2009 First Place Prize Winner - $1500
Two Coves Community Garden
Po Box 2585
Astoria, NY 11102
718-512-8649
twocovesgarden@gmail.com

Contact Person: Stephanos Koullias
718-704-4734
skoullias@gmail.com
www.twocovescommunitygarden.org

About Two Coves Community Garden
Two Coves Community Garden was borne out of the concern over an empty, abandoned lot in the low income section of Astoria, Queens. With no frequent public transportation and no place within 20 blocks to buy affordable fresh produce, the neighborhood is a food desert.

The garden had eight members in the Spring of 2008 and swelled to over 80 participants by Fall 2008. By Spring 2009, more than 200 members were maintaining and beautifying this urban oasis. Partnerships are actively being sought with local schools, summer youth programs and a day care center for working folks.

One major goal of the community garden is to maximize the participation of neighborhood youth in order to encourage their sense of community involvement and social contribution-- as well as give them a taste of what fresh garden produce is really like.

A core group of about a dozen people have been building up the soil on a 1,300 square-foot plot in the 1/2 acre garden, using a no-till method. There have been various design consultation meetings, and contributions have been solicited for plants, flower seeds, hay for mulch and lumber for handicap-accessible raised beds. The Nature Hills Nursery Green America Award is the first major award received by Two Coves Community Garden.

Support for Two Coves Community Garden has come from Just Food, GreenThumb, Partnership for Parks, NY Cares, NYers for Parks, Build It Green, Community Environmental Center, NYC Community Gardening Coalition and Citibank.

Two Coves Community Garden Project Details

Update on 6/15/2009
The Two Coves Community Garden is thrilled to be a recipient of the Nature Hills Grant Award. At a recent garden meeting, our 200 strong membership agreed to spend the money in two parts/ with two goals:

Our initial phase, taking place this spring, with planting scheduled for a community-wide Mother's Day Event is to beautify the garden with flowers. In the center of the garden is a raised 4-foot wide berm that encircles a Community Plot. In the past, the berm was left to its own devices, filling with weeds and the odd sunflower gardeners planted. This Mother's Day, the garden and wider community will plant the berm with flowers from Nature Hills Nursery-- both perennials and bulbs. Gardeners voted on and desired flowers that would attract beneficial insects, bees and butterflies and flower selection was made around this criteria, in addition to plantings that will retain attractiveness in four-seasons. The goal with this planting is for the garden to have blooms to enjoy into the future, while still allowing space for community and school groups to have an
opportunity to add plantings throughout the year. Additionally, making this effort a community-wide endeavor allows our garden to reach out to our neighborhood in a fun and interactive capacity, while passing ownership beyond regular gardeners. Finally, the berm will be beautiful and no longer a weed bed!

The second phase of the grant award will be spent on four-season plantings. We realize that while a garden is full of color for three seasons of the year, winter tends to look bleak. These plantings will be made in two parts: landscaping seating areas with living shade, flowers and shrubs and requesting gardeners whose plots fall along the perimeter of the garden to "adopt" a vine, bush or shrub that holds winter interest. Shrub and vine selections are currently being
selected that will hold interest year-long, and gardeners will be provided an opportunity to vote on plants. In the fall, we will hold another community-wide planting day to incorporate these plants into our ultimate design. The goal here again is to create a beautiful space to enjoy in years to come, as well as opening our garden and spreading ownership to the wider community.

Of course, any project is not without challenges. With a 200-strong membership base we have 200 strong opinions! The Two Coves Community Garden makes all decisions in a democratic manner through discourse and votes. We strive for group ownership and participation wherever
possible! Another challenge we are taking on this year is opening the garden to the wider community. We are a young garden (only two years old) and are working hard through community-wide plantings and multiple events and workshops throughout the season to be as inviting as possible-- even for those that don't garden. New in 2009, we are reaching out to local schools, and have a classroom that has already taken an active role in our Community Plot. We hope this partnership continues through the summer, through out-of-school extended learning. We are also reaching out to local community groups, and always more individuals to volunteer and join us to create a beautiful community, reaching beyond our garden, together!

Project Photos of Two Coves Community Garden
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