project leader
Gregory T
location
87-91 Schenectady Ave
(Weeksville, Crown Heights, Brooklyn)
latest update rss
Update: The tree was cut down...

the project

Imani Garden is located in the middle of Weeksville, the oldest independent African-American community in New York City.  Imani was founded by a community group and local church over 50 years ago!  Until 2015, the garden spanned 3 lots hosting a chicken coop, chicken run and the beautiful Imani Willow Tree.

In 2015, middle lot 89 was purchased for development and was recently fenced off from the rest of the garden. Lot 89 is important for several reasons, including:

  • It's in the middle of our beloved 50-year-old community garden
  • Our chicken coop and chicken run reside on the lot
  • The landmark Imani Willow Tree lives on the lot

Now, we have a chance to buy back this lot at cost and we need your help!

After many conversations with the current land owner, we now have the chance to buy back this community asset. 

The Imani Garden is a very historic and culturally significant site, being close to the home of the founder of Weeksville, James Weeks and also next to the first integrated public school in Brooklyn. By saving middle lot 89, securing the Willow Tree and reuniting the garden, we can show the city and the country that African-American history is a priority and worthy of protection.  

We need to raise these funds by October 1st in order to secure the lot. Please make your tax-deductible donation today. Every donations counts and no gift is too small!

You may also sign our petition here, to help save the Imani Willow!

the steps

Once the cash is raised, we will acquire the middle lot, at 89 Schenectady Avenue from it's current owner and donate it to NYRP, so that the entire three lots that comprise the Imani Garden will be saved forever for the Weeksville community.  

 

At present, the two side lots, 87 and 91 Schenectady Avenue are owned by NYRP.

 

 

 

 

 

why we're doing it

In 1838, James Weeks, a freed slave, acquired a large parcel of land that included the location of the Weeping Willow. The community he created was named Weeksville.   Now development is wiping out the area that was once Weeksville.  We are pleading with others to help us preserve the Weeping Willow and the Imani Garden, located at the very center of Weeksville.  Little is left and even less will be left if Imani is destroyed.  Timing is critical.

For more behind the scenes information about the Imani Garden and this WIllow Tree, click here to watch another video. 

*The tax deductibility of your contribution may be affected by goods or services received. Please contact your financial advisor with questions regarding your donation.

 

 

Conversation

Please plan to attend our October 1st fundraiser. Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, 53 PPW at 1st Street. Tickets are $20 if bought in advance. $25 at the door. We'll be witnessing two years of struggle to save the Imani Weeping Willow, talking about how we can better preserve land for our community, watching a video about our Willow, celebrating the history of Weeksville. With live music and entertainment, refreshments, vegetables and medicinals from Imani Garden. Here's the link for tickets and to place an ad in our event booklet. https://wastenotpermaculture.org/
We're in the Prospect Heights Patch newspaper. Here's the link. https://patch.com/new-york/prospectheights/huge-willow-tree-brooklyn-garden-could-be-torn-down-developers
At a meeting of the garden members on Sunday October 15th, we voted to continue work on finding possible uses of these monies. More soon.

budget

Disbursed budget (5.16.18):

Note as of May 21st: Sadly the willow was cut down on Friday!  Based on talks with garden members, the sense is that we should use what funds remain in the IOBY account after paying our expenses so far, to honor the memory of the willow.  To that end, we need to relocate our chickens which won't be happy next to a construction site, relocate the cob oven which is right on the property line and in general do a complete redesign of the garden now that a key element, the willow, is no longer present.  We're also considering some form of memorial service that will happen after Labor Day, which may involve hiring a facilitator and incur some other related expenses.  
 


RAISED = $2,408.00
 less ioby Platform Fee  $35.00
less ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $69.12
TOTAL TO DISBURSE = $2,303.88

The middle lot of Imani Garden was sold in April 2016 for $500,000.  While the owner of the lot no longer expects to get rich from the lot, he'd at least like to get back what he paid for it.  It is a 20 x 100 lot on which he had planned to build a 7 unit apartment building.  Any additional expenses he incurred while owning the lot could written-off as a tax deductible contribution.



Project Subtotal =  $500,000
ioby Platform Fee  $35
ioby Fiscal Sponsorship Fee (5%) $25,000
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $15,000
Total to Raise on ioby = $540,035

 

updates

Update: The tree was cut down...

Sadly the willow was cut down on Friday, May 18th!  Based on talks with garden members, the sense is that we should use what funds remain in the IOBY account after paying our expenses so far, to honor the memory of the willow.  To that end, we need to relocate our chickens which won't be happy next to a construction site, relocate the cob oven which is right on the property line and in general do a complete redesign of the garden now that a key element, the willow, is no longer present.  We're also considering some form of memorial service that will happen after Labor Day, which may involve hiring a facilitator and incur some other related expenses.  

Please follow up on facebook for more updates and events. https://www.facebook.com/Imani-Garden-168006109999475/ 

Photos from our event!

Finally, we've gotten some photos to you show you how wonderful this event from last Sunday was! Again many thanks to all who worked so hard for so many months to make this event a great success. 

 

Watch our new video!

Through the generous support of garden volunteer and videographer, Tania Cuevas, we have a new Imani Garden Video! Check it out and share it with others.

 

Save The Weeping Willow from Tania Cuevas on Vimeo.

Learn more about the Imani Garden and this special tree!

Hear the sounds, see the activities and learn more about the stories of the Imani Garden.

Location of Imani Garden

Just to be clear, the Imani Garden is located in the Weeksville section of Crown Heights.  Our October 1st fund raiser will be held at the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, at 53 Prospect Park West in Park Slope.

photos

This is where photos will go once we build flickr integration

donors

  • Leeza Regensburger
  • Cynthia P
  • carol keefer
  • Anonymous
  • Dali R
  • Kristi + Nat
  • Anonymous
  • Ronit
  • Anonymous
  • kris
  • Wendy & Ray
  • Michael Bennett
  • John Hall
  • Marc & Danielle
  • Lauren Patti, ioby
  • Dee Dee Tiller
  • Hal D.
  • paula segal
  • Katrina S.
  • Gabriel Tolliver
  • Anonymous
  • Guy D.
  • Fatimah Pourian
  • Anonymous
  • Kaitlin H.
  • Deborah Snyder
  • Rev. Robert Emerick
  • moregreenspace
  • Janice Novet
  • Anonymous
  • Monica Ibacache
  • William Keefer
  • Rev. Finley Schaeef
  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous
  • Paul T
  • Ibrahim
  • Thomas N
  • Anonymous
  • Emily Fano
  • Greg T.
  • Anonymous
  • Vandra Thorburn