About Port Chester Community Gardens
Our Mission
Is to make community members healthier and better informed about healthy eating and sustainable living through the sharing of knowledge, and more environmentally aware through practice, awareness, and advocacy. To make communities greener and more beautiful through reuse of vacant or underutilized land, and more cooperative and bonded together through fostering a supportive learning environment and hard work in the development, management, and operation of community gardens using organic, and healthy farming methods.
Our Goals
-
To grow food and forge new community bonds and relationships through mutual hard work
-
To offer neighborhood youth a place to develop and grow through hands-on learning and involvement
-
To share knowledge on healthy and sustainable living for all residents and to foster a cooperative learning environment
-
To encourage food, social and environmental justice through practice, awareness, and advocacy
-
Support public policy that will confirm support for community gardens
-
To increase access to locally grown food
With the help of community partners and donor support, Port Chester Community Gardens will act as a beacon of permanence and a reassurance that the gardens continue to thrive. Plans for the near future include:
-
Community Bottle Gardens – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
-
Community Garden Tours
-
Community Compost Program
-
Earth Day Event
-
Fall Clean-Up
-
Farmer’s Market
-
Garden classes
-
Garden Student Internship Program
-
Garden Student Scholarship Fund
-
Halloween ‘Spook Fest’ at Weber Community Garden
In a partnership with the Port Chester Housing Authority (PCHA), Port Chester Community Gardens provides a garden space and equips local housing authority residents with 29 garden beds enabling residents to grow their own organic vegetables and herbs, thus supplementing their food supplies.
According to the study “Hunger in the Town of Rye,” 11%-13% of town residents are hungry every day. 85%-90% of these residents live in the Village of Port Chester. The current demographic breakdown of all PCHA properties is 17.8% White, African-American 37.1% and 45.2% Hispanic. Since the residents in the housing authority are among the poorest citizens in the Town of Rye, their need for healthy food they can provide for themselves is all the more important.
Need
Healthy food supply – Access to affordable, locally grown, sustainable food supplies are limited for residents in Housing Authority properties.
Gardening skills – Residents have expressed a desire to learn how to garden and the project will provide free workshops for residents.
Outdoor exercise – Mobilize the community in regular outdoor physical activity. Residents work collaboratively to maintain the garden, creating a sense of unity among participating residents.
Objectives/Outcomes
-
Produce over 1,000 pounds of vegetables each year.
-
Engage residents in garden projects.
-
Provide hands-on garden workshops.