Gardening the Community is a food justice organization engaged in youth development, urban agriculture and sustainable living to build healthy and equitable communities.

GTC operates a training program created for youth from around the Mason Square neighborhood and beyond to grow fruits and vegetables on vacant and abandoned lots. Youth receive a stipend and are taught principles of urban sustainable living and urban agriculture. The food that is grown is sold at our Walnut Street Community Farm Store, the Mason Square Farmers Market, local restaurants, and bodegas (corner stores). Youth also bring food home to their families. To encourage a more sustainable lifestyle, all produce is delivered to market and stores with the bikes and heavy duty bike trailers to reduce our carbon foot print, and build healthy lifestyle choices.

Additionally, no pesticides or herbicides of any kind are used in the food we grow, and all work is done without any major farm equipment. In order to irrigate crops, we utilize rain collection and water conservation methods into our growing practices. This reduces our dependence on the city water supply and shows other potential gardeners how to incorporate a low-input farming practice that is practical and sustainable.