Zinsser Gardens: Sustainable Practices

Project Description  

The project builds on the renewal work done in the Zinsser Community Gardens during the first grant round of Bloomberg Philanthropies' Youth Climate Action Fund, with an emphasis now on using sustainable materials—such as redwood, or cedar structural lumber—for raised garden beds. The goal is to create a space that not only looks great, but also shows how eco-friendly choices can make a real difference in our community. I used YCAF grant funds to purchase these materials for both garden beds and new fencing for the resident gardeners and I also led instructional meetings to show new gardeners how to build beds and fencing in a more sustainable way, using more sustainable materials.  

Outputs  

Garden Cleanup 

• Led three community clean-up events with over 20 volunteers, including youth groups and  local families.  

• Cleared debris, weeds, and invasive plants, restoring the garden’s health and appearance.  

Garden Design  

• Partnered with a classmate to redesign garden layouts that emphasize native and pollinator-friendly plants.  

Community Engagement 

• Coordinated large community workdays, bringing many local residents together to help  with major projects. 

• Showed resident gardeners simple ways of constructing garden beds and fencing. My main focus was to demonstrate how easy it is, so others can do it for themselves.  

Garden Rebuilding and Improvements 

• Rebuilt one large community garden into a communal space that can now be shared by three gardeners.  

  • • Added raised beds, new fencing, and accessible pathways.  

    • Inspired other gardeners to offer their own plots for upgrades and shared maintenance.  

• Constructed 10 more new garden doors.  

• Enhanced the garden by removing brush and trash, then added a 4-foot wood privacy  fence to improve appearance.  

Outcomes  

• 3 new gardens built during the time in which I worked in the gardens this year. 

• In total, 7 new gardeners  will be able to have new spots next year.  

• I led two days of workshops to show new gardeners how to build beds and fencing. 

• We have purchased and stored enough materials for new gardeners to make or improve  another 4-5 gardens, with as many as 10 new gardeners benefitting from these materials.  

• I was able to purchase good quality cedar wood for gardeners who were worried about using pressure-treated wood. However, we also did a lot of research into this, and found out that today’s pressure treated wood should be fine for the average gardener to use.  

Process  

1. Buy wood/tools from Home Depot  

2. Build a wooden box to hold soil  

3. Show the current gardeners how to easily make beds and fencing 

4. Plant the garden  

5. Water, weed, and maintain the garden 

Lessons Learned  

• Not everybody in the garden wants to be part of the community—and that is ok ;-)  

• That said, most of the folks at Zinsser are really looking to be part of a community. 

• Improving the  gardens is a way to get together and learn more about each other, and also learn from one another about—wait for  it…—gardening! Many folks that I have interacted with over these past two years have  been so excited to participate in any and all activities that we can plan. 

Students Involved  

• Sophia Ballard, project leader; Emma Frank, intern helper  

• During the work parties, we would hare over 30 participants on a Saturday  

• Many high school kids come to volunteer at the gardens to fulfill service hour credits, and approximately ten were able to participate in my project.

This is an example of one of the gardens that was not being used very efficiently. I provided the wood and few hours of “know how,” and these gardeners were able to complete this project on their own. The amount of work that they put in themselves has been stunning, and has really turned this plot  around.  

This is another garden that had fallen into disuse. It is a very prominent plot, as it  sits on the edge of the garden complex and faces the street. The previous plot holder had some very nice rose  bushes that she wanted to hold on to, so we had to work around those. Again, I provided some nice cedar wood, and a retired gardener actually showed me a few things on this project. Thanks, Mike Stoffo, for your excellent woodwork on this new fence. This plot is now ready to be taken over by three new gardeners. They will use some of the wood I purchased to make new beds. 

I worked with a friend on this one. As part of our Senior Internships, we helped out at the  gardens. We measured-out the space, got my dad to make a plan in AutoCAD, and then we built  it. A gardener who has a smaller space is taking this one over, and is currently putting on some finishing touches and putting in soil. That means a new gardener will be able to assume their old spot.  

Here we are working on 10 new doors for the gardens. Thanks to Emma Frank for helping out as  part of her Senior Internship.  

Here are some of the materials that we have purchased over the past few months. Over the  winter and spring, during non-growing times of the gardening year, the gardeners in the community will be able to use our examples, instructions and materials we provided to continue to improve existing plots or build additional gardens.

Thank You's  

I’m grateful for the help and support of Mayor Armacost, Village Manager Murphy, Parks  Superintendent Aaron Podhurst, and Nicole Higgins of Parks and Rec. In the garden, I would  like to thank Mihai Cuibus, Mike Stoffo, Mark Christie and Paul Brennan. Finally, thank you to Bloomberg Philanthropies for funding this project.