history
Our
Myrtle Village Green was born of more than a decade of organizing by a local community passionate about green space.
In 2002, the City made an initial commitment to convert the site of Water Tunnel No. 3 Shaft 21B to green space placed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks and Recreation which was later stalled by construction delays.
In 2012, with the support of then-City Council Member Letitia James, the Department of Environmental Protection, and IMPACCT, Myrtle Village Green began operation as a volunteer-run garden and community space on part of the shaft site.
Today, Myrtle Village Green is working with the City and IMPACCT to define a permanent home for our growing community.
Myrtle Village Green is the only community garden, outdoor learning space, and secular gathering place of its kind in this part of Bed-Stuy.
We feed the neighborhood with 1.3 tons of affordable, nutrient-dense food per season, and more than 50 varieties of fruits and vegetables from around the world. Our compost volunteers have diverted more than 36,000 pounds of food waste and trained dozens of community members about how to compost at home.
Our model is built on mutual respect and the desire to learn from one another. And it works. Our 100+ member households reflect the diversity of our neighborhood’s religions, nationalities, languages, socio-economics, and inter-generational families. We are a proud educational partner of both The Benjamin Franklin Magnet School and BCS Brooklyn High School for Leadership and Community Service, helping the next generation learn how to live sustainably.