Community Corner

A Mission to Grow

Shatia Jackson and Kristen Bonardi Rapp are determined to grow something, from nothing

Shatia Jackson noticed the vacant Bed-Stuy lot years ago, when she was a kid playing up and down Halsey Street. She always wondered why no one took the time to utilize it. 

Then one day, as Jackson was walking by the Halsey lot located between Marcus Garvey Blvd and Lewis Avenue, she saw a sign posted by 596 Acres alerting residents to reclaimed the property for the community. So Jackson called them.

Around spring 2011, Kristen Bonardi Rapp, her husband and their 8-year-old daughter were looking around at places to move in Brooklyn. When Rapp saw that the neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant had a Putnam Avenue and an Israel Putnam Playground (Israel Putnam was her ancestor), she figured it was a sign.

Find out what's happening in Bed-Stuywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

So around Memorial Day this year, the Rapp family moved into Bed-Stuy. A few months later, Rapp – who studied agronomy and is now working towards a degree in food studies – was walking home from the library when she noticed a sign in front of an empty lot on Halsey Street encouraging the residents to reclaim the land.

She called the organization, 596 Acres, and they put her in touch with a woman who had just contacted them named Shatia Jackson.

Find out what's happening in Bed-Stuywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Paula, who is the founder of 596 Acres introduced us,” said Jackson. “From there, we decided to be partners and to make a community garden happen.”

“And we have been working together ever since,” said Rapp.

The two founders have been toiling away diligently since August to turn a lot that, for years, had been abandoned and forgotten into a thriving community garden. So far, the dynamic duo has received a contract from the city to use the space, secured a few volunteers and has successfully elicited a few local businesses to donate whatever they can toward the garden effort.

Thanks to Jackson and Rapp, residents can now welcome 462 Halsey Community Garden to Bed-Stuy!

But the hard work has only just begun.

“One of our biggest challenges has been rallying the troops,” said Jackson. “Community members show an initial interest, come to a meeting, then it's hard work from there to keep them helping out. There is so much work involved in attaining and keeping a community garden, and a lot of times, people just don’t have the time to dedicate.”

Rapp agrees: “It’s been easy to get people interested and supportive of what's going on. But actually getting people to do stuff has been harder.”

Still, the two have made some very real and valuable connections that have played an important role in moving the project forward.

“I have to say, I have learned the most about gardening from Frank Addeo at Brooklyn Permaculture,” said Jackson. “[They] have been so instrumental in making sure our garden is planned and done right. They have been super patient with Kristen and me, and they share as much knowledge with us as they can. Working with them has been awesome, and I can’t wait to see our finished garden.”

Right now, Jackson and Rapp are seeking a pipeline for fundraising and a dedicated team of volunteers. They’re also asking for compost scraps to help fertilize the soil that has lain dormant and uncultivated for so many years.

462 Halsey Community Garden is now open Saturdays and Sundays, from 9:00am until dusk.

“The whole thing has been one enormous learning experience,” said Rapp. “I’m constantly amazed at people's willingness to pull together and do something.

“Like, the last time we had a meeting, I found myself looking around the table and I was just totally dumbstruck by the fact that, wow, we're almost all strangers to each other. But everyone in this room wants to work together to make this garden happen.”

To get involved with the 462 Halsey Street Community Garden, contact Shatia Jackson and Kristen Bonardi Rapp at 462halsey@gmail.com.

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What CAN you compost?
- fruit and vegetable peelings
- non greasy food scraps or leftovers
- rice, pasta, bread, cereal, etc.
- coffee grounds with filter, tea bags
- hair and nails (animal or human)
- egg and nut shells
- cut or dried flowers, houseplants, potting soil

What CAN'T you compost?
- meat
- dairy
- oily foods
- dog or cat feces, kitty litter
- coal or charcoal
- coconuts
- diseased and/or insect infested houseplants or soil


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