In the heart of Canarsie, Brooklyn, a community of Black residents has transformed their neighborhood into what might be the greenest block in all of Brooklyn. Our introduction to this verdant oasis came through Maria Garrett, a passionate local who proudly introduced us to the Fresh Creek Nature Association/Fresh Creek Civic Association. Along with her neighbors Marie, Dolores, Joy, Simon, and Cynthia, Maria welcomed us into their community, eager to showcase their collective efforts in urban greening and environmental stewardship.

Takeaways New Hide ▲

Residents use plants

from Caribbean and Africa

preserving cultural heritage

Gardening initiative transforms

Canarsie neighborhood into

Brooklyn's greenest block

Fruit trees and

vegetable gardens support

community food sovereignty

Gardening fosters community

bonds and environmental

stewardship in Brooklyn

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Walking through the neighborhood feels like stepping into a well-curated botanical garden, where each home tells its own unique story through its carefully selected plants. Many residents have brought pieces of their Caribbean and African heritage to Brooklyn through the cultivation of familiar plants and trees from their home countries. The result is a stunning display of fruit trees – plums, figs, and peaches – alongside ornamental plants that create vertical gardens climbing from ground level to rooftops, splashing the urban landscape with bursts of pink, purple, and green.

Perhaps most inspiring is how this gardening initiative transcends mere aesthetics. For one neighbor, gardening became a way to join her husband in protecting the integrity of their neighborhood, transforming their shared passion into a vehicle for community beautification. What started as individual efforts to create beauty has blossomed into a collective movement that strengthens community bonds and preserves cultural heritage. The Fresh Creek community demonstrates how grassroots initiatives can create profound environmental and social impact, one garden at a time.

@brooklynbotanic

Visit one of Brooklyn’s greenest blocks down in Canarsie. 🏡 Located near Fresh Creek Nature Preserve not far from Jamaica Bay in the southeast of Brooklyn, Flatlands 7th Street is a gardening powerhouse and consistently strong contender in the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest. In south Brooklyn, folks often have a little more room to work with, and here they make great use of it, mixing perennials and annuals with tropical plants carefully stored inside all winter. Neighbors Maria, Marie, Dolores, Joy, Simon, and Cynthia were kind enough to show us around the block and talk about street tree health plus much more. Want to gather your neighbors and enter your block in Brooklyn’s friendliest competition? The Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest is free and open to all residential blocks, commercial blocks, and community gardens in Brooklyn. The deadline for the 2025 contest has passed, but it’s never too early to begin planning your block’s participation. Learn how to enter at our link in bio. #nyc #brooklyn #canarsie #plants #gardening #urbangardening #fyp #nyctiktok

♬ Gazelle – Mintie

Why Gardening Matters: Cultivating More Than Plants

Gardening in urban settings, such as Brooklyn, does far more than beautify neighborhoods – it creates essential green spaces that improve air quality, reduce urban heat islands, and provide habitats for pollinators and birds. For communities of color who have historically had less access to green spaces, creating these gardens represents an act of environmental justice and self-determination. When residents take ownership of their neighborhood’s environmental health, they simultaneously address climate resilience while creating spaces for community gathering and connection.

Beyond environmental benefits, these community gardens serve as living cultural archives and sources of food sovereignty. The fruit trees and vegetables grown in Canarsie connect residents to their ancestral knowledge and culinary traditions while providing fresh, nutritious food in an area that might otherwise have limited access. These gardens become outdoor classrooms where knowledge is shared across generations, ensuring that cultural practices and environmental wisdom continue to thrive even in urban environments.