I grew up in the lower east side primarily with my dad. Our neighborhood was notorious for its Carribean community. Every summer we’d have a parade for Dominican independence day. My sisters would dance center of the crowd and sing the lyrics to all the songs. I was found at the corner drinking a virgin pina colada. I was always shy. In elementary school, I would cry when the teacher called my name. I could feel my heart beginning to race, my breath become short, and my cheeks burning bright red. It was like the whole world stopped and all eyes were on me. I couldn’t stand it, so I’d burst out sobbing. No one really understood why I would cry. As a child, I didn’t either.

It’s also important to note I attended an all girls charter school up until high school. I didn’t have many friends but the ones I did have were my closest. It’s hard to remember much between the ages of 12 and 16. I did come out as transgender in the seventh grade and there was sense of identity I grew   confident living in. However a lot of these memories are clouded by overwhelming depression and anxiety. I resorted to art and music for self expression. This coping mechanism led me to Frank Sinatra School of the Arts where I majored in fine arts. High school is always a difficult time for teenagers. Emotions are constantly running high and we know about jack shit but that’s the point. I definitely explored who I was in high school. Coming out in middle school gave me the confidence to experiment in high school. I excelled academically and had a solid friend group. I was still terrible at public speaking but I could at least raise my hand in the classroom.

Eventually, I began interning at museums where I learned how to facilitate workshops and tour guides. It was scary for me but I found research thrilling as odd as that sounds. It was the first time where I combined research, art, and history. It really made me think about what I wanted to do because I honestly had no idea and I was a junior at this point. I loved talking to people about art and creating lesson plans but I had such strong passions they often competed for attention. I loved education but hated academia and the education system. I started working with kids in public schools and stayed at the Brooklyn Museum for a while. I found policy and solutions were where my mind wandered. I didn’t just want to be a good mentor for my students but have a greater impact on how we design education for young people. My confidence grew as I became more sure of what I wanted to do. I’m still anxious about speaking and that will never go away completely but I’ve found joy in something I never thought I could do.

    It was currently six am when I set my goals for the day while sipping on a cup of coffee. I was preparing mentally to interview someone. Eira is a classmate of mine who I am getting to know more about. We had previously talked only a couple of times about college. I saw her face for a brief moment on our first day of zoom class and vaguely remember long brown hair. The class usually has their cameras turned off if given a choice. I hadn’t seen many of my classmates. It is her first semester and hasn’t decided on a major yet. On the other hand, I’m a junior studying public policy. I was trying to establish some rapport by asking questions and giving her academic advice. I recalled my first semester to her, reminiscing more relaxing moments.

    I set my second cup next to me and set up a journal and pen on my bed. I thought while surrounded by my plants. I didn’t have a direction in mind, rather simply exploring the person she is. We agreed on a phone call since it was an easier form of communication we both had access to. It was harder setting up a time because we worked and went to school. We agreed 8 am was the best time to talk. There were previous attempts but one of us would always reschedule. The phone call proved even harder for me. I’m not a fan of talking on the phone. It’s harder to read people when I can’t see their face.I smoked a cigarette before texting her, I was ready for our meeting.

    She softly said hello trailing as if it were a question. I greeted her and asked how she was doing. She was happy that we could finally finish the assignment. It was early and she sounded sleepy, as if she had just woken up. I had been up since 6 am and we both laughed about it. It was time to begin.

I started with simple question however can reveal complicated histories. I unfortunately made an assumption that she was raised in the US. Eira grew up crossing borders following her parents with her sister. She recalls her parents going through difficult  times during their relationship. They believed changing the environment would resolve their issues. Eventually, her parents separated and went to different countries leaving her and her sister behind. Her mother went to Japan while her father went to the States. They never knew where they were going next. She said, “It felt like we were a ball being passed around.”

    She stayed in Japan with her mother. I was curious about her experience there because she was a Filipina woman and there’s colorism rampant within Asian/Hispanic communities. She described it as being an outsider. She couldn’t communicate and felt isolated from everyone. Her father wanted her to live with him in the United States but she was hesitant. I wondered if living with her mom was difficult for her? She witnessed her mother with other partners who were sharing the house with them. She didn’t feel safe enough to stay. While all this was going on, I could only imagine how difficult school would be constantly traveling and being unable to connect with others. However, when she came to the states she felt less like an outsider and found a group of friends in high school. She didn’t regret her choice.

