1. Reporters’ book
A guide for design-
based ethnographic
research
Forsyth Conservatory
BY CARRIE DENNIS, KIM TAS,
ALEXANDRIA SALKED, AND JESSICA JAIMES
Monday, May 10, 2010
3. 1.1 Description
What do they do? (Description of service idea, e.g. a community garden, a
food coop, etc). What are the demands/problems this initiative responds to?
What is the aim of the initiative? What happens and how does it happens?
What benefits does it bring to the neighborhood?
Forsyth Community Garden aims to promote community participation and
the practice of sustainable living. This service idea benefits the entire
neighborhood: from children to senior citizens. The garden promotes a Kids
for Green program that includes storytelling, movie events, field trips, and
environmental education. The garden also offers the Golden Age Center for
senior citizens, a vendors market, playgrounds for kids, and a newly
established soccer turf. The park has also created specific days to celebrate
specific groups of people or ideas in the park including Clean-Up Day and
Kid’s Day. The area supports a recreational area for local senior citizens and
families. The garden requires the assistance of two volunteers to open and
close the park on the three days a week that it is open to the public during the
permitted hours; Thursday 5:00pm-7:00pm, Saturday 12:00am-4:00pm, and
Sunday 12:00am-4:00pm. Prostitution and drugs are the two main concerns
threatening the existence of the community garden. As a sanctuary of peace
and togetherness, the illegal activities presented in the form of drugs and
prostitution are diminishing the quality and safety that exists at the Forsyth
Garden. .
1.2 Context
What is this neighborhood like? How was it before this new solution took
place?
Previously, the neighborhood was drug-infested, rundown, and flowerless. It
was considered a dangerous neighborhood due to the amount of drug-use
and prostitution. However, overtime the neighborhood has greatly improved,
The residual negativity linked to the illicit acts continue to diminish as the
community support strengthens and the awareness of the positive outcomes
of the garden are promoted instigating people to volunteer. It is now a safe
place for children, families and parents to feel comfortable letting their kids
play within the gardens gates. The neighborhood residents are diverse races
and ages.
Monday, May 10, 2010
4. 1.3 History of the initiative
How did the project/initiative start? Who took the initiative? Why?
Can you describe a timeline of events, highlighting success and failure aspects, major milestones?
How far can you go back? How did this initiative mature? How did it turn to be a real enterprise?
(registered, formalized etc.) Did it receive public or private support of any kind? Did it help change
the public or policy structure?
Anna Magenta was the original founder of the Forsyth Garden back in the Fall of 1993. As a new
resident f the area, magenta was inspired to create a community that revolved around fellowship
and sustainable living and determined to eliminate the brutal activities related to drugs and
prostitution that were occurring in the park., Magenta took the initiative to make a change in the
community by transforming the structure and context of the parks condition during the time and
bringing it to a new level where the playground was not a site for crack exchange, but a place
where children could play in a safe and protected environment. The motivation behind Magenta’s
desire to transform the space can be attribute to her love for children and her dream of building a
space that would hopefully expand children's horizons and creativity. She was also interested in
establishing an area of clean and organized space that would uplift the conditions of the community
surrounding. In the beginning of the transformation process, Magenta was receiving support from
the Council on Environment and Operation Green Thumb to develop fences around the space that
would protect the fragile space where trees, plants, and flowers were growing. Garden hours were
imposed in the hopes of keeping illegal activities away and reducing the presence of the homeless
in the area. Magenta faced severe opposition from people who were formerly dealing drugs and
engaging in acts of prostitution in the park space because they no longer had a spot to perform their
business, therefore they were losing sales. The situation escalated to a level of severity where
Magenta was receiving death threats and even facing situations of violence because people
performing illicit acts were threatened by her presence and authority in the area. This did not
deteriorate the strength and motivation of magenta,instead it propelled her to a new level of
determination. Just 2 years after the garden was started, it became incorporated as a not-for-profit
corporation under the name of Forsyth Garden Conservancy, Incorporated. This was a major step
