I realized, I also was a part of this effort while I lived in New York almost twenty years ago.
My Story
Back in 1995, I remember planting bushes and trees on the streets of Corson Avenue and Victory Boulevard in Staten Island, NY. It was the thrill of knowing that green will prevail in spite of the industrialization of this location.
I felt empowered to be a part of this, even if it was only one time. I do not recall asking for permission from property owners, and if not that would be one prime example of guerrilla gardening. Furthermore, I often passed by community gardens present in downtown Manhattan. One of the most famous of all local landscape projects of this type is the Liz Christy Community Garden. It is found on Bowery at Houston Avenue, nearby Second Avenue.
Now this spot resides with permission of the city, so it really is more thought of as a community led regeneration project. However, the name of the organization that is very actively involved in outdoor projects like this is the Green Guerillas. Therefore, it often is referred to as a guerrilla gardening plot.
About the Liz Christy Community Garden
It was founded under the name First Community Garden in 1973. However, the presence of it dates back to the 17th century which then the location of it was Bouwerie and North Street.
From the mid-1970s onward the Green Guerillas took over the planting and care of it. Then, in 1986 it was dedicated to Liz Cristy, it’s founder. Over the past two decades, this garden has continued to flourish as a result of local dedication of passionate community regeneration volunteers.
It is open to anyone who wishes to take a nature walk or sit and relax somewhere along the path of vast shades of wildflowers and diverse types of greens. Pets and children are allowed, as long as they are kept under careful supervision. Anyone also can become a member and after 20 hours of volunteer service they can obtain a garden key.
Any flowers, bushes, or trees planted are there for the enjoyment of all but of course they don’t want anyone to touch-just look! Over the years, fruit trees, berry bushes, and vegetable plants have grown here. Guerilla gardening members have also planted redwoods and birches as well as flowering perennials and annuals.
Other New York Gardens
The NY York community led regeneration and guerillas gardening project also has brought continual life to other gardens.
Example sites include Papa and Mama Jones’ Community Garden in Brooklyn, The West Side Community Garden in Manhattan, and the Two Coves Community Garden in Queens.
Flora that can be find in various New York plots include geraniums, trillium, apples, tulips, orchids, and violets. Greens and flowers are implanted year round, and as a result something is always blooming at one of these community led gardens.
New York’s first Community Garden
http://www.lizchristygarden.us/
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Create an Advert for Shell’s Destruction of the Arctic – Quickly…
Here’s a chance to show your creativity in response to Shell’s bid to destroy the Arctic.
Quickly – get there and get your ad up before this site gets closed down!
By the way… how many birds does it take?
GreenPeace Tells Shell: Don’t Destroy Our Arctic
Green Peace have been taking their message directly to Shell.
In a few weeks, Shell will begin drilling for oil in the Arctic. An oil spill in this fragile environment will be devastating. Stop Shell by signing up now to support a global Arctic sanctuary, protected from oil drilling.
Live video covers their action below.
A Billion Acts of Green
The week leading up to Earth Day on April 22nd is Earth Week, with people encouraged to do something environmentally friendly each day of the week. Why not register your green pledge or act on the “Billion Acts of Green” campaign site and add your voice to the millions of others calling for change.
“A Billion Acts of Green” is the largest environmental service campaign in the world – register your act on the EarthDay website ..
Take part in the “Mobilize the Earth” theme of the 2012 Earth Day and register your Act of Green to add your voice to those calling for environmental issues to be taken seriously by world governments and policy makers. The goal is to register one billion actions in advance of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) happening in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012.
A Billion Acts of Green® inspires and rewards both simple individual acts and larger organizational initiatives that reduce carbon emissions and support sustainability.
These can be anything from environmental meetings, riding a bike to work instead of driving, eating more locally produced food, supporting campaigns to save the rainforest in Brazil, planting trees, cleaning up a riverbank or park…
Some notable contributions to A Billion Acts of Green®:
School Greenings: Earth Day Network has worked to retrofit 40 schools across the globe with green technologies and resources. From installing solar panels to planting school gardens, Earth Day Network helped these schools to significantly reduce their carbon footprints.
Ocean Conservancy: More than 10 million green acts came from the Ocean Conservancy, following their annual International Costal Clean-Up Day, which has seen nearly 9 million volunteers from 152 countries work to clean shores, streams, rivers and the ocean.
Siemens: As part of their 2010 corporate sponsorship, employees of Siemens completed 789,041 Acts of Green through the donation of thousands of generators, flashlights and skyhydrants to victims of the earthquake in Haiti
Earth Hour: Millions participate in Earth Hour every year on March 26. Each person who turned off their lights is counted as an Act of Green.
200 Catholic Congregations contributed 100,000 Acts of Green through local service projects.
Earth Day Philippines: Through massive tree plantings, water projects, river clean-ups, recycling drives and school greenings, Earth Day Philippines contributed over 12 million Acts of Green.
Avatar Home Tree Initiative: Through a partnership with Twentieth Century Fox and the Avatar Blu Ray and DVD, Earth Day Network and 16 partners planted 1,006,639 trees in 16 countries, directly involving over 31,000 individuals.
Peace Corps: In partnership with the Peace Corps, Earth Day Network worked with local volunteers to implement environmental and civic education programs, tree-plantings, village clean-ups and recycling seminars in rural areas of Ukraine, Georgia, Albania and Paraguay, helping to build environmental awareness in some of the world’s most underserved communities.
P&G Future Friendly collected thousands of green acts at Earth Day on the National Mall and through support of Earth Day Network’s iPhone and Facebook apps.
Kolkata, India: Plans for a small series of sponsored events evolved into a nationwide presence, 17 cities large. Earth Day Network partnered with global and local NGOs and local government officials to coordinate city and village clean-ups, environmental rallies and educational programs for underprivileged children. Earth Day Network has now established an office in Kolkata.
In China, Roots and Shoots Shanghai planted 600,000 trees across inner Mongolia to preserve depleted rainforests. Educators hosted eco-fairs where students learned about the importance of sustainability.
In Louisiana, Green Light New Orleans worked to assist residents with the installation of free, energy-efficient light bulbs. They worked house by house and installed over 300,000 new bulbs across the city.
In Afghanistan, Earth Day Network worked with more than 40 government and village leaders across the country in environmental sustainability practices including recycling programs and the need for clean water and alternative energy.
In Kenya, Guatemala, and Haiti, Earth Day Network partner The Paradigm Project has committed to installing 5 million new fuel efficient stoves that fight off deforestation, respiratory disease, poverty and hunger.
In Mozambique, the president led a tree-planting initiative in schools across Maputo.
In Colombia, Earth Day Network partner Proyecto Tití worked to remove over 30 million plastic bags from the tropical forests of the region. The bags were then fashioned into reusable “Eco-Mochilas” tote bags and then sold by local villagers.
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