Zinsser Renewal Project

The goal of my project is to enhance the sustainability, accessibility, and appeal of our local community gardens. Zinsser Gardens  are community vegetable and flower gardens that began as Victory Gardens during World War I. The gardens were created on the estate of Frederick Zinsser,  who was village mayor and owner of a local waterfront factory that produced mustard gas during the war.  The area is also the probable site of a September 30, 1778 skirmish, called the Battle of Edgars Lane, in which Hessian mercenaries marching north from Yonkers were routed by an ambush of American troops from Virginia. A pocket park aptly named Revolutionary Walk is across Broadway from Zinsser Park, and memorializes this history.

The gardens have been tended by successive generations of Hastingsites ever since their inception. They are a beloved and historic element of Hastings-on-Hudson, which create community fabric and enhance food security.

Accomplishments

1. Garden Cleanup:

   • Organized 3 community cleanup events involving over 20 volunteers, including youth groups and local families.

   • Removed many bags of debris, weeds, and invasive plants.

2. Garden Design and Planting:

   • Collaborated with other groups to redesign the layout of the gardens, focusing on native plants and pollinator-friendly species.

   • Planted a total of # new plants, including vegetables, herbs, and flowers, with the help of 10 youth volunteers.

3. Community Engagement:

   • Created a compost sign-up system, resulting in 4 regular volunteers committed to ongoing maintenance.

   • We also were able to plan big work parties with many local people coming out to help. 

4. Garden Rebuilding:

   • Successfully renovated 2 community gardens into one large shared garden that will be used by 4 gardeners total. This included structural improvements like raised beds, new fencing, and pathways to enhance accessibility. This project has encouraged other existing gardeners to volunteer their gardens for improvements and shared responsibilities. 

   • Converted 2 existing, but unmanaged, gardens that did not get much sunlight due to a large tree in the middle of the garden into a large common storage area. 

   • Purchased a small shed to house community tools and is properly locked through fencing and a lock on the shed. 

   • Built 10 new doors for gardens that needed them. 

   • Improved 5 existing gardens with new fencing, doors and some beds.

   • Built 2 new compost bins (3 compartments each) out of reused pallets and new boards which will be managed by the gardeners. 

   • Improved the entry to the garden by removing all of the old brush and trash and built a wood privacy 4’ fence around the area to hide it. 

   • Created a defined space for wood chips and compost.

   • Purchased a sign making kit that will allow us to make similar wood signs to the state parks. These signs will inform how to use the compost area and gardens.