RTV’s Community Generosity Shines Bright
During much of the year, BQLT’s Rogers/Tilden/Veronica Place Garden (RTV) in Flatbush, Brooklyn is vibrant and colorful with raised beds of fruits—boysenberry, strawberry, and goldenberry—growing alongside corn, squash, peppers, kale, beets, and no shortage of tomatoes. Patches of roses, peonies, tulips, irises, marigolds, and 12-ft-tall sunflowers grow in soil enriched with compost produced onsite.
In addition to growing fruits, veggies, and flowers, RTV members also nurture their community by leading drives for school supplies, winter coats, toiletries, food, and holiday gifts for neighbors who might need assistance with one or more of these items.
This past spring, the garden was literally overrun—in the best way—by scores of “egg-static” children who gathered to dye eggs and hunt for treasure hidden throughout RTV’s spacious landscape. Their enthusiasm and joy was contagious and spread to all attending this special spring event!
By far the largest and most popular gatherings at RTV garden are events by the Haitian Cultural Exchange (HCX) where 100+ neighbors gather for spoken-word performances, music, art installations, and performance arts and to enjoy an evening outdoors.
Elijah at #TiAtis (Little Artist) Youth Event, Photo by Claire J. Saintil
The Rogers/Tilden/Veronica Place Garden is a proud member of the Brooklyn Queens Land Trust. It is only with the organization’s stewardship and generosity that RTV gardeners can focus on cultivating food and community without the fear of suddenly losing the land, nor the need for funds to cover liability insurance, monthly water bills, or water system repairs among other expenses.
Will you support BQLT in our mission to protect and steward all of our 37 community gardens this giving season?
Visit our #BrooklynGives campaign page, view our fundraisers’ pages, and if you can, consider giving a gift to the future of Brooklyn and Queens community gardens.
Co-written by Curtis Flowers (Board member and Operations Committee Co-Chair, Gardener at RTV, Brooklyn) and Ashley Cruce (Board Member & Gardener at McIntosh, Queens)
