At first glance, La Isla Garden on 163rd Street between Ogden and Woodycrest Avenues appears to be dormant. It will be several months still before underground bulbs emerge to form a panorama of multi-colored flowers. Where peach and cherry trees blossom in the spring and summer, only naked branches remain in the frigid December winds. 

But for the “greenies”—children and adolescents aged twenty-four all the way down to one who help tend the garden—La Isla is about far more than just nurturing fruits and vegetables; it is also about nurturing their neighborhood. And that is a year-round responsibility.

On December 20, the Greenies will hold a “Christmas bash” at Virginia’s Unisex Beauty Parlour and Barber Shop. The greenies will dress in holiday outfits and pass out toys to neighborhood kids. Local media, including the Spanish-language station Super Canale, is expected to attend the event. The toys will be donated by Highbridge stores and community residents. 

Daniel Celestine, an 8-year-old greenie, said the bash was important to him “cause we helping other people’s children.”

Zonia Ortiz, founded the greenies about three years ago. While raised in the South Bronx, she has family in Georgia including a grandmother who owns a farm. It was from these relatives that Ortiz largely acquired the love of nature she now seeks to pass on to young gardeners.

The “little greenies,” ages five and younger and the “junior greenies,” (ages six to thirteen) weed and water vegetables, tend the rock garden, and plant roses in the children’s  garden. The senior greenies,(sixteen to twenty-four years, nine months) do the work that involves heavier lifting and turn soil over, and also mentor the younger groups.  Ortiz said gardeners as young as one can do a simple task like sticking their finger in greenhouse dirt to plant seeds.

“I take out the trash and water my flowers,” said 5 year-old greenie Joshua Ryan Perez.

Beyond just planting  daisies, tulips, tomatoes,  or eggplants, the greenies learn how to make decisions and how to make friends, Ortiz said. She said the three age groups decide matters like the rules for the garden, and which community events they want to participate in. 

“It’s a great environment,” said senior greenie Joe Grant. “We always get together and come up with compromises.”
Ortiz said the garden was a refuge that allowed the greenies to develop important social skills. “I’m fascinated by what’s going to happen with these kids 10, 15, 20 years from now,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz said the garden also had a healing affect on the greenies, noting for instance that when one of the children’s family members die, a tradition is to plant a rose in the garden and name it after the relative.