Oddo’s ‘Get Your Garden On’ program kicks off as NYC’s frosty season ends

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — From Ariemma’s in Dongan Hills to Schweitzer’s Nursery in Grant City, spinach, kale and tender lettuces populate the borough’s garden centers. And it is with the planting season’s start and Earth Day as inspiration, Borough President James Oddo announced a new campaign titled “Get Your Garden On.”

The program highlights existing Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) programs and farmers markets on Staten Island, helps promote their activities and nudges residents to plant their own food.

“Get Your Garden On” focuses on general health and personal wellness plus offers tips like the do’s and don’ts in building a sprouting patch of land. The upshot of such efforts at home if the circumstances allow: A healthy eating lifestyle will result. If there’s no ground to cultivate, there are supplements for Island residents with the weekly, Saturday St. George Greenmarket from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and, soon, another at the Mall.

“It is astonishing to learn about the gaps in our country’s food policy, which exposes truly limited access to fresh and healthy foods that we know can help alleviate chronic diseases,” Oddo said.

He added, “By initiating this connection in our own backyards, windowsills and greenhouses to local green markets, we can provide an introduction to nearby fruits and vegetables to Staten Island residents which will have lasting benefits on their health, especially in this time of a 42% clinical obesity rate nationally, tens of millions of Americans who are diabetic and pre-diabetic, and in the wake of a pandemic that was particularly dangerous to those with pre-existing health conditions.”

Donna Tillman at Call It A Wrap in West Brighton thinks the “Get Your Garden On” initiative is a great one. She emphasizes the importance of healthy eats — balancing carbohydrates and packing on the protein with whole wheat pasta and lean meats like bison.

“Mixed greens, fruits, and walnuts provide great sources of Vitamin K and healthy fat. A diet rich in plant-based foods will power a body through the rest of the day,” she said.

Oddo’s office will dedicate a webpage on its site, www.statenislandusa.com, to “Get Your Garden On.” Resources will include harvesting and cooking tips from community gardens, clubs, and cultural organizations.

The BP and his team are also finalizing a partnership with Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden’s Heritage Farm for a grant to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables that will then be distributed to those who need it via local food pantries.

Those who want to share their gardens or show their local produce purchases are encouraged to post their photos on social media with the hashtag #GetYourGardenOnSI to be reposted by the office’s social media accounts.

For details, please visit www.statenislandusa.com/getyourgardenon.

Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at [email protected].

The Advance writes extensively on healthy eating and food sourcing. For more information and further reading, see the links below:

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