Cornell Cooperative Extension of New York City conducted Garden Mosaics at the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center, Inc. in Crotona, Bronx. Youth from an employment program at the Mary Mitchell Center and from the Science and Technology Entry Program of Marymount Manhattan College conducted the program together.

The youth included Patricia, Octavius, Mario, Louis, Ray, Lenworth, Jack, Tamara, Rayshawn, Rashiem, Sharaia, Kelvin, Deisdemy, Wkeri, and Mark. Cooperative Extension educators Roz and Mike, and Cornell University interns Danielle and Emily, helped the youth conduct the Garden Mosaics activities at the Garden of Happiness in the Bronx.

The Garden of Happiness
In the mid-1980's, local residents transformed a vacant, trash-filled lot in the Crotona neighborhood of the Bronx into the Garden of Happiness. Today, 23 members actively garden on land that is owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Although the area around the garden is mostly apartments, there are also vacant lots and abandoned buildings. Recently, several new community gardens sprouted up on these neighborhood vacant lots.

The youth met and interviewed several gardeners including Magdalina, Adela, Frankie, Juan, Yesenia, and Julio. Miguel, the garden manager, arranged for the youth to have their own garden plot. The youth learned that the gardeners grow members of the Solanaceae family, such as tomatoes, tomatillos (also called Mexican tomatoes), peppers, and eggplant. These plants are commonly grown in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, the countries where many of the gardeners come from. They are also suitable for the growing season in New York City.

Some plants reflect individual gardener's preferences and uses. In addition to his tomatoes, cabbage, beans, and squash, Frankie grows radish, lettuce, and cucumbers for salad. Julio grows garlic to keep pests away and papalo for salad. Adela grows sunflowers for food as well as for decoration. She grows her corn and beans together so that the corn will support the climbing beans. Adela makes a medicinal tea from the leaves of epazote and lleva buena or "good weed." Similarly, Magdalina makes a medicinal tea from the tomatillos and cherry tomatoes that she grows.

The gardeners noted that there are some pest problems in the garden and several gardeners use insecticidal dust around their plants. One gardener reported that it has been particularly difficult to grow squash because of the insects. Some gardeners also apply chemical fertilizers to their plants to help them grow better. They water the garden at least several times a week by using water from the rainwater collection barrels.

The various structures, trees, shrubs, and flowers between the plots give the Garden of Happiness a park-like feeling. Garden members, as well as their friends and family, often gather around the casita (little house) for social events. The gardeners frequently use the outdoor barbecue pit and kitchen area inside the casita for cooking and serving meals. During the growing season, there are regular events such as block parties and a Mother's Day party. There are also numerous informal events, from birthday parties to movie nights and book readings.

The garden members devote many hours of labor not only to their own plots, but also to maintaining the larger garden, its casita, fences, murals, and other structures. The gardeners noted that the garden runs on labor, money, and the involvement of the community. At the same time, the garden provides them with happiness, clean air, peace of mind, and a beautiful place to spend time with others.