Green Guerillas facts for kids
The Green Guerillas are a special group of people who love plants and gardening. They work to transform abandoned or empty spaces in New York City into beautiful gardens. Started in the 1970s, this group became famous for throwing "seed grenades" into neglected areas. They also created many community gardens, often without official permission at first.
Their work became very popular after they successfully turned a dangerous, trash-filled lot in Manhattan into a vibrant garden. This success led the Green Guerillas to do more than just garden. They began teaching, training, and supporting other community groups who wanted to create their own gardens. Many people say the Green Guerillas started the whole community garden movement and made the idea of guerilla gardening well-known.
Starting the Green Movement
In the 1970s, New York City faced tough times. Many areas, like the Lower East Side, had lots of abandoned buildings. These buildings were often torn down, leaving empty, fenced-off lots. These vacant spaces often collected garbage or became places for vandalism.
A local resident named Liz Christy co-founded the Green Guerillas in the early 1970s. Her goal was to change these ugly, empty lots into green gardens. Group members met regularly. They would find empty spaces, plan their gardening projects, and share tips about plants.
Many of these lots were fenced off. So, the group came up with a clever idea: "seed grenades" or "green-aides." These were a mix of seeds, plant food, water, and soil. They packed this mix into things like glass Christmas tree ornaments or balloons. The Green Guerillas would then throw these "grenades" over fences. The hope was that when they shattered, the seeds would grow. This would bring plants and flowers to an otherwise ugly lot. These seed bombs had a symbolic meaning too. They were thrown into abandoned spaces to start a "literal grassroots revolution" of plants.
The First Big Garden
Liz Christy had a big idea for an empty lot. It was at the corner of Houston Street and Bowery. She wanted to turn it into a farm, just like it might have been long ago. She found the lot very sad and depressing. Even though her boss, who also liked the idea, passed away, Liz decided to go ahead with the plan in 1973.
She put up signs in different languages around the neighborhood. She asked for volunteers to help work on the space. They also needed help raising money for tools, supplies, fences, and insurance. The city first said no to their project. But the group decided to go ahead anyway, without official permission. Community members worked hard to remove all the trash. They brought in fresh soil. Soon, the space began to transform into plots for vegetable gardens.
After working through the spring, they opened the first garden plots in May 1974. As more people joined and interest grew, volunteers tried to turn as much of the space as possible into gardens. Later that year, they got an official lease from the city for just $1 a month. They named it the "Bowery Houston Community Farm and Garden." A newspaper article in 1974 said the garden not only made the corner beautiful but also gave many families fresh food all summer. Liz Christy was especially happy that children showed interest in the garden.
This garden was the first and oldest recognized community garden in New York City. It grew to be over an acre in size. It is still active today! After Liz Christy passed away in 1985, the garden was renamed the Liz Christy Garden in her honor. The Green Guerillas continued their work, turning many more empty lots into gardens. They worked on 16 spaces in 1974 and 84 in 1975.
Helping Communities Grow
As more communities became interested, the Green Guerillas started creating helpful guides. They also began running workshops. They would visit sites, give advice, and sometimes even get plants and trees donated. The group's role in supporting and organizing grew a lot over the years. They held workshops on many topics. These included how to trim trees, grow wildflowers, garden on rooftops, and even build a pond.
Besides teaching about plants, the Green Guerillas also taught people how to design a garden. They showed how to manage a garden and how to work with city officials. They saw gardeners as neighborhood leaders. They made sure that every garden project involved the local community. This helped ensure the gardens would last a long time.
Even if communities didn't always get official permission, the city benefited from these gardens. They helped make neighborhoods better without costing the city money. In 1978, the city created a program called Operation Green Thumb. This program was made to help and promote community-managed gardens. It also helps groups get leases for vacant land. This program is still active today.
By 1983, Green Guerillas volunteers worked over 13,400 hours. They had a budget of more than $40,000. They even ran a contest for window boxes. This encouraged people to create hanging gardens in their windows. In 1984, they sent out a newsletter and worked with over a hundred community groups. They helped them plan and organize. They also gave information about plants and garden design. They donated thousands of dollars worth of plants.
By 1986, the Green Guerillas had 250 volunteers. Their yearly budget was about $82,000. This money came from donations, foundations, companies, and the state government. Besides community gardens, the group also helped senior centers, homeless shelters, and schools. For example, they helped homeless men create an accessible garden.
One of their main activities was collecting and reusing plants. They got donations of plants, bulbs, seeds, soil, pots, and tools. These came from farms, gardens, and other groups. The Green Guerillas would hold giveaway events at the Bowery–Houston Garden. They would let community gardens know that resources were available for pick-up. By 1991, about 450 of the 700 community gardens in the city were connected to the Green Guerillas.
Helping communities work with city agencies has always been important. This helps ensure the gardens stay for a long time. A 1991 newspaper article noted how the group had changed. It said, "Once, Green Guerillas worked against the system... Now they work the system."
Sometimes, gardens faced challenges. City leases often allowed gardens to be removed with short notice. Between 1984 and 1999, ninety gardens were destroyed in the city. Many of these happened when Mayor Rudy Giuliani was in office. He wanted to sell public land for development. In January 1999, 114 garden sites were put up for auction. The Green Guerillas fought back. They showed how selling these lots would harm communities. They also filed a lawsuit against the city. This lawsuit continued for several years. Eventually, about 500 gardens were saved. Plans were made to turn other lots into housing.
A Lasting Impact
While growing food in cities wasn't new, the idea of people taking over abandoned lots to create gardens became very popular. The Green Guerillas are often given credit for starting the community garden movement. They also made the idea of guerilla gardening famous around the world.
Their work showed that communities can understand their own needs. They can also develop the skills to improve their local environment. The Green Guerillas proved that ordinary people can make a big difference in their neighborhoods.