It didn’t come without its downfall. Her sister and her struggled to live with her step mother, and father. Her mental health suffered from the experiences she had as a child as well as dealing with her circumstances at the time. She was scared of abandonment and her academics suffered. Her sister ultimately left because of the conflict. Her dream was to move out for college and she hoped to. While listening to her, I wondered what helped her get through this period in her life.

    When dealing with my own mental health I turned to art and writing as a form of self expression. I spoke my mind and asked what helped her “get better.” While still in high school, she began running to release pent up emotions. She even joined the gym and began a regular workout schedule. Every day she focuses on one part of her body. She feels lighter and more refreshed.

    Being in a stable mindset helped her develop goals for the future. She wishes to be an anesthesiologist so she’s attending City College. With all I learned about her past I wanted to know about how she is doing now. I took a moment before I jumped in to get my answer.

    She’s managing to accomplish her goals. One of them was getting her own space and having a job. She was able to find a room during COVID with some of the money she saved up. Things had managed to become more difficult for her when her step mother gave birth. Eira enjoyed being with the baby but didn’t want it to occupy all of her time. She had to focus on books and studying. Moving out caused strain between her and her family. “They blamed my sister for leaving so I was scared the same thing could happen.” I asked if Eira’s family reacted in a similar manner when she left.

    While it’s not surprising, I felt a little disappointed when I found out they did. Her father expected her to take care of the baby for them. She’s moved out regardless of what her family believes or says. She likes her place and feels better than before. I’m a student who works and studies full time so paying for rent and getting through school is very overwhelming. She says it’s worth it and She still manages to work out to clear her mind.

    I’m someone who had a tumultuous childhood because of things out of my power as a kid. I felt for Eira as she told me her story. She’s experienced a lot for someone her age but she says she’s more independent because of it. I didn’t think anyone would work as a stress response. I’m not a fan of exercising so I admire her for the determination and endurance. I originally thought I came in without assumptions but I was expecting an average NY childhood. Not everyone comes to CCNY taking the same path but it’s inspiring to know despite our hurdles we are able to accomplish so much. I’m learning to recognize my assumptions and undo them with time.

 Oliver Sacks’ Sabbath is a reflection upon his life while facing death from cancer. However, it is more than simply a recount of someone’s life but philosophical exploration. He begins his tale by describing his family and community in London. He came from an Orthodox Jewish background and they would practice Sabbath, the seventh day in which people rest. He had a close knit family who he spent his childhood with in the synagogue. They would practice together however unfortunately after World War 2 the community he paints for us is decimated. His family also scatters across the globe. As he grows older he loses his connection to his faith and at 18, is confronted by his father about his sexuality.  His mother screamed, 

“You are an abomination. I wish you had never been born.” (She was no doubt thinking of the verse in Leviticus that read, “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: They shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”) (2) 

Not much is expressed by the author in this moment except how he moves out and disconnects with his family and community. 

    Sacks becomes a doctor and moves away from his family to somewhere no one knows him: The States. He still struggles to find purpose and develops an addiction to amphetamines. He continues to deal with coming to terms with his sexuality and coming out. He meets Robert John, his cousin, who reintroduces him to Judaism through acceptance and compassion. He was deeply religious and believed in the importance of Sabbath. Despite his sexuality being the wedge which divided him from Judaism and his family, they are able to rekindle relationships. He is able to bring his secret lover to a family reunion and is met with kindness. These moments are what teach him acceptance. He writes from the perspective of someone who believes they are dying. He develops metastatic cancer and from his bed, reflects upon his life and the meaning of Sabbath. 

    His voice is reminiscing. It’s written from the point of view of someone on his deathbed. He reflects upon his life beginning with his childhood and following with its influence on his adulthood. Some would argue it lacks the emotion that most narratives utilize to connect to their audience. He utilizes description and creates great imagery of celebration and religion. He keeps things concise and focuses on particular aspects of his life rather than all of it. 

    His purpose correlates with his voice. He is writing to capture a lifetime of memories of one person, himself. He begins with his childhood to paint a picture of where and how he came to be. On the first page he writes,

On Saturday mornings, my three brothers and I trailed our parents to Cricklewood Synagogue on Walm Lane…The shul was always full during my boyhood, and we all had our assigned seats, the men downstairs, the women–my mother, various aunts and cousins–upstairs; as a little boy, I sometimes waved to them during service. 

