The People's Money (2022-2023)

What problem would you like to solve?

There aren’t enough accessible green spaces in the city. There are many community gardens, but they have very limited hours. As a child, I walked past many community gardens, thinking that they were private and not open to the public. The fact that they’re closed more often than not makes them feel this way. This hides away a big opportunity for learning how farming is managed in a city that makes you feel very disconnected from actual sources of food.

Why is it important to solve? Why is it relevant for the community?

Green spaces help with both mental and physical health. Community gardens build up communities by having people work together to support it. It also allows people to connect with nature in a way that is different from just being in a park. There are opportunities for people to be involved in gardening and composting. This gives people a better understanding of nature in general, by actually being a part of helping things grow. It can also help us understand where our food comes from and the effort required as opposed to simply going to the supermarket where food magically appears.

What idea do you have to address the problem?

Sponsor gardens so that they can afford to be open seven days a week. This allows for opportunities for people to participate more in the gardens, even if just as a visitor. Schools could bring their students regularly to the gardens to help maintain as well, allowing them to get hands-on experience learning about nature.

Who would that help?

Students learn about how food is grown instead of being fully disconnected from the food chain. This can help them learn to eat better and be more mindful about environmental concerns.

Having gardens open more also means more access to compost drop-off sites, which can dramatically increase cooperation with those initiatives.

Open gardens also fosters community simply by having a place that people can go to. This can also foster some relationships between older and younger generations, as community gardens are often tended to by older people.

What NYC borough would benefit from your idea?

All