Harvest for Neighborhoods
Growing Food. Strengthening Neighborhoods.
Many neighborhoods across New York City face limited access to fresh food, under-resourced community gardens, and barriers to growing and distributing produce locally. At the same time, community gardens hold enormous potential — as food-producing spaces, gathering places, and hubs of mutual support.
Harvest for Neighborhoods exists to bridge that gap. By investing in gardens and the people who care for them, this helps transform underutilized spaces into productive, resilient community assets that nourish both people and neighborhoods.
What Harvest for Neighborhoods Provides
Harvest for Neighborhoods brings together several interconnected programs that support community gardens throughout the year:
Community Garden Support
We provide hands-on assistance, technical guidance, and material resources to help gardens stay active, safe, and productive. Support ranges from seasonal planning and garden upkeep to skill-building projects that strengthen long-term garden capacity.
Seed & Tool Lending Library
Our Seed & Tool Lending Library provides community gardeners with free access to vegetable seeds, gardening tools, and essential supplies. By lending shared resources and removing cost barriers, this program helps gardens stay productive, take on new projects, and grow food throughout the season.
Materials & Seasonal Distributions
Through spring and fall distributions, gardeners receive seedlings, bulbs, soil, compost, and small gardening supplies such as gloves, watering cans, and hand tools. These events are paired with opportunities for connection, learning, and community building.
Volunteer & Youth Engagement
Harvest for Neighborhood creates opportunities for volunteers and youth to support gardens through workdays, planting events, and garden improvement projects. These experiences build skills, foster intergenerational learning, and strengthen relationships between gardeners and the broader community.
How the Program Works
Harvest for Neighborhoods is guided by collaboration and responsiveness. Each year, we work directly with community gardeners to assess needs, plan activities, and coordinate support.
Programming may include:
Garden workdays and hands-on assistance
Open Garden Days and neighborhood events
Workshops and skill-sharing sessions
Youth-supported garden projects
Select infrastructure and building projects grounded in learning and community care
All activities are designed to strengthen gardens while honoring local leadership and knowledge.
Community Impact
Through Harvest for Neighborhoods, community gardens are able to:
Increase food production and local distribution
Revitalize underutilized or inactive garden spaces
Share fresh produce with neighbors and emergency food providers
Build stronger networks among gardeners, youth, and residents
Create welcoming spaces for learning, celebration, and connection
By supporting gardens as vital neighborhood infrastructure, H4N helps communities grow healthier, more connected, and more resilient.
Get Involved!
Harvest for Neighborhoods is powered by community.
Community Gardeners can access resources, support, and programming
Volunteers can participate in garden workdays and events
Youth can gain hands-on experience through garden projects and leadership opportunities
Together, we grow more than food — we grow community.