He grew up in a community where everyone was family and friends to him. He also demonstrates the commitment to tradition his family holds. Religious belief is a connection to his community and family. 

    He then chooses to go into his teenagehood. It is a coming of age moment where he is confronted about his sexuality. After his mother berates him, there is not much said. This transition seems abrupt and lacks the sensitivity most choose to use regarding this topic. The correlation between his sexuality and fading faith is implied through his choices. He follows with the moment his mother refers to Leviticus and calls him an abomination. The author, Sacks, does not go into great detail about his emotions after or during these events because it is not the primary focus of the piece. “The matter was never mentioned again, but her harsh words made me hate religion’s capacity for bigotry and cruelty.”(2) It’s concise because its a part of his story but not the whole narrative. Expanding upon it would result in a different narrative all together. The choice to include it provides the reader clues as to the change in attitude towards Judaism.                        The rejection from his family pushes him to go to the States. He chooses to include an important figure in his life, his cousin. He meets his cousin, Robert John who wins a nobel peace prize. “His commitment to the Sabbath its utter peacefulness and remoteness from worldly concerns, would have trumped even a Nobel.” Fully committed to his religious faith; Robert John would have forfeited attendance if it fell on Sabbath. This takes place while he’s battling cancer. He listens to Robert John talk about the importance of Sabbath. The act of resting allows for one to be grateful, to reflect. 

    In regards to his audience, beginning with his familial rejection because of his sexuality already pulls in a niche audience which has experienced rejection in such a way. His experiences are not light nor are they sugar-coated. He’s open about battling cancer and addiction. While not everyone may relate to this, many can relate to reflecting upon one’s life. This was written in a hospital bed where he was expecting to die. All of his struggles connect back to rest in his last years. He wants to relate to a varied audience. Struggling with sexuality, purpose, religion are all key experiences in being human. It is a fundamental part of our development of identity. 

    Oliver Sacks wrote an emotional piece focusing on Sabbath or rest. It’s done from the perspective of someone looking back at their life and feels like a reflection of someone’s life. He excludes detail about his emotional response to many of his life experiences however is still able to reflect upon it with sophistication. His piece is revolutionary in regards to focusing on rest. Sabbath is a tradition which values peace and reflection which in modern times is difficult to actualize. 

Sabbath Oliver Sacks’ Sabbath is a reflection upon his life while facing death from cancer. However, it is more than simply a recount of someone’s life but philosophical exploration. He begins his tale by describing his family and community in London. He came from an Orthodox Jewish background and they would practice Sabbath, the seventh day in which people rest. From the beginning we can see the importance of these religious and cultural connections to Judaism. “The butcher, the baker, the grocer…all closed their shops in good time for the Shabbos, and did not open their shutters til Sunday morning.” (1) He emphasizes every member of the community would take off showing the significance of observing Sabbath. He had a close knit family who he spent his childhood with in the synagogue. They would practice together however unfortunately after World War 2 the community he paints for us is decimated. His family also scatters across the globe. As he grows older he loses his connection to his faith and at 18, is confronted by his father about his sexuality. His mother screamed, ‘”You are an abomination. I wish you had never been born.” (She was no doubt thinking of the verse in Leviticus that read, “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: They shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”)” (2) Not much is expressed by the author in this moment except how he moves out and disconnects with his family and community. Sacks becomes a doctor and moves away from his family to somewhere no one knows him: The States.

He still struggles to find purpose and develops an addiction to amphetamines. He continues to deal with coming to terms with his sexuality and coming out. He eventually enters a relationship with his secret lover, Billy. While working as a doctor he realized he loved learning about his patient’s. He liked stories and story telling. Eventually, he switches careers and becomes a writer telling people’s stories. Writing becomes a form of expression for him. He meets Robert John, his cousin, who reintroduces him to Judaism through acceptance and compassion. He was deeply religious and believed in the importance of Sabbath. Despite his sexuality being the wedge which divided him from Judaism and his family, they are able to rekindle relationships. He is able to bring his secret lover to a family reunion and is met with kindness. These moments are what teach him acceptance. He writes from the perspective of someone who believes they are dying. He develops metastatic cancer and from his bed, reflects upon his life and the meaning of Sabbath. Again, it’s written from the point of view of someone on his deathbed. His voice is clear and strong. He reflects upon his life beginning with his childhood and following with its influence on his adulthood. Some would argue it lacks the emotional spilling that most narratives utilize to connect to their audience. He utilizes description and creates great imagery of celebration and religion. 

