Green Oasis and Gilbert's Garden, Community garden in East Village, Manhattan, United States
Green Oasis and Gilbert's Garden is a community garden covering roughly 1,650 square meters (17,787 sq ft) located between Avenues C and D on East 8th Street. The space includes vegetable plots, bee hives, a koi pond, and a central gazebo sheltered by mature trees.
Two founders established this garden in 1981 by reclaiming five abandoned lots in a declining neighborhood and transforming them into green space. The project merged with an adjacent sculpture garden in 1997, expanding its role as a community hub.
The space hosts theater performances, poetry readings, and seasonal celebrations where visitors witness the community coming together. Its merger with an adjacent sculpture garden has created a place where local artistic activities thrive.
Visitors can join member meetings held on the first and third Sunday of each month at 11 AM to learn about activities and volunteer opportunities. The garden is easily reached on foot and shaded by mature trees, making it comfortable to visit throughout the year.
The garden shelters a rare Blue Atlas Cedar, a large tree with silvery-blue needles that stands out among the area's urban green spaces. The central gazebo was partly funded through money from the film Batteries Not Included, linking Hollywood production with neighborhood community work.
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