www.times-up.org

Now is the time for community organizing and direct action.

Its up to each of us to save the gardens and create more.

Contacts:

Benjamin Shepard – 917 586 7952

Susan Howard – 917-207-6738

“The gardens were created through direct action and sweat equity – creating a green space out of rubble. They were protected in the late 1990’s with direct action in combination with a well organized campaign to preserve and protest community gardens.  And this summer, Times Up used direct action to sound the alarm about the limitations of the new rules.  And the city took notice.  Today, more than ever, it will be direct action and community organizing which will protect and save the gardens.  Each garden must be an open space, available for organizing communities.  Through such organizing, regular people preserve these spaces. Today, we call for all gardens to be mapped as parkland.”   

To this end, there are some very, very specific things garden activists can do to help preserve the community gardens.  Among others, these are:

Push the city to include community gardens in their vision for a PlaNYC. Add your comments. Make sure the city understands that any discussion of a green New York must include discussion of gardens. PlaNYC commits to a 10 min walk to a park for all New Yorkers. http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/html/plan/plan.shtml This must include a community garden. There are PlaNYC meetings coming up this month. Attend the next PlaNYC community meeting in your neighborhood: Lower Manhattan, October 19, 6-8 pm, Theater 2, BMCC,
199 Chambers, NY, NY 10007; Bronx, October 26, 6-8 pm, Lincoln Hospital, 234 East 149th Street, Between Morris; West Queens, November 3, 6-8 pm; Frank Sinatra School for the Arts Tony Bennett Concert Hall, 35-12 35th Avenue, Astoria 11106

Support gardens which are in danger of development, such as La Guardia Community Garden under threat from NYU. Come to the community board 2 meeting on this issue on October 18^th http://www.nyc.gov/html/mancb2/html/calendar/calendar.shtml

Use the gardens and keep them open.  The best public spaces are well used public spaces. Make sure that each garden in your neighborhoods are well used on a weekly basis. 

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Let your community know.  If you find out a garden in your  neighborhood is under threat, let the world know.  Contact your council member.  Set up a bulldozer hotline.  (Our hotline will be ready soon). And connect gardens with a larger struggle to a healthier world.  

To this end, this weekend, please join Time’s Up! With The Reverend Billy &
The Church of Life after Shopping invite you to a
No Plastic BBQ at El Jardin del Paraiso
Sunday, October 10th, 2010
3:00-7:00 PM

Inspired by 350.org’s Global Work Party and the ongoing imperative to
preserve and relish in New York's Community Gardens! 

Participate in a plastic free bbq immediately following
The Rev. Billy’s  Mountains and Gardens fabulous worship
1-2:30 pm at The Highline Ballroom
http://www.revbilly.com/events/gardens-and-mountains

Free guest ticket available to Garden friends, contact savitri@revbilly.com
Please bring food & prepare to explore a plastic free future.

El Jardin del Paraiso
Enter on 4th Street bt Ave C  & Ave D

TIMES UP! is a non-profit environmental group that has been using educational outreach and direct action for the last 20 years to promote a more sustainable, less toxic city.

www.times-up.org