Nonprofit Status - B91 Garden
Donation protected
The Beach 91st Street Community Garden is raising funds to cover the legal cost of filing to become a formal 501c3 Nonprofit.
The property the garden uses is now up for sale and involved with foreclosure proceedings. Becoming a legal entity will give us leverage in the event of a sale. As an official organization we could purchase the property with public support, benefactions and grants. In doing so, we can insure our space will continue as an urban garden and a community center evermore. The first steps in doing such, is becoming a 501c3.
The members of the garden would greatly appreciate donations towards this cause.
In 2010, Tim Hill, Founder of The Beach 91st Street Community Garden, asked for support from his friends and neighbors to transform the derelict property into an urban community garden. The vision wasn’t just to build a producing plot of land. The residents wanted the space to act as a community center, a place for art to be displayed, a sanctuary for children to learn and play, and for natives, long-term residents, and newcomers to connect.
Above, the abandoned property - 2010.
“We began researching the property to ensure our vision of a community garden would be allowable, possible and sustainable. We canvassed the neighborhood, coordinated with the proper city agencies and finding no obstacles, gained support to move forward. Our first project day was in early Oct. 2010 where more than 40 community members came out and cleaned up the property. The NYC Dept. of Sanitation made a special trip for us, to cart away the debris. - Tim Hill, Founder of The Beach 91st Street Community Garden.
Meanwhile, the group started the administrative work, contacting Community Board 14 and Green Thumb NYC for guidance as they moved forward to legitimize the space. By-laws for the garden were put in place to instill a democratic, communal process that would insure sustainability.
On Dec 24, 2010, 8 local residents and Jim Bulloch of Bulloch's Belle Harbor, transported more than 12 tons of untreated timbers for the garden beds. These reclaimed beams were donated by the NYC Dept. of Parks and Recreation. In early March 2011 with the help of Joe Longo and the use of his Bobcat, the construction began. By mid April the garden beds were built. 34 cubic yards of organic top soil arrived on May 6th and over 60 residents and volunteers were ready to shovel.
The Beach 91st Street Community Garden submitted and was awarded a grant from The Citizens Committee for New York City in conjunction with The New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods. These funds were used to finish the infrastructure of the garden. And in the summer of 2011 the first growing season began.
Without the grass-roots attitude of the Rockaway community, donations from residents, volunteers giving their time and local governmental support, the garden would have never been possible.
In 2012, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, The Beach 91st Street Community Garden became a central hub for communications, donations, and a place to get a hot meal and to speak with fellow neighbors entrenched in the aftermath of the superstorm.
In April 2017, garden member Kurt Doiron
wrote a grant and was awarded $2,800 from the Citizens Committee of New York City to purchase and build a greenhouse for the garden.
Throughout the garden's long history, the property has been used for educational seminars relating to gardening, events for children and for community minded social functions.
It’s our hope that the Beach 91st Street Community Garden will stand for generations to come. Your donation will help us get started, in making this a reality.
Thank you to The Wave for publishing our story. The article by Kate Walls can be found here.
The property the garden uses is now up for sale and involved with foreclosure proceedings. Becoming a legal entity will give us leverage in the event of a sale. As an official organization we could purchase the property with public support, benefactions and grants. In doing so, we can insure our space will continue as an urban garden and a community center evermore. The first steps in doing such, is becoming a 501c3.
The members of the garden would greatly appreciate donations towards this cause.
In 2010, Tim Hill, Founder of The Beach 91st Street Community Garden, asked for support from his friends and neighbors to transform the derelict property into an urban community garden. The vision wasn’t just to build a producing plot of land. The residents wanted the space to act as a community center, a place for art to be displayed, a sanctuary for children to learn and play, and for natives, long-term residents, and newcomers to connect.
Above, the abandoned property - 2010.
“We began researching the property to ensure our vision of a community garden would be allowable, possible and sustainable. We canvassed the neighborhood, coordinated with the proper city agencies and finding no obstacles, gained support to move forward. Our first project day was in early Oct. 2010 where more than 40 community members came out and cleaned up the property. The NYC Dept. of Sanitation made a special trip for us, to cart away the debris. - Tim Hill, Founder of The Beach 91st Street Community Garden.
Meanwhile, the group started the administrative work, contacting Community Board 14 and Green Thumb NYC for guidance as they moved forward to legitimize the space. By-laws for the garden were put in place to instill a democratic, communal process that would insure sustainability.
On Dec 24, 2010, 8 local residents and Jim Bulloch of Bulloch's Belle Harbor, transported more than 12 tons of untreated timbers for the garden beds. These reclaimed beams were donated by the NYC Dept. of Parks and Recreation. In early March 2011 with the help of Joe Longo and the use of his Bobcat, the construction began. By mid April the garden beds were built. 34 cubic yards of organic top soil arrived on May 6th and over 60 residents and volunteers were ready to shovel.
The Beach 91st Street Community Garden submitted and was awarded a grant from The Citizens Committee for New York City in conjunction with The New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods. These funds were used to finish the infrastructure of the garden. And in the summer of 2011 the first growing season began.
Without the grass-roots attitude of the Rockaway community, donations from residents, volunteers giving their time and local governmental support, the garden would have never been possible.
In 2012, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, The Beach 91st Street Community Garden became a central hub for communications, donations, and a place to get a hot meal and to speak with fellow neighbors entrenched in the aftermath of the superstorm.
In April 2017, garden member Kurt Doiron
wrote a grant and was awarded $2,800 from the Citizens Committee of New York City to purchase and build a greenhouse for the garden.
Throughout the garden's long history, the property has been used for educational seminars relating to gardening, events for children and for community minded social functions.
It’s our hope that the Beach 91st Street Community Garden will stand for generations to come. Your donation will help us get started, in making this a reality.
Thank you to The Wave for publishing our story. The article by Kate Walls can be found here.
Organizer
Paula Digioia
Organizer
Far Rockaway, NY
