Local, seasonal fruit is available at the market

La Familia Verde Farmers' Market
Since 2003, La Familia Verde has managed a farmers' market with the help of community volunteers dedicated to improving the health of Crotona by increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The markets sell produce from the community gardens, as well as products from several New York State farmers. The 2010 season will start July 13 and end November 16. The market is open on Tuesdays from 8am- 2pm at the corner of East Tremont Avenue and Lafontaine Avenue and accepts cash, WIC FMNP checks, EBT, and Health Bucks.

Ena Nemley shows customers how to cook produce from the market.

Cooking Demonstrations
Every other week there is a cooking demonstration at the market with plenty of free samples! The demo is conducted by Ena Nemley, a community gardener and founding member of La Familia Verde. Ms. Nemley has been trained in Just Food's Commuity Chef program to conduct cooking demos for the neighborhood. She shows market customers how to make simple, delicious, and culturally appropriate meals using farm fresh produce. Participants in the cooking demo receive a $2 Health Bucks coupon to use towards the purchase of fruits and vegetables at the market.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Starting in June 2010, La Familia Verde will sponsor a CSA from Gonzalez Farms, a long-time vendor at the Farmers' Market. Neighborhood residents pay in the spring to join and then receive a weekly share of the farm's harvest of seasonal vegetables, about enough to feed a family of 3-4 people. CSA members will pick up every Tuesday in Tremont Community Garden from 10am - 6pm. This CSA will bring healthy local food to the neighborhood, support local farms and build community in Crotona.

Chickens from the Garden of Happiness love looking for worms in the compost bins.

City Chickens
The Garden of Happiness is home to twelve chickens. They are fed a diet of fresh vegetables and grains, supplemented by the worms and bugs they eat while pecking around the garden. In return, they provide the garden with fertilizer and aerated soil. They also lay beautiful blue, brown, and white eggs with rich, orange yolks. The eggs are available for purchase at the La Familia Verde Farmers Market.

Fall Harvest Fair
In September 2009, the Garden of Happiness hosted a Fall Harvest Fair with Parks, GreenThumb, Just Food, and the New York Botanical Garden. Gardeners from all over the city entered their best produce into a harvest fair competition. There was also food, live music, workshops, and children's activities. The highlight was the first Farmy Olympics. Members of different community gardens competed in events like a potato sack race, flower arranging, and wheel barrow.

Community gardeners compete in the Flower Bouquet event during the Farmy Olympics

Trees for Life and Unity
The gusty and frigid weather on November 23, 2002 could not keep away the gardeners and their supporters from attending the first living memorial planting of the Trees for Life and Unity Project sponsored by Green Guerillas, La Familia Verde, and USDA Forest Service. Karen Washington of La Familia Verde and Hannah Riseley-White of Green Guerillas organized the event. " Two weeping cherries were planted just inside the entrance to the Tremont Community Garden while dozens of other trees were distributed to area gardens.

Trees for Life & Unity Project

Through the Trees for Life and Unity Project, community gardeners honored and memorialized the victims of 9/11. Also in attendance were representatives from the USDA Forest Service, the office of Congressman Jose Serrano, and more than thirty gardeners and local residents. After brief remarks, everyone was invited to contribute a shovelful of dirt to the newly planted trees. Thank you to Lindsay Campbell from the USDA Forest Service for contributing this article for more information about the USDA’s Living Memorials Project.


Members of La Familia Verde receiving an award from Congressman Jose Serrano

United We Stand
La Familia Verde’s role as a community resource center was never met with such resolve until the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. Community gardens throughout the City became stations of comfort as people in the community flocked to hold candlelight vigils. Newspaper articles and photos of missing loved ones were posted along garden fences. People came by daily seeking current information and help. Gardens held ceremonies for local firefighters and police officers affected by the tragedy.

"This website is made possible by support from Green Guerillas and the Mertz Gilmore Foundation."