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NYC's 5 Best Community Gardens

New York Prepares For Easter Holiday
A gardener waters batches of azaleas and Easter lilies in in New York City. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

The resourcefulness of New Yorkers is evident in the verdant community farms found throughout the five boroughs. Where once there was cement, asphalt, trash or abandoned lots are now blooming gardens maintained lovingly by volunteers -- many for decades. They grow edible foods for members and serve as gathering spots for many in the local community. Here are five of our top picks:

9th Street Community Garden And Park
708 E. Ninth St. and Ave. C
New York, NY 10009
communitygarden.org

A legendary garden in the annals of New York's East Village, the 9th Street Garden was started in 1978 by fewer than 10 local residents on an empty plot. It became a symbol of the determination of people to keep their neighborhood their own, despite gentrification. Now, it covers a full acre and is a hub of activity. The garden is distinguished by its weeping willow tree and a goldfish pond. La Plaza Cultural across the street is also a local green space maintained by residents, with a stage for open-air theater, music and film screenings.

More: Guide To NYC's Best Botanical Gardens

Smiling Hogshead Ranch
25-30 Skillman Ave.
Long Island City, NY 11101
smiling-hogshead-ranch.tumblr.com

This garden in Queens is on an abandoned area of the Long Island Rail Road tracks. It is said to have been started in secret in 2011, until it was approved by the city. It holds regular events such as planting days and workshops on biodynamic composting. Visitors might discover a pest management session taking place, as neighborhood children try to gently remove caterpillars and such. After-work volunteering is encouraged.

West Side Community Garden
W. 89th St. between Amsterdam Ave. and Columbus Ave.
New York, NY 10024
www.westsidecommunitygarden.org

The 89,000-square-foot Upper West Side gem got its start in 1976. As befits this neighborhood of organizers, it has activities just about every month of the year, with calls put out for volunteers. Flowers are big, with a Tulip Festival annually. The garden also hosts musical events in its floral amphitheater. But vegetables are not neglected -- there are vegetable plots, school plots and an herb bed.

More:  Best Farmers' Markets In New York City

Liz Christy Community Garden
E. Houston St. between Second Ave. and Bowery
New York, NY 10003
www.lizchristygarden.us

This vibrant East Village garden is named after local activist Liz Christy. Christy and a group called the Green Guerrillas began growing things on their once was rubble-strewn lot in 1973. The city approved the garden in 1974, thus allowing it to claim the title of the city's first community garden. Its pond has fish and turtles swimming year 'round. To gain a garden key, volunteers contribute a certain number of hours. By putting in still more hours, they may become members with voting rights.

Bedford Stuyvesant Community Garden
95 Malcolm X Blvd.
Brooklyn, NY 11221
www.nyrp.org

Started by neighborhood activists, the garden was given new life in 2006 when Dr. Leslie Dae Johnson, a forensic geneticist and patron of the New York Restoration Project, founded by Bette Midler, endowed it. Visitors will notice several unique aspects. It features a boardwalk made from recycled materials, plus a rainwater collection system which draws its water from the roof of an adjacent building. The garden includes trellises for vines and grapes.

More: Best Garden Centers In New York City

Grace Lichtenstein is an author and former New York Times reporter. She writes principally about books, music and sports. She contributes to the Washington Post, NYCityWoman.com, Aspen Magazine and other publications. She is a board member of Bike New York, as well as a member of the Authors Guild and the National Book Critics Circle.

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