The East Village is home to New York City’s community garden district. From 14th street down to Houston, there are 47 public gardens nestled between apartment buildings. The largest is El Sol Brillante. 

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One of the “crowned jewels” of 12th street located between Avenue A and B, this little slice of oasis is used as a sanctuary by its community. Some of the garden’s 40 plots are owned and managed by individual members of the garden on a first come first serve basis. Other plots are designated for all members of the garden to use. Members plant and maintain the garden year-round. 

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Many of these gardens were built against the backdrop of an economically distressed and fractured neighborhood in the 1970s. In the fall of 1976, three buildings were demolished leaving an empty lot of rubble. Urban homestead groups like the 11th Street Movement were eager to use the empty lot and rehabilitate the area. Neighbors and local leadership took it into their own hands to develop this garden and turned an abandoned lot into the beautifully diverse garden open today. 

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The garden hosts events year-round, including garden parties, jazz concerts, fundraisers, holiday parties, workshops, and weekly produce deliveries from local farms. Although COVID-19 has halted many of the garden's usual events, members still frequent the park to see familiar faces and receive fresh produce. This has been especially important for elderly community members who fear crowded stores and inside areas. 

 

 

El Sol Brillante also has composting open to the public, where anyone can drop off their food waste. 

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El Sol members are specifically proud of their composting system of Bokashi, invented by professors at the University of Tokyo. This anaerobic composting introduces particular enzymes and bacteria that can process meats and dairy products, which usual compost cannot. While standard composting rots kitchen waste, El Sol Brillante ferments it. This method also eliminates some of the smell, which is helpful for a garden surrounded by residential apartment buildings.  Once a month, members and volunteers meet to distribute the compost throughout the garden to fertilize the plots. 

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If you want to leave the city without actually leaving the city, these hidden gem community gardens are a great place to start. 

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Published on: https://coopersquared.com/2021/12/31/el-sol-brillante-community-garden/

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My Role in this Piece:

This piece was entirely produced, scripted, narrated, and filmed by me.