Community Launches New York City’s First Pop Up Garden

GrowNYC and the Greater Flushing Chamber of Flushing hosted New York City’s first Pop Up Garden during the ninth season of the Flushing Greenmarket. The Pop Up Garden is designed to provide free outdoor horticultural education and in-person gardening demonstrations for New Yorkers interested in starting their own garden or growing their own food at home.

The Pop Up Garden is the brainchild of Maureen Regan, founder and executive director of Green Earth Urban Gardens. This community-based botanical program is free and open to the public.

"We fully support the development of local agriculture and horticulture as an essential step in addressing climate change," stated Maureen Regan, executive director of Green Earth Urban Gardens, and President of Queensboro Hill Flushing Civic Association.

The Pop Up Garden is part of the cultural programming and community marketing provided by the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce for the Flushing Greenmarket.

"The Flushing Chamber is happy to collaborate with GrowNYC to present another year of healthy food options and cultural programming at the Flushing Greenmarket," said Alice Lee, Chairwoman of the Chamber’s Advisory Board. "This year, we will be featuring the work of local entrepreneurs and horticultural experts like Maureen Regan to provide opportunities for our community to learn about gardening and urban farming."

The Pop Up Garden is part of the Flushing Greenmarket, which is open every Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., until November 27, at Bowne Playground, located at Sanford Avenue and Union Street in Flushing, Queens. The market will be open. The Greenmarket features farmers selling baked goods, eggs, cider, fruit and vegetables from local farms:

• Breezy Hill Orchard and Knoll Krest Farm - orchard and small fruit, cider, baked goods, eggs, pasta, soups from Dutchess County, NY
• R & G Produce - vegetables from Orange County, NY

The Greenmarket is managed by GrowNYC, a leading 501(3)(c) environmental nonprofit that has offered opportunities for New Yorkers to access farm fresh food and provided a vital marketplace for farmers in the Northeast to sell directly to customers since 1976. GrowNYC Greenmarkets are producer-only, meaning producers may only sell only what they’ve grown, raised, caught, or baked themselves. Greenmarket producers come from 250 miles north, 120 miles south, and 170 miles east and west of New York City. This ensures the program is partnering with small to mid-sized farms and preserving farmland in our regional foodshed.

“The seasonal bounty and selection of producers at GrowNYC Greenmarket sites is unparalleled, from just-picked fruits and vegetables, artisan breads & baked goods, jams, fresh caught fish, maple syrup, flowers, and so much more week after week, all season long. Swing by the market information tent for special cooking demonstrations, seasonal programming, and learn more about how to use your nutrition benefits to purchase the freshest produce in the Northeast!" said Angela Davis, Director of GrowNYC Food Access & Agriculture.

As part of GrowNYC’s mission to provide equitable access to nutritious food, all Greenmarket locations accept SNAP/EBT, Summer EBT, Debit/Credit, Healthfirst OTC cards (LIP and CC members only), WIC & Senior FMNP coupons, FreshConnect Checks, and Greenmarket Bucks. Customers using SNAP/EBT/P-EBT who spend $2, receive a bonus $2 Health Buck, up to $10 per day.

The NYC Department of Health will also conduct weekly bilingual nutrition education workshops and cooking demonstrations at this market from July 17 to November 20. Every participant over 18 years of age will receive a $2 Health Buck coupon for attending the workshop to use towards the purchase of fruits and vegetables.

Learn more about the Flushing Greenmarket at grownyc.org/greenmarket/queens/flushing.