After his mother berates him, there is not much said. This transition seems abrupt and lacks the sensitivity most choose to use regarding this topic. The correlation between his sexuality and fading faith is implied through his choices. He follows with the moment his mother refers to Leviticus and calls him an abomination. The author, Sacks, does not go into great detail about his emotions after or during these events because it is not the primary focus of the piece. “The matter was never mentioned again, but her harsh words made me hate religion’s capacity for bigotry and cruelty.”(2) It’s concise because its a part of his story but not the whole narrative. For us readers, it’s unusual for authors to make that choice however he’s writing a reflection which serves him specifically. It brings up once again the ties between his loss of religious identity and coming to terms with his sexual identity. He meets his cousin, Robert John who wins a nobel peace prize. “His commitment to the Sabbath its utter peacefulness and remoteness from worldly concerns, would have trumped even a Nobel.” Fully committed to his religious faith; Robert John would have forfeited attendance if it fell on Sabbath. This takes place while he’s battling cancer. He listens to Robert John talk about the importance of Sabbath. 

The act of resting allows for one to be grateful, to reflect. In regards to his audience, beginning with his familial rejection because of his sexuality already pulls in a niche audience which has experienced rejection in such a way. His experiences are not light nor are they sugar-coated. He’s open about battling cancer and addiction. While not everyone may relate to this, many can relate to reflecting upon one’s life. This was written in a hospital bed where he was expecting to die. 

All of his struggles connect back to rest in his last years. He wants to relate to a varied audience. Struggling with sexuality, purpose, religion are all key experiences in being human. It is a fundamental part of our development of identity. Oliver Sacks wrote an emotional piece focusing on Sabbath or rest. It’s done from the perspective of someone looking back at their life and feels like a reflection of someone’s life. He excludes detail about his emotional response to many of his life experiences however is still able to reflect upon it with sophistication. His piece is revolutionary in regards to focusing on rest. Sabbath is a tradition which values peace and reflection which in modern times is difficult to actualize.

New York City  often dubbed as a concrete jungle is far from the images of glamour and wealth. There’s not much nature either. Majority of the city struggles to pay the rent or groceries while working two jobs, there’s not enough time to socialize with neighbors or spend time on yourself. Living this kind of lifestyle will be draining physically and emotionally as I know from experience. There were few things that could occupy my time that made me feel accomplished. When I discovered urban gardening I immediately fell in love. Urban gardening has been around for decades. People would utilize empty lots and rooftops like Bronx Green Up did. Neighborhoods of color deal with higher temperatures because of the lack of shade from nature. Bronx Green Up has been introducing community gardening since 1988 to Bronx neighborhoods. This organization has been feeding both the people and important pollinators. These organizations not only provide food for communities, they also help the environment through sustainability education. 

  Gardening is usually seen just as a hobby individuals perform however it can form a safe space where relationships foster. Locals come together and learn about one another. Anyone can join and take care of the garden which brings people from different roads of life. They bond over the rewards of their labor. It fights capitalism in the same way. People are united and provide each other with the necessities essential to our survival. Necessities have a price on them which not everyone can afford. Especially in cities where the cost of living is higher. By making food communal and free, it is proclaiming a stance that basic necessities and education should be accessible to all. During COVID-19, we’ve seen a rising demand for free basic necessities. GrowNYC has launched a Food Access & Agriculture program in all five boroughs of New York City. It is an emergency fresh food box partnership with the city. It provides no cost emergency fresh food to communities in the city hit by COVID-19. COVID-19 has exacerbated existing issues in New York City, such as the lack of support for the healthcare system and communities. Racial disparity is more apparent than ever. Even though New York City has these hardships, groups of NYC residents have formed in response to growing demand. One group is Plantxchange which is a collective that focuses on distribution of resources, art, and sustainability. It centers around equity through urban gardening. Gardeners in the five boroughs are connected to a network where they swap information, plants, and necessities. I am the founder and a member of Plantxchange, I work with 7 other people who are passionate about gardening and its benefits. I began gardening because I was mentally in a bad place. I was learning how to ask for help and I began growing plants by seed. Seeing them sprout and mature gave me hope in the world. My first plant was a Mimosa Pudica. It’s a plant native to South America and classified as an invasive species. It will spread like wildfire if allowed to. They’re nicknamed the shy, sensitive plant or touch-me-not. She, the plant, would close her small oval shaped leaves when I gently pressed. They bloomed under my care and it felt amazing to see my plant thrive. It felt like I had a purpose. Quickly, it went from a hobby to a lifestyle. I began thinking of myself in a larger ecosystem. There is a system which depends on me to do my part. I’ve connected with more people because of my passion and even gotten my loved ones to practice. I want to learn why other people garden and invest time into their communities. 

