The season for Farming Concrete has rolled to an end and it has been a truly amazing season. True, we were a little short on staff and funding but at the same time, with little bureaucracy standing in our way, Farming Concrete was perhaps more productive in one trial year than many established organizations. Between December 2009, when the project got kicked off the ground, and the present, an incredible amount of work has been done. To provide a brief overview of the past year, we now have a small snapshot of how much food community gardens are capable of producing, and an interactive map is now in the making at harvest.farmingconcrete.com/. Farming Concrete has also been exposed in media and until yesterday, was part of an exhibit at the Parson’s New School for Design.
There were ups and downs to this internship. There were days when the sun was scorching hot outside and mosquitoes swarmed the air. There were gardens with giant beds and crops planted haphazardly, which made mapping frustrating and difficult. There were other days when I met gardeners who were overwhelmingly excited about the work of Farming Concrete and could go on for hours speaking about their garden. One gardener in the Lower East Side, who was very proud of his rainwater tank, provided me with a very detailed explanation of the importance of a rainwater tank in contributing to our water system. Yes, it was more information than I needed to know. Nonetheless, in speaking with gardeners and witnessing their strength and perseverance, I learned that not only are community gardens unique and special places, but even an individual could make a significant contribution to our urban fabric. Furthermore, I have seen how a citywide community based research project could be successful and now want to specialize in Community Development in Graduate School.
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