Originally begun in 1982 as a beautification project by local residents, the Glover Street Garden is used mainly to grow herbs and vegetables – including eggplant, beans, tomatoes, basil and parsley – and is lovingly cared-for by neighborhood families. To improve the quality and functionality of this popular community treasure, in 2005, New York Restoration Project (NYRP) installed an iron picket fence and planting beds. In 2007, NYRP partnered with local gardeners and Just Food, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting a fair and sustainable food system in New York City, to build raised vegetable beds in the center of the space. These new beds satisfy the gardeners’ desire for a larger, more organized vegetable planting area.

Currently, Glover Street gardeners are working with Bronx Green-Up to complete a composting certification program, which will allow gardeners and community members to utilize this open space for composting leftover vegetable foliage, leaves and garden debris. An outreach initiative of the New York Botanical Garden, Bronx Green-Up provides horticultural advice, technical assistance and training to residents, community gardeners, school groups and other organizations interested in improving urban neighborhoods through greening projects.

This 2,184-square-foot, triangular garden is located at the intersection of Glover Street and Castle Hill Avenue in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx. The surrounding community is comprised primarily of Hispanic residents and one- and two-family homes and apartment residences. In addition, M.S. 127 (Castle Hill Middle School) is located directly across the street from the garden.