for the garden and would ensure improvement due to the fact that they were eligible to receive
funding that would covers costs to revamp the playground and establish fencing so that the plants
and wildlife would be protected when the garden was closed. These new improvements to the
garden immediately gained positive recognition from family’s and members of the community, but
for those whose home and office the park use to serve as, they rebelled by violating the newly
established fences and vegetation. Although these acts of revolt were discouraging, Magenta
continued to advance the park forward with the construction of a bird sanctuary for the Hua Mei
Bird Club. This was a major attraction, gathering many people from the community and beyond to
come and see the birds sing. In 1996, the expansion of the garden was complete with two new
gardens, the Artemisa Garden and the Tai Chi Garden. Magenta also overcame the challenge
presented by the Roosevelt Park Community Coalition that wanted to eliminate a section of the
playground in order to accommodate a dog run, fortunately Magenta prevailed and the playground
remained intact. Magenta was also victorious in the fight against the privatization of the park and
imposition of a street vendors market in the park. Magenta was successful in establishing a lush
environment that sustained the existence of plants and wildlife, adding more than 30 trees, 400
shrubs, and 2000 bulbs to the area. After all of the effort and time Magenta dedicated to the
transformation process of the garden, the NYC Parks Department claimed ownership and control
over the garden in 1997. They are currently in ownership of the property and have made alterations
to the efforts of Magenta, but they continue to enhance the neighborhood with their implementation
of groups and activities that promote the sustainability and maintenance of the garden.
Monday, May 10, 2010
5. 1.4 Main actors
Who are the users of this initiative? Who are the promoters of this initiative? Is
there a difference between users and promoters or are they basically the same?
Describe users and promoters lifestyles?
Do the users work as a group or groups? Is there a network of related organizations
and/or individuals? Do they have any form of connection or exchange with other
similar initiatives? Was the group inspired by other examples? Do you know
counter examples, (of service ideas that did not take-off), cases that went wrong?
The garden is accessible to the public Thursday evenings and weekends between
12 and 4. Gardeners with plots own their own keys and can access the garden as
desired. The users range throughout all generations, young and old (wheelchair
accessible), rich and poor. The users and promoters of the garden are virtually the
same, for they are interrelated in the sense that the people who use the garden also
advocate the positive outcomes that develop as a result of its existence. It is
through word-pf-mouth advertising that the garden gains volunteers to help
maintain its existence. The lifestyle of the users and promoters vary depending on
their age, background, and social position. It is common among the senior crowd
for members to be retired, spending a majority of their time tending to the garden
where as the younger members are more distracted by their careers and social
agendas that they have less time during the week and more time on weekend
afternoons to spend at the garden. The garden is connected with other gardens
around the city, for they all exchange food and providde eachother with helpful
advice n the maintenance process of the garden.
5
Monday, May 10, 2010
6. 1.5. Technologies
What are the technologies that the group uses? How are they used in
system?
The garden does not rely on high-technologies. Instead, it depends on
the traditional planting techniques.
1.6. Communication
What communication materials do the group have? (e.g. website,
brochures, postcards, etc). What is the main purpose of these materials?
e.g. to keep participants updated about activities (internal
communication) or to get more participants (external communication)?
Does the group want to have more participants?
The garden has a website to inform the public about its history, events,
and goals. The website is also used to reach out to organizations in the
community (i.e., Whole Foods, Starbucks). The gardeners meet once a
month with the steering committee to discuss issues, futures events
(such as It’s My Park Day), and how they can improve.
Monday, May 10, 2010
7. 1.7. Perspective for the future
What are the perspective/objectives of the group for the next 3-5 years? What are
some of the success factors and possible risks in the short medium and long term?
The garden strives for an increased number of volunteers and gardeners as well as
increased public access hours. Volunteers have been busy building boxes for
vegetable growing (it is illegal to grow them