Hoyt Street Garden

Dear Neighbors,
 
You are invited to come to a meeting on Monday, January 20, 2014 at 7:00 PM at our house at 124 Hoyt Street to help create a new Hoyt Street Garden Committee, (group of volunteers) to help keep the Hoyt Street Garden, located at Hoyt St. and Atlantic Avenue, alive and healthy for the future.


Boerum Hill Association President, Howard Kolins will attend and there will be light refreshments. 
 
Some background information: I am 68 years old and as you probably know, in 2013, after many years, I retired from being president of the Hoyt Street Association. However, as one of the last of the founders of the Hoyt Street Garden, I’d like to help organize a neighborhood group, whose members would take charge of the activities and the care of the Garden. Years ago, we had many activities and events (puppet shows, dance performances, small concerts, school group visits, etc.) at the Garden. It would be great to re-establish this concept with new energy and more neighborhood participants.
 
Some background:
Since 1974, we cleared out truckloads of garbage, ailanthus trees and broken cyclone fences…in order to create the Hoyt Street Garden. We have maintained it ALL these years. But we do not own the Garden. As you know, in Boerum Hill, there are NO parks. So, that makes the Garden a special oasis of green that we truly have to protect. The Garden is very important to our neighborhood. Over the years, we have given away a free garden key to anyone who requests it (available at GRDN at 103 Hoyt Street).  
 However, these days, many neighbors do not even know about the Garden. It’s important to keep the it active and beautiful, so that it will continue to have relevance for our neighborhood. Your new energy and volunteerism will help deter any plans to eliminate the Garden. 
Currently, we have a part-time gardener, James Stefanik (who trims the bushes and trees, establishes new plantings , etc.) We also have a paid worker, Rosanna Appleton, who regularly sweeps the Garden and shovels the snow. She also waters the Garden each day, as needed and also waters the nearby street trees. As you can imagine, the Garden needs regular attention. That’s why there is a need for neighborhood volunteers who can help maintain the Garden and create more events and activities there. 


It is important to arrange for the committee to create a system of doing minor repairs, sending out notices and posting signs on the bulletin boards, planning events (like planting bulbs, decorating the Garden for the Holidays, etc.) I have tools and holiday decorations, etc. and would be glad to either hand them over to the committee or store them here at our house. 
 
The Iglesia is part of a parcel of land (owned by the Presbytery of New York since 1964) that includes the Garden and we have a fragile contract with them —  that though we don’t own the Garden, we are allowed to maintain it–which we have for all these years at our own expense (even paying to repair the broken water system at the Iglesia on several occasions). Luckily, we have a good relationship with the Iglesia. However, you can imagine the financial value of the 25′ x 50′ piece of land that is the Garden. My hope is that at some point, the Garden’s future could be totally secured. (Calling Bette Midler….! …who financially helped save the David Foulke Garden on Bergen Street).


I look forward to seeing you at this important meeting. Please invite your neighbors. See the info below to RSVP. Thanks. 
 
Best wishes, Margaret
 
Margaret Cusack
124 Hoyt Street in Boerum Hill
Brooklyn, NY 11217-2215
 
phone: 718.237. 0145