Summary(0:59) Getting involved in the Woodbine Street Block Association through her father-in-law -- (1:38) Community activism -- (2:10) Working on the empty garden plots -- (3:45) Starting from few members -- (5:34) Gazebo donated by Manhattan Land Trust -- (6:53) Refurbishing the garden with the help of volunteers and donations -- (8:20) Garden activities -- (9:52) The attitudes of homeowners versus tenants toward the garden and community participation -- (11:10) Difficulty of obtaining city services -- (11:45) Challenge of watering the garden -- (12:39) Relaxing in the garden -- (13:24) The importance of growing your own food -- (13:40) Therapeutic effects of gardening.
NoteAudio interview conducted on August 12, 2016, by Samantha Feldman at Washington Irving Library. Collected through Our Streets, Our Stories, an oral history project of Brooklyn Public Library. This interview stems from a shared partnership with Brooklyn Public Library and Brooklyn Queens Land Trust under the name of Our Gardens, Our Stories.
SubjectCommunity gardens ; Community development ; Youth development ; Gardening ; Trust for Public Land (U.S.) ; Homeownership--United States, Municipal services--New York (State) ; Voluntarism--New York (State) ; Abandoned buildings ; Political participation
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TitleOral history interview conducted with Verena James on 2016 August 12.