{"id":6492,"date":"2021-08-26T18:04:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-26T18:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/?p=6492"},"modified":"2025-01-09T20:05:17","modified_gmt":"2025-01-10T01:05:17","slug":"a-10-year-journey-harlem-grown-supports-and-teaches-children-about-gardening-nutrition-and-sustainability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/a-10-year-journey-harlem-grown-supports-and-teaches-children-about-gardening-nutrition-and-sustainability\/","title":{"rendered":"A 10 Year Journey: Harlem Grown Supports And Teaches Children About Gardening, Nutrition, And Sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Tony Hillery, Harlem Grown; Credit: Humans of New York<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the heart of Harlem, you\u2019ll find Harlem Grown: an organization created by Tony Hillery nearly a decade ago, which provides the resources and tools for young people to learn the invaluable skill of gardening. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harlem Grown\u2019s mission statement is \u201cto inspire youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition.\u201d Hillery\u2019s journey with Harlem Grown began during the 2008 financial crisis, where he sought out ways to help those in need. This led him to volunteering at an inner-city school in Harlem. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with <\/strong>Humans of New York<\/strong><\/a>, Tillery recalled his first day of volunteer work. \u201cI couldn\u2019t have been more arrogant,\u201d he said. \u201cI walked through the doors of the first elementary school I could find, asked for the principal, and said: \u2018I\u2019m here to try to break the cycle of poverty.\u2019 She assigned me to the lunchroom, and that\u2019s where I started volunteering five days a week.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There, the children adored Hillery and affectionately called him \u201cMr. Tony.\u201d Many reminded him of his own children, which incited him even more to create change when he learned that nearly half of the children were living in shelters. Just across the street, there was a neglected garden where cats, rats, and pests resided. Unsure of what to do just yet, Hillery knew that this garden that the children referred to as \u201chaunted\u201d could be a starting point. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne morning, a little girl tugged on my shoulder. A tiny little thing with glasses so big. Her name was Nevaeh. \u2018Heaven\u2019 spelled backwards. And she said: \u2018Mr. Tony, why don\u2019t we plant something,’\u201d said Hillery, who knew nothing about gardening at the time. After a few lessons through Google, he decided to begin with growing herbs, and invited Nevaeh and the rest of her kindergarten class to plant the initial seeds in what would become a thriving and lively garden. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere wasn\u2019t much structure in the beginning. A lot of times, I\u2019d just sit around with the kids and look at clouds. But over time, the garden became a sort of outdoor science classroom. All of us were learning together. If something died, we\u2019d just try a new spot. We learned about worms, ladybugs, and praying mantises. Then we learned about food systems. I couldn\u2019t help but notice the diets of these kids: all sugar and processed food. Some of them couldn\u2019t name a single vegetable. But how could you blame them? There are 55 fast-food restaurants in this community, but not a single supermarket,\u201d said Hillery.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevaeh, who sparked the idea as a tiny kindergartner, took the lead throughout the process as they began expanding the garden and growing vegetables. This origin story occurred nearly 10 years ago. Today, Harlem Grown includes 12 urban farms all across the city. The non-profit organization has donated over 6,000 pounds of organic produce to the community. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s thrilling to report that Nevaeh remains involved, with her mother serving as Agricultural Director of the farms. The goal, Hillery said, was always to grow healthy children and not just farms. He witnessed that goal come to fruition through Nevaeh\u2019s own evolution, along with many other children\u2019s. At 16-years-old, Nevaeh is an Honor Roll student and uses gardening as a way to relieve stress. \u201cShe was the tiniest little thing when I met her with glasses so big. But even back then, she had everything she needed. It just required a little protection. And a little time. She just needed some space to grow,\u201d said Hillery. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the amount of unhoused children in Harlem alone remains a crisis. \u201cWhen you sit in this garden on a summer day – you hear things. There are fourteen homeless shelters within a four-block radius. So when it\u2019s hot outside, and the windows are open, you can hear the stress of poverty…When [the kids] first come into this garden – they\u2019re so freakin\u2019 happy. Especially the really young ones. But at the end of the day, they\u2019ll say: \u2018I\u2019m going home.\u2019 And home means shelter. It\u2019s an epidemic, man. 115,000 kids in this city are living in shelters. It\u2019s a freakin\u2019 epidemic. But it\u2019s invisible. You\u2019d never know these kids are [unhoused] because they\u2019re so happy,\u201d he said. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you feel called to support Harlem Grown\u2019s mission, there are <\/strong>youth programs<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>volunteer<\/strong><\/a> opportunities, and<\/strong> donations<\/strong><\/a>. Learn more at <\/strong>www.harlemgrown.org<\/strong><\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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