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
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Samara Community School PS X458
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Alewife Brewery
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BxArtsFactory
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Bronx City of Bees
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SAGE
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The Angelito Collective
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Threefold Farms
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 as the only weekly CSA style offering composed entirely of produce grown in the Bronx.
The 2020 season brought major changes. We increased production in our garden and also managed garden beds at a nearby high school, doubling our capacity. Through a generous donation we started offering our Harvest Boxes for free to The Bronx community. The food access needs of The Bronx community during the pandemic and the ingenuity of community run gardens led to the creation of The Bronx Community Food Hubs in 2020, and we are proud to be one of the founding gardens.
In 2021 Morning Glory Garden was awarded the "Urban Agriculture Award" by NYC Parks Greenthumb.
In 2022, we were included in The Bronx Foodways Oral History Project and were also chosen as a NYC Green Fund Grassroots Grantee.
In 2023, we were featured with several other Bronx gardens in The New York Times, in a piece entitled "Vital Places of Refuge in the Bronx, Community Gardens Gain Recognition" by David Gonzalez.
In 2024, Morning Glory Garden was awarded a "People's Garden Initiative" grant by Just Food and the USDA. We were also awarded
a New York State Urban Farms and Community Gardens Grant in collaboration with the New York Botanical Gardens and 4 other outstanding Bronx Gardens.
