
Uniting NYC Community Gardens Since 2011
Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens (LUNGS) was formed in 2011 as a grassroots community gardens-based organization to unite the many volunteer-run community gardens in Loisaida, the Lower East Side and the East Village. LUNGS works to promote, protect and preserve gardening and greening through cooperation, coordination and communication. We believe that permanent community gardens and public greenspaces are necessary for a healthy New York.
LUNGS advocates on behalf of membership diversity, permanent community gardens and public green spaces. All community gardens are run by volunteers, who accept their role as stewards of the earth and strive to contribute to the health and well-being of our neighborhood. The gardens each have their own unique personality; each is managed under their own governing rules. Through advocacy and outreach, LUNGS provides support and encouragement for each garden’s needs through various projects and programming.
We sponsor arts and entertainment in community gardens; contribute to a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program; provide educational programming for children and seniors; supervise the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) in community gardens; and host neighborhood garden celebrations and workshops, including the annual Spring Awakening and Harvest Arts Festivals.
We work very closely with the 52 community gardens in our neighborhood and welcome conversations with other greening organizations throughout New York City.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President, Charles Krezell, Fireman’s Memorial Garden, De Colores Community Yard & Cultural Center
Vice President, Aitor Zabalegui, La Plaza Cultural de Armando Perez Community Garden
Treasurer, Karen Kandrac, Miracle Garden
Carmine D’Intino, 6&B Community Garden, Creative Little Garden
Camille Marlow, East Side Outside Community Garden
Carolyn Ratcliffe, Carmen Pabon Del Amanecer Jardin
Christopher Batenhorst, Campos Community Garden
Frank Gonzalez, St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery Garden
George Hirose, Children’s Magical Garden
Jim Fealy, Green Oasis & Gilbert’s Sculpture Garden
Kevin Vasher, Dias Y Flores Community Garden
Laura Sewell, El Sol Brillante
Magali Regis, Campos Community Garden
Margarita Calderone, 6BC Botanical Garden
Michael Hinds, 11 BC Serenity Garden
Riki Colon, Sam & Sadie Koenig Garden
Shawn Dahl, DeColores Community Yard
Shig Matsukawa, Down to Earth Garden
Vito Di Tomaso, Vamos A Sembrar