1. Reporters’ book
A guide for design-
based ethnographic
research
Sixth and B Garden

2. 1.1 Description
The garden serves as an anchor of local community gardening
groups and as a working model of preservation for an energetic
greening movement. The garden has a total of 80 plots, over 15
fruiting trees, and more than 50 flowering shrubs and
innumerable herbs, flowers and vegetables. There are 80
members in the Sixth and B Garden community. Monthly
meetings are held and members are required to attend at least
4 a year in order to maintain their membership. The garden has
an excellent government. In a very democratic manner, all
decisions are made as a community through elections and
votes. Members of the garden are required to maintain their
plot and contribute at least 4 hours of community work a month,
which can include sweeping, working in garden the committee,
or running for election as a garden executive. All members must
live between Delancey and 14th Street and Broadway and the
East River, and pay an annual fee of $12.00.
1.2 Context
Prior to the garden’s existence, the neighborhood was a very
unsafe. There were abandoned buildings that were used as drug
houses. The city knocked down the buildings and left open lots.
The founding members cleaned the lot and created the Sixth and
B Garden. Upon creation of the garden, the neighborhood’s
community flourished. The garden is now surrounded by a nice
area where members are able to feel safe and relaxed.

3. 1.3 History of the initiative
In the late 70's and early 80's, the energy crisis caused landlords to
abandon their buildings, which then became occupied by
deteriorating, vacant buildings used as drug houses. The buildings
were eventually knocked down by the city and turned into vacant lots.
A group of local community members of the area cleaned up the lot
and transformed it into a beautiful garden. The garden established
partnerships with the Green Guerrillas and the Trust for Public Land
in order to allow the garden to raise funds to buy supplies and
gardening equipment. Members consisted of many artists and
performers who built a stage to put on shows and events for the
community. This has become a major part of the garden society. Arts
and crafts, pumpkin carving contests, live concerts and more are all
held at the garden for the surrounding community’s enjoyment. At the
end of every year, the garden hosts the Harvest Festival, where large
grill tables are set up and members cook food for guests. A raffle is
also held and all profits go towards operational funds for the garden.
Local businesses contribute to the event by selling 2-for-1 goods, as
well. Unfortunately, in more recent years, events are limited due to
lack of support by the state and private foundations. However, garden
members continue to fund events themselves in order to help
maintain a strong relationship with the community.
1.4 Main actors
The Sixth and B Garden has been in existence for over 27 years.
There is a wide range of members including families, shop-
owners, artists, students and more. The garden keeps plots
open for students from the Public School 364, located right
across the street from the garden, and a Community Youth
Center a block away. However, participation depends on the
enthusiasm of a specific teacher. The garden openly welcomes
students and youth programs in the neighborhood to work on
the plot, look after the garden and learn about the plants and
nature.

4. 1.5. Technologies
The Sixth and B garden’s irrigation system is connected to a
water source from the street. Faucets, hoses and water barrels
are used to circulate water throughout the garden. Each plot in
the garden is 4’x8’. Garden member, Gray Wolf, maintains the
garden’s website which contains excellent facts about the
garden’s history, membership and events. Garden members
communicate to each other through e-mail and phone. Each
member assigns jobs and works together to schedule who
opens and closes the garden each day.
1.6. Communication
A community bulletin board is available for members to post
flyers to promote upcoming events and raise awareness of the
garden. However, the Sixth and B garden finds it difficult to
communicate to surrounding residents and community
members. The neighborhood has a difficult time understanding
the purpose of the garden, due to the fact that it is strictly
volunteer-based and open hours depend on the availability of
members to monitor the open garden. The city does not require
the garden to be open for more than 20 hours (as weather
permits). However, members try their best to be available as
much as possible to keep the garden open for the public’s
enjoyment.

5. 1.7. Perspective for the future
The city has stayed very positive for the garden, however there
have been some setbacks. The garden is working hard to try to
get zoned as parkland, which will provide a more stable
existence. Recent budget cutbacks have prevented the garden
from hosting more events, however members are staying
positive for the future. They are currently building an herb
garden, as well as a new shaded sitting area for guests to relax
in.
1.8. Problems and opportunities
The main problem of the Sixth and B Garden is the lack of
motivation of some of the members. It is difficult to keep the
garden open all the time because a member must be able to
monitor at all times to prevent vandalism of the plants and
vegetables. The garden is always encouraging new members to
join and help maintain more open hours so that the community
can become more involved.

6. 1.9. Indications of other social innovation
The garden hosts many events for the neighborhood to get more
involved with the garden. Plant and bake sales are held the first
weekend of each month where members are given the
opportunity to sell any extra vegetables and plants. The garden
also sponsors poetry readings and performances for singers
and songwriters. All profits go to the garden to repair lights,
concrete, etc.
1.10. References
Website: http://www.6bgarden.org/
Interviewees: William Hohauser 212-260-6389 (home)
Gray Wolf
Contacts: Tim Young 212-614-0507 (home)
Mary Buchen marybuchen@yahoo.com

7. Quantitative Data Exercise
How many members does the initiative have? 80 members.
How many are very active in the initiative? Around half of the
total members.
How does individual spaces compare with shared/group
spaces? The individual plots are 4x8 feet and the lot is 17,000
square feet.