named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Garden Stewardship
Preserves and manages over 20 community gardens across Brooklyn and Queens, providing infrastructure, legal protection, and operational support
Compost Education and Outreach
Program focused on urban composting, soil health, and waste reduction, led by staff with expertise in compost systems and education
Garden Infrastructure Projects
Designs and implements physical improvements in gardens, including raised beds, tool sheds, and irrigation systems, often funded through grants
Youth Internship Program
BQLT's first high school internship program, promoting youth engagement in urban conservation, gardening, and environmental stewardship
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 3 activities
- Advocates for permanent protection of urban community gardensPlayed a key role in saving 69 community gardens in New York City and continues to advocate for policies and practices that ensure long-term preservation of urban green spaces.
- Conducts garden maintenance and infrastructure improvementsPerforms regular maintenance and capital improvements in community gardens, including fence repairs, tree removal, and infrastructure upgrades to support safe and functional gardening spaces.
- Stewards and manages community gardens in Brooklyn and QueensOwns or leases 38 community gardens across 20 neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens, ensuring their permanent protection from sale or development, and provides ongoing management including liability insurance, water cost coverage, and property-related administrative support.
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Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 2 activities
- Hosts educational workshops and community-building eventsOrganizes and hosts workshops, political education sessions, movie screenings, and annual events that promote skill-building, resource sharing, and community engagement among gardeners and local residents.
- Provides technical and operational support to community gardenersOffers resources for pest management and conflict resolution, and supports gardeners through administrative and logistical assistance to ensure sustainable and equitable garden operations.
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Food System Convening & Public Engagement 1 activity
- Advances public understanding of food systems and sustainability through mediaUses journalism and media consulting to promote awareness and education around food systems, sustainability, and community-based ecological practices.
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Organizational Governance & Leadership Development 1 activity
- Builds organizational and governance capacityEngages in revising organizational bylaws, constitution, and garden license agreements through committee leadership to strengthen governance and institutional resilience.
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Youth Workforce Development in Food & Environment 1 activity
- Operates youth internship and engagement programsRuns a high school internship program and youth-focused initiatives to promote youth engagement in urban conservation, gardening, and community stewardship, including multi-year programming and garden improvements led by youth participants.
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Environmental Conservation Grantmaking 1 activity
- Secures and manages grant funding for garden projectsSecures external funding, including state grants such as the 2024 New York State Conservation Partnership Program grant, to support garden infrastructure and educational programming.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$206K
Contributions & grants$205K100%
Program service revenue$6500%
Investment income$40%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$265K
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$120K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$638K
Cash$43K
Investments$0
Liabilities$24K
Net assets$614K
Liquid reserves2.0 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -35.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 15
- Ashley Cruce — Board Member
- Courtney Morgan — Board Member
- Curtis Flowers — Board Member
- Elisa Margarita — President
- Gabriella Chinea — Secretary
- Irene Van Slyke — Treasurer
- Jeanette Waters — Board Member
- Kate Gehring — Board Member
- Maya Kutz — Board Member
- Natalia Sucre — Board Member
- Racquel Forrester — President
- Sandra Watanabe — Board Member
- Sean O'Connell — Board Member
- Suzanne Hurley — Board Member
- Tiffany Dixon — Board Member
relationships · 39
Who they work with
- American Community Gardening Association Network — BQLT board member serves on national association board, indicating formal network affiliation.
- Big Reuse Partner — Collaborates on compost education, outreach, and tree mulching projects.
- Board of Directors Government — Provides governance and oversight; Finance Associate reports to the board’s personnel committee and supports the Treasurer.
- Board of Directors Partner — Oversees the organization, with a majority composed of gardeners from BQLT-affiliated gardens.
- Bronx Land Trust Partner — Sister land trust protecting community gardens in the Bronx
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden Partner — Provides education and resources to BQLT gardens through its Community Garden Alliance
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden Partner — References gardening guidance authored by Brooklyn Botanic Garden staff.
- Brooklyn Org Partner — Partner in the 2025 Brooklyn Org Spark Prize, providing recognition and fundraising match support.
- Brooklyn Public Library Partner — Collaborates on the “Our Streets, Our Stories” oral history project since 2016
- Christopher Adlington and Nathaniel Reid Lamar Community Garden Partner — Community garden formally acquired and integrated into BQLT's network of protected green spaces.
- Citizens Committee for New York City Partner — Provides small grants enabling community-driven projects in BQLT gardens
- Cooperative Economics Alliance of New York City (CEANYC) Partner — Partners since 2018 to connect BQLT gardens to cooperative initiatives in NYC’s solidarity economy
- Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Partner — Provides pest management guidance developed by Cornell's NYS Integrated Pest Management program.
- Earth Matter NY Partner — Partnership includes staff cross-involvement and joint programming such as the Heritage Bed Project.
- Green Guerillas Partner — Collaborates through shared representation on the Council of Gardeners Steering Committee.
- Green Guerillas Partner — Supports community gardening through education, organizing, and advocacy
- Green Thumb Partner — Provides programming and material support to BQLT gardens
- GreenThumb Partner — Collaborates with GreenThumb to provide conflict resolution resources for community gardens.
- GrowNYC Partner — Supports BQLT gardens through major build days and annual spring plant sales
- Haiti Cultural Exchange (HCX) Partner — Partners since 2017 to bring Haitian arts and culture into BQLT gardens
- Institute for Local Self-Reliance Partner — Shares compost site rodent management resources produced by Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
- Land Trust Alliance Network — BQLT board member serves on New York Advisory Board and as Ambassador, indicating formal network affiliation.
- Land Trust Alliance Network — Member organization that has provided targeted funding to support BQLT's development
- Manhattan Land Trust Partner — Sister land trust protecting community gardens in Manhattan
- NYC Department of Health Partner — Shares pest management resources developed by NYC Department of Health.
- NYC Parks Partner — References tree bed rat prevention and spotted lanternfly information from NYC Parks.
- NYC Urban Soils Institute Partner — Partners since 2016 to test soil for lead and heavy metals in select BQLT gardens
- New York Cares Partner — Provides volunteer support to many BQLT gardens
- New York Invasive Species Information Partner — Links to invasive species data through New York State's invasive species information portal.
- New York Restoration Project Partner — Supported the build-out of several BQLT gardens
+ 9 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community Building Through Shared Green Spacesmethodology: community-building-through-green-spaceBy developing and sustaining community gardens, the organization fosters social cohesion, mutual aid, and collective stewardship across diverse urban populations, because shared green spaces serve as hubs for relationship-building, cultural expression, and neighborhood solidarity.
- Democratic, Community-Driven Governancemethodology: democratic governanceBy structuring governance so that garden members have voting representation and decision-making power, the organization strengthens community ownership and sustainability of green spaces, because inclusive, grassroots leadership fosters long-term engagement and accountability.
- Land Trust Stewardship for Permanent Green Space Protectionmethodology: land_trust_stewardshipBy acquiring and holding land through a land trust model, the organization ensures community gardens remain permanently protected green spaces, because legal ownership and long-term stewardship prevent displacement and speculative development.
- Urban Agriculture as Community Development and Food Sovereigntymethodology: food-sovereigntyBy supporting urban agriculture and local food production, the organization advances community development and food sovereignty, because growing food locally enables self-determination, resists industrial food systems, and strengthens neighborhood resilience.