Welcome to the Garden Ecology Project (GEP) website!  The GEP is a community-research partnership based in New York City.  Our goals are:

  • To document the roles of community gardens in providing healthy food, green space, and environmental education, in order to build support for community gardening in urban policy and planning.
  • To develop environmentally friendly vegetable gardening practices like cover cropping, with and for urban gardeners.
  • To  enhance educational programs in urban gardening by incorporating collaborative, discovery-based learning methods that increases gardeners’ understanding of ecology.

Whether you are a gardener, researcher, or concerned citizen, we invite you to browse this website and consider getting involved in urban agriculture and food justice movements in your community!

Internships: Learn about opportunities to work with the Garden Ecology Project in 2012 and download an application.  Excellent for students seeking practical research experience in urban agriculture, urban ecology, plant science, entomology, and/or community development!

About: Visit this page to learn more about specific projects, including studies on cover crops for enriching urban garden soils, and a study on pest and beneficial insects in urban gardens.

Current Activities: The latest in Garden Ecology Project workshops, seasonal gardening tips, and project results.

For Gardeners: Get gardening fact-sheets in English and Spanish developed by Garden Ecology Project collaborators, including the latest on selecting and planting winter cover crops.

For Researchers: Read a more detailed description of the Garden Ecology Project and its diverse goals in the fields of horticulture, urban ecology, soil science, entomology, community-based education and organizing, and civic engagement.  Consider contributing your skills and expertise to the efforts to create more just and sustainable urban food systems.

Discussion Board: Do you have questions about gardening practices or urban agriculture education?  Add your ideas to the list of questions you’d like to see researched.

Resources: Links to other great organizations working in sustainable agriculture, urban gardening, and food justice.