A diverse group of people benefit from the farm: native New Yorkers and people who have migrated from other parts of the United States—including Puerto Rico—as well as Dominican and Bengali immigrants.

Community members acknowledge the property does not belong to them. However, they would like city officials to provide the owner with an alternative space that they can develop. According to Marissa Metelica, “We have done a lot to make this a community space. Not only do we provide free organic food for the community, but it’s also a garden and a play space for young people and it’s an education space.”

The first generation of young people who helped to create this space are now graduating from school. One of these students, D, dropped by as ESENDOM conducted its series of interviews.

Metelica also noted, “It’s a way for me to really feel grounded in part of my community because folks who have lived here longer than me…we might not be able to meet each other in a lot of other spaces. Nobody owns it and I’ve made a lot of friends just for spending time here.