My first interview is Mikaela Charalambos who is currently a Environmental Science student at Queens College. She focuses on soil research. Mikaela and I originally met in an art highschool in NYC. I was a fine arts major pursuing graphic design while she was an instrumental major. We bonded over books, writing, and our mediterranean heritage. Before interviewing Mikaela, I made sure to have my coffee ready. She logs onto Zoom also prepared with a coffee to wake her up. She has short brown hair and is wearing her striped pajamas. We both smile through the computer screens. I was ecstatic to see her and we went back and forth sharing what we had been up to. She recently got a farming internship at Queens Botanical Garden. 

While reminiscing over high school, I asked why she switched majors for college. She went in depth about how unhappy she was trying to commodify her art for survival while also feeling guilty for idly standing by while the environment was predictably becoming more erratic. She originally majored in environmental studies which was policy and sustainability driven. However, her interest was scientific and believed she couldn’t advocate for legislation while not understanding that aspect of environmental studies. Mikaela and I both have a passion for sustainability policy however not everyone ends up centering their life around nature. I, an artist and someone originally lacking a green thumb, didn’t imagine forming a plant network and being reunited with Mikaela. I didn’t remember her gardening in high school, we’d mostly hang out at her house and watch movies. She laughed and told me she became interested because of someone she met on tinder who was a farmer. In all seriousness, she actually became interested in food sovereignty when she became a vegetarian years ago. She focused on agriculture and began growing her own vegetables with her father and sister’s husband. She described it as an “intimate and cathartic experience.” With this came a love for houseplants as well. During the pandemic she was finding ways to connect once more with nature and found gardening for pleasure rewarding, especially caring for and watching plants bloom without the purpose of consumption. It’s an endless natural cycle that is beyond her power and influence. 

Many people talk about agriculture and gardening in a sense of stewardship and it’s especially prevalent in conversations about conservation and remediation of the land. While Mikaela believes in this to an extent, she mentions it reinforces this archaic belief that humans can control and have dominion over the land. With technology, it is like we have a means to bend nature to our will but by no means do we truly possess or control it. So, her favorite things about gardening are simultaneously when things grow and die. She smiles and says, “I hope my Chinese lanterns bloom this year but I also acknowledge they’re a tasty food source for the bugs who are always nibbling holes in them and I acknowledge that there is beauty in every step of the process of gardening and growing, not simply what you reap at the end of it.” Humans are part of the same ecosystem as the trees, birds, squirrels, and raccoons. We have no more power in this cycle than they do and we must do what we can to protect one another. We began talking more about the rise in community gardens in NYC. While she embraces the new spaces there much to be desired. Not knowing what she meant, I asked her to explain further. These downsides are heavily influenced by capitalism and its consequences. She believes the way we envision community gardens is flawed because of its reliance on community members to maintain it. There’s an expectation working and middle class people have the time to dedicate themselves to taking care of the farm. It becomes increasingly ridiculous to ask working class people to invest time and labor freely into this practice that they may not have; it should be something that is afforded to everyone to benefit from the same way it is in affluent spaces where resources are available unequivocally, no questions asked. Furthermore the system becomes more fragile if it relies on a small portion of the community running it, especially for producing food which is even more labor and time intensive.  The consequences of gentrification are a real threat to neighborhoods that invest many resources, time, labor, money, etc. to get these spaces up and running. More often than not, those benefiting from those spaces are gentrifiers that now live in “beautified” neighborhoods. They become more vulnerable to private entities seeking to profit.

