The Clinton Community Garden (left); Rodale Pleasant Community Garden   (Photo: Wendy Goodman)

West Side/Hell’s Kitchen

The Clinton Community Garden
48th St. nr. Tenth Ave.
A startling oasis, surrounded by an iron fence and filled with winding brick paths, tall trees, and a shady grape arbor. There’s a park in front and crop plots further back; it’s beautiful, restful, and immaculate.

Harlem

Rodale Pleasant Park Community Garden
E. 114th St., nr. Pleasant Ave.
An urban farm where members grow food (and sometimes sell it; the restaurant Rao buys some of its produce here). The generous picnic area, pictured, is often filled with local families.The NYRP rescued this land from development in 1999.

Related:

• Archive: “Cover Story”
• Articles by Wendy Goodman
• Table of Contents: Oct 20, 2008 issue of New York | Subscribe!