our poor garden :(

[alia]

Our community garden? The one where we have about 1000 square feet of garden, and 104 plots? The one that was an unloved obtuse triangle of concrete and garbage across the street from The Projects (tm)? (Where just last week, as I sifted through a pile of woodchips, i found a used syringe?)

Parks Dept has decided to put in grass. because gardens are "temporary".

*weeps quietly*

we're fighting it tooth and grimy nail, but us winning is very not assured.

alia in new york city, who needed to vent a little
and who envies you guys and your "6 ppl on a waitlist means the local council has to find more dirt" something fierce

[alan refail]

Dear Alia

How sorry I am for you. What you had was small but loved. Is there anything to be done through community gardens association in NY.
I'm sure all of us here wish there was something they could do to save your plots.

I'm amazed by their reasoning that "gardens are not permanent". Perhaps someone could demonstrate the impermanence of grass by digging it up!

Have a look at the Guerrilla Gardeners website to lift your spirits and, maybe, inspire you.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Alia, i too am saddened to read of your situation.

All i can offer, is the hope that you succeed with your fight to keep your much loved gardens.

I do think publicity through local newspapers and any gardening authorities, clubs and local residents is one way forward.

[Primrose]

alia - I too am sorry about your community garden but I'm a great believer in not lying down and letting the local authority bureaucratic tanks roll all over you! We often get what our (apathetic) attitude deserves. Hopefully if you are a sufficiently determined group of residents and get out there digging every time they try to grass plots over they will eventually give up.

[pongeroon]

Alia, I'm so sorry to read the bad news, you must be devastated.

I'm with the others on this, don't let it go. Fight the b******s! Protest to everyone possible, dig up their b****y grass, get the press involved (well sometimes it's the only way), never give up.

[Johnboy]

Hi Alia,
I too am so distressed at your plight. It seems that this old world of ours, no matter where we live, is ruled by faceless bastards! You must fight this to the last. If you could publish an Email for the person responsible for your dilemma then we, from here, can have a crack at he/she or it, too!
Power to your elbow my lovely lady.
JB.

[alia]

Thank you guys so much!

We do have a lot of energy (and I have *two* books on guerrilla gardening, which i keep by my chair. ohhhh yesssss....), and a really neat cross-section of the community participating. (hipsters, oldsters, folks from the projects, folks born in Astoria and folks whose children were born here).

The bitterness that underscores a lot of the unofficial discussion is that this appears to be a bit of political posturing by a local non-profit who wants to be "keeper of the treats" and wants to say "Look! Look! We got you a park! Love us! Preen!" ...They claim that a park is open to all the community, and a garden to only the plot-holders. So then we say "look, we have this community plot where anyone can come in" and then they say "Well, a park can have the old people just sit and listen to the birds" and we say "Look, we have handmade benches and lots of old people who come and sit and listen to the birds and watch the bitterflies that we have created an ecosystem for!" and then they say "Well...."

I think if they came up with a list of things they wanted in the park, and we met every single criteria, then they would come up with something else.

But no one is giving up. We're in the early stages yet. (And we have enough angry young people that we'll sit in front of the xonstruction equipment if we have to. I hope.)

Hopeful and nervous,
alia

[alia]

oh, and re: city community garden assoc's.... yes and no. many seem to have gotten corporate sponsors. twitch. and the ones who haven't are working hard to stay independent and keep their identity, they don't have a lot of time/energy in trying to save the new kid on the block.

We've agreed we don't want to rename the space "Home Depot Gardens", so kind of have to do it ourselves. Pressure is being placed, though-- Alice Waters (The color purple author) contacted the Mayor's office on our behalf, and we have three lawyers on our steering committee alone. Smart people.

(am still stocking up on Nasturtiums and sunflowers, though, for taking over other spaces as necessary. grumble.)

thanks again,
alia

[alan refail]

Fight on! You seem to have right - and some might - on your side.

[pongeroon]

Please keep us up to date with any developments Alia.

[Monika]

Good luck, Alia! Hope you win and get your plot back.

[snooky]

Hi Alia,
Does the age-old "POSSESSION IS NINE-TENTHS OF THE LAW" apply
over there?Good luck.

[Shallot Man]

Hi alia, I agree with snooky, a new war of independence !!!

[lizzie]

Good luck Alia, and if I can be of any assistance please let me know.

On another website which I frequent, I would be happy to post something up to try to get you a few more bods on your side (with your permission obviously) The site has a long long reach so may be of use in raising the profile of your plight.

Let me know and i'll do what I can

Up the revolution on these faceless bastards, Sister

[alan refail]

Hi Alia

Now that Michelle has started at the White House you might have support in high places

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/ma ... ama-garden