Cultivating Community: NYC GreenThumb on the Power of Community Gardens

Cultivating community is at the heart of Project EverGreen’s work, and this fall the organization will complete its 10th GreenCare for Communities renovation in New York City. The milestone project, taking place at Corona Peach Tree Community Garden in Queens in partnership with NYC Parks GreenThumb, also marks the first GreenCare project in Queens fulfilling the goal of revitalizing gardens in all five boroughs.

To celebrate this achievement and explore the deeper impact of these green spaces, we spoke with the team at GreenThumb, to talk about the role of community gardens in NYC and what makes each project and neighborhood so special.

Q: Community gardens are as unique as the neighborhoods they serve. How are the plants selected for each site?

A: Plants are chosen based on a mix of gardener input and site-specific conditions. This year at Corona Peach Tree Garden, we used a group voting process. The gardeners expressed a desire for colorful plants that also attract hummingbirds, and we selected species that would thrive in full sun. After narrowing it down to eight options, the group voted again to finalize the planting list. It’s a collaborative approach that honors both the vision of the gardeners and the needs of the space.

Q: We’ve seen fruit trees in some of the gardens, like the plum tree at Joe Holzka Garden (site of the 2024 project). Is that part of a larger program?

A: Yes! The plum tree at Joe Holzka Garden is part of the Open Orchard Project, a remarkable initiative led by artist and horticulturist Sam Van Aken and commissioned by Governors Island Arts.

The Open Orchard combines public art, environmental preservation, and horticultural innovation in the form of a living orchard featuring hybrid trees. These trees bear antique and heirloom fruit varieties – apples, plums, and peaches that were once common in and around New York City but have nearly disappeared due to the industrialization of agriculture and monoculture farming.

The main orchard – home to 102 trees – is located on Governors Island, but the project expands far beyond that space. Nearly 100 additional trees have been planted in community gardens throughout the city, including several GreenThumb sites. With The Open Orchard, Van Aken is giving New Yorkers the chance to see, touch, and taste fruits that haven’t been grown for generations.

While Corona Peach Tree Garden won’t be receiving a fruit tree, its name and spirit still reflect the rich agricultural legacy of community gardening in New York City.

Q: Is there a signature plant that shows up in every NYC garden?

A: Honestly, every garden is so unique that it’s hard to identify a single plant that defines them all. That said, knockout roses definitely make frequent appearances! But the real beauty of GreenThumb gardens is their diversity. Each one reflects the personality and priorities of its gardeners and their communities.

Q: Why is sustainable gardening, especially growing food or keeping chickens, so important in NYC’s community gardens?

A: Urban growing space is rare in New York City, and community gardens offer essential opportunities for residents to practice small-scale farming. People grow food, raise chickens for eggs, and pass down ancestral agricultural knowledge. It’s about more than sustainability, it’s about food security, cultural preservation, and community empowerment. In many gardens, you’ll find culturally significant crops like malabar spinach, gandules, and scotch bonnet peppers, foods that are often hard to find in stores but essential to the diets and traditions of the people who grow them.

As we prepare for the Corona Peach Tree Community Garden project in Queens on September 17, we celebrate not just the revitalization of a green space, but the growing network of New Yorkers using community gardens to cultivate beauty, resilience, and connection. Together with NYC Parks GreenThumb and dedicated volunteers, Project EverGreen is proud to complete our NYC borough “grand slam” with this 10^th  transformative project.

Visit the Corona Peach Tree Community Garden project page for more details on the renovation that will bring healthier, greener communities to life one garden at a time.

Why Green Spaces Matter in NYC

New York City’s dense neighborhoods need healthy green spaces to balance the built environment. Community gardens like Corona Peach Tree deliver outsized benefits for residents and the city as a whole:

• Cleaner air and cooler blocks: Trees and plants capture pollutants and lower street-level temperatures, reducing urban heat island effects during summer heat waves.
• Stormwater management: Rain gardens, soil, and permeable areas soak up stormwater, helping reduce flooding and easing pressure on the city’s drainage system.
• Public health and wellbeing: Access to nature is linked to lower stress, improved mental health, and more opportunities for everyday physical activity.
• Food access and education: Community plots provide fresh, culturally relevant produce and hands-on learning for youth and adults.
• Biodiversity and pollinators: Native plants and flowering beds support bees, butterflies, and birds – critical for a resilient urban ecosystem.
• Community cohesion and safety: Shared stewardship fosters neighbor-to-neighbor connections, volunteerism, and pride of place, which can positively impact neighborhood safety.
• Climate resilience and equity: Green spaces make neighborhoods more resilient to extreme weather and deliver environmental benefits that support NYC’s broader equity goals.

About Project EverGreen

Project EverGreen is a national nonprofit organization committed to bringing people together to create and maintain healthy green spaces in communities where they’re needed most. Through our GreenCare for Troops, GreenCare for Communities, and educational initiatives, we promote the vital role that yards, parks, and public landscapes play in enhancing quality of life, supporting environmental health, and building stronger communities. As a trusted source for sustainable landscaping information and advocacy, Project EverGreen empowers homeowners, businesses, and volunteers to grow a greener, healthier, cooler Earth – one green space at a time. Learn more at www.ProjectEverGreen.org.