Mikaela continues on a lighter note, when community gardens work with these considerations in mind, it can be a wonderful thing for the community. It provides educational sites where people are given opportunities to learn new skills and have free recreational activities. Having more green spaces is necessary in urban areas because they can mitigate heat island effect, reduce air pollution, and impact from storm and flooding events. Thus reducing the environmental harms that come from living in crowded urban areas where greenery is needed for the ecosystem’s health. If garden spaces become agricultural they are able to feed the community and supply fresh produce to those especially in need. It can make the food process intimate for residents, help them become knowledgeable about the process, and advocate for more spaces so they are accessible and normalized. 

Growing up equity was a huge issue for my community. People weren’t able to get what they needed. Green spaces involve the community and in the same manner help provide them with necessities. In the Lower East Side many green spaces were created by locals, prominently Hispanic and Asian, and they became a food source for the community. There’s a community garden by my old apartment that had chickens and they’d supply people with eggs. Many cultural events would take place and elderly residents would hang out while having a coffee or lunch. Now however, there are no longer chickens or old residents blasting music. The Lower East Side quickly became gentrified, I was forced to leave my neighborhood, and now different residents have control over the gardens. It makes me wonder, how can we allow these community spaces to serve everyone? I continue with my next interview. 

Simone is an administrative assistant for a non profit and a part time teacher at another non profit. We met at college in a black studies class focusing on African political systems. She had a certain sweetness about her which attracted me to be her friend. We both cared too much about social issues and stressed over the state of the world. We met up to talk about community gardening over a cup of coffee (I love my coffee). When COVID hit, Simone was really struggling and so was I. She was working from home and wasn’t seeing her friends or family like most of us. Her mental health took a turn for the worse. She was struggling to stay grounded. This tumultuous period in her life led her to gardening. Simone was always in awe of my apartment when she came because of all the plants I kept around. I currently host almost 100 plants. She has an office space where she keeps most of her succulents and cacti. It’s expanded into the rest of her house. Her first plant was a Bunny Ear Cactus. It’s fuzzy and round with babies growing on it. They resemble bunny ears. She claims it to be her favorite. Gardening helped her recover and have some resemblance of nature in her space when she lives in a concrete city like NYC. She describes it as almost meditative and allows her to connect with the earth intimately. She’s able to find tranquility in the act of caring for a living being. 

She becomes distressed when she isn’t able to recognize what her plants need. Some plants need more time and research than others which she may neglect doing.  In particular, watching her cacti and succulents go through distress is painful for her. The process of identifying plant needs can be disheartening, but when plants thrive it’s a rewarding feeling. Simone doesn’t have any high maintenance plants because of this but she’s working her way towards it. 

“So, from my opinion the best benefit of communal gardening spaces is community. In NYC, there’s not enough opportunity to meet other people with common interests, especially horticulturalists. It’s not accessible to those who are low and middle income, especially when they’re POC to enter these spaces.” By forming community gardens which include all residents and make its mission to benefit middle and working class people it can be successful in transforming communities. I felt the same and that’s why I started Plantxchange with Simone. We hated how inaccessible gardening was to working class people. “I joined Plantxchange because I loved the idea of using plants to promote mental health and community. That’s how I got into plants, I was in a really weird place when COVID hit and felt lost almost. It gave me a routine, it made me look forward to something, and it made me happy!” Many people expressed the same anguish and we began having more conversations, on social media, about mental health. The number of people who have relapsed into drug addiction and overdosed has skyrocketed with COVID-19. Gardening is one of the ways we can help improve people’s lives. Planting is expensive which is why we make it free for everyone. Everyone should have the opportunity to garden and connect with nature in that way. 

Community gardens, in design, are a great way to forge relationships within communities and make them stronger. By making more people in tune with nature we begin holding corporations accountable for polluting the environment. It also means so much more than just a hobby. It’s a political stance against capitalism and the struggles we face living under it. Community gardening can be revolutionary if the hearts of the workers are in the right place and we continue to fight the systems of oppression. 

Works Cited

“About Bronx Green-Up’ New York Botanical Garden.” New York Botanical Garden, 28 Aug. 2017, www.nybg.org/gardens/bronx-green-up/about/#:~:text=Formed%20in%201988%2C%20the%20Garden,the%201970s%20and%20early%201980s.

“Fresh Food Box.” GrowNYC, www.grownyc.org/freshfoodbox.