Who We are...
Morning Glory Community Garden is a GreenThumb licensed community garden located in the Crotona Park East neighborhood of the South Bronx.
We are a volunteer--led organization founded in 2014 as part of the Gardens for Healthy Communities Program within the Mayor's Obesity Task Force Initiative.
Our mission is to sustainably meet the food needs of our community through urban agriculture. Morning Glory seeks to establish itself as an integral part of the urban food shed through our food distribution and education efforts.
As an organization, we recognize the integral role community gardens play in community life and the urban infrastructure. We are committed to supporting grassroots efforts to secure permanent spaces for all community gardens in the Bronx.
What We Do...
Urban Farming
Morning Glory is part urban farm and part community garden.
We farm intensively on approximately 6,000 square feet utilizing organic growing practices and renewable energy. As part of our original commitment to the Gardens for Healthy Communities Program, during the summer and fall, we produce weekly harvest boxes for Bronx residents. Our harvest boxes consist of a mix of produce grown at the garden and is sold at an affordable price.
Each harvest box is delivered directly to recipients at their workplaces or homes throughout the Bronx. The proceeds from the program support the garden's operating budget and have financed expansions and improvements to our operation since 2015.
Gardening, workshops and community events
We aim to make the garden an anchor for community activity and engagement.
Our garden members are provided with garden beds, plants, and technical support and help coordinate workshops and events.
Collaborate and develop grassroots relationships
We have collaborated to co-host events with other Bronx-based community organizations, as well as establish relationships with local businesses, non-profits and universities studying urban agriculture in NYC.
Some of our collaborative partners have included:
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GrowNYC
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Casita Maria
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GreenThumb (Parks Department)
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Bronx GreenUp (NYBG)
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Columbia University
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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WHEDco
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The Children's Aid Society
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Department of Sanitation Compost Program
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El Dorado Coffee Roasters
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The Bronx Brewery
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Good Harvest Food Co-op
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The Bronx Hot Sauce/Small Axe Peppers
Our History...
From 2009-2011 Morning Glory Garden existed as a guerrilla garden located at 149th Street and Southern Boulevard in Mott Haven until we were displaced from that location by the City.
From 2011- late 2014, we fought for a new location, and were awarded a space as part of the Gardens for Healthy Communities Program.
With limited funding and excellent institutional help from GrowNYC, and Bronx GreenUp we have been able to establish ourselves and expand each successive year.
In 2016 we launched our harvest box program which is the only weekly CSA style offering composed entirely of produce grown in the Bronx.
More about us...
New York City Food Policy Center
April 26, 2017
Garden co-founder, Aazam Otero, was one of many gardeners and urban farmers mentioned in a citywide profile of gardeners composed by the NYC Food Policy Center at Hunter College. Learn more about our colleagues, allies, fellow travelers and their work throughout NYC.
The Bronx Hot Sauce
July 23, 2015
Morning Glory was one of the first five gardens to participate in the Bronx Hot Sauce project. CBS2 paid a visit to the garden while profiling the project and the excellent hot sauce they make. We produce peppers every year for the hot sauce, and are hoping to hit triple digit production in 2018.
GrowNYC
July 10, 2015
Blog post about the garden from our early years featured on GrowNYC's website. We were one of their sites under the Gardens for Healthy Communities Program. GrowNYC supplied us with volunteers, lumber, benches, basic tools and constructed a shade structure/rainwater catchment system.
For more about GrowNYC, follow this link.
