Community Gardens Task Force

The purpose of the Community Gardens Task Force is to convene stakeholders from state agencies, existing community gardens, special use districts, public authorities, and cooperative extension services to establish and expand community gardens and the activities they conduct. The group may study, evaluate, and develop recommendations related to this purpose.

The Task Force was established in Section 31-j of the Agriculture and Markets Law, which was updated in 2021. Task Force members are appointed by the Commissioner and include at least two representatives from organizations dedicated to the promotion, expansion, or protection of community gardens. The Task Force meets biannually and as needed to perform its functions.

The statutory priorities and objectives listed below are used as a framework to guide the Community Gardens Task Force and support state agency work that achieves these priorities and objectives.

• Encourage the establishment and expansion of community gardens by state agencies, municipal governments, and private parties.
• Encourage cooperation between the activities and operations of community gardens and provision of donated food to local voluntary food assistance programs for the poor and disadvantaged.
• Increase the benefits that community gardens may provide to the local community in which they are located.
• Encourage cooperation with community-based organizations to increase the opportunities for seniors, those aged sixty years of age or older, to participate in community gardens.
• Encourage the expansion of the production of fresh fruits and vegetables in areas served by community gardens so that such fresh produce can be consumed locally to help encourage healthier lifestyles and wellness, and to help reduce the incidence of adult and childhood obesity.
• Develop after school programs that establish, maintain, and expand community gardens.
• Encourage the development and expansion of community gardens in food deserts as defined in section two hundred sixty of this chapter.

Current members of the Community Gardens Task Force include:

• Stephen Acquario, New York State Association of Counties
• Chris Anderson, New York Association of Towns
• Owen Gilbo, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
• Lewis Clarke, New York State Department of Health
• Peter Dunleavy, New York State Department of Transportation
• Katharine Petronis, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
• Andrew Barrett, Food Ed Hub/Coalition
• Tim Chen, Grassroot Gardens of Western New York
• Allison DeHonney, Buffalo Go Green
• Iyeshima Harris, Green Guerillas
• Kwesi Joseph, Cornell Cooperative Extension: New York City
• Virginia Kasinki, Downing Park Urban Farm/ Newburgh Urban Farm and Food Initiative
• Amy Klein, Capital Roots
• Melissa MacKinnon, SiCM/Schenectady Urban Farms
• Carlos Martinez, NYC Parks GreenThumb
• Qiana Mickie, New York City Office of Urban Agriculture
• Gabrielle Mosquera, MPA, Teens for Food Justice
• Emma Phillips, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe
• Pamela Reese Smith, Community Gardens for Rochester
• Jonnell Robinson, Syracuse Grows
• Jason Duverney-Gaspar, Edible Schoolyard
• DK Kinard, Urban Agriculture Educator, Farmer, and Chef
• Judiann Carmack-Fayyaz, Foodlab at Stony Brook University
• Mark-Antonio Smith, The Nutury for Kids
• Amelia LoDolce, Volunteers Improving Neighborhood Environments (VINES)
• Cory Hasson, New York Restoration Project
• Mike Rezny, GrowNYC

No members of this board receive payment of expenses or other compensation in the performance of their duties as members.

Community Gardens Workbook

The Community Gardens Workbook provides a methodical approach to starting (or reinvigorating) a community garden. It connects existing garden leaders to regional resources and provides considerations for addressing land use, legal, and financial issues related to long-term sustainability. The workbook is currently available in English and Spanish. To request a printed copy, please contact us (see below). Support for this initiative was included in Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State address.

Agricultural Resources Dashboard

The Agricultural Resources Dashboard centralizes resources for food producers. The dashboard originates from stakeholder feedback provided by New York State’s Community Gardens Task Force as outlined in the 2023 Report. One of the priority actions identified by the Task Force was creating a user-friendly, up-to-date resources dashboard where urban farmers can access resources that aid in the development and expansion of local agriculture.