A community gardener has found a new place to grow in the Bronx after losing a garden she helped create. Susan Jhun filed the following NY1 for You report.
A happy outcome born of a disappointing decision.
Back in July, we told you about Pearl Spivey, who, 13 years ago, helped create a Harlem community garden at P.S. 139 Senior Center on 140th Street and Lenox Avenue. Spivey helped turn what was once a dirt lot into a thriving garden, giving back all the fruits of her labor to the senior center and surrounding community.
"I provide for the people in the neighborhood to give them vegetables that I raised by hand," Spivey said.
Sadly, Spivey was asked by the New York City Housing Authority to leave the garden she worked so hard to grow. At the time, a spokeswoman for NYCHA told us the space Ms. Spivey tends to is a community garden intended to serve residents at P.S. 139 and nearby Fred Samuels Apartments, where Ms. Spivey does not live.
After our story aired, NYCHA found a new place for Spivey to grow at her own residence in the Bronx.
"I thank NYCHA. I thank you," Spivey said.
The NYCHA spokeswoman told us, "We are glad Ms. Spivey can continue her good work closer to home in the community garden at Morris Houses, where she can grow fruits and vegetables to share with her neighbors."
Although she plans to work on her flower garden, Spivey says she will no longer grow vegetables, adding that she does miss all the friends she made in Harlem.
On a happy note, Pearl has been asked to tend to four more plots in the neighborhood.
"Hopefully, I will do it," she said.
Hope that will make new flowers flourish.