About Us

Java Street Community Garden is a collaboratively run organization located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. We are a varied group of about 30 members, are residents from the local community. We work collaboratively to design and tend to our shared green space which includes raised vegetable beds, decorative trees, shrubs and flowers.

We have many shared garden beds and about 24 individually managed raised beds where each member can grow whatever they like. Becoming a member is free but requires commitment of shared responsibilities. Members must attend some community meetings and Saturday work days throughout the year. They also must help monitor the garden and greet visitors during public hours which fulfils our requirement to the the NYC Parks Department’s GreenThumb Initiative. Please see our member FAQ for more details.

History of the Garden

Java Street Garden was started in 2011 when former Greenpoint resident Stella Goodall identified the potential future site at 59 Java street. At the time, the land was nothing but weeds and rubble. It was owned by the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development. With the aid of an advocacy group called 596 Acres, Stella and other local volunteers worked through city proceedings to successfully open the garden to the public in 2012.

In 2016, Java Street Garden became an official NYC park. This was achieved through a partnership with GreenThumb, an organization founded in the 1970s to help revitalize abandoned spaces.

Grant Funding

In 2014, the Garden was awarded close to $20,000 from the Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund (GCEF). This grant funding helped replace the Garden’s fence, install benches for the public, create an entry for vehicle deliveries, build a shed with a rainwater canopy, plant native species and perennials, and install a patio space. The garden has since received additional grant funding to keep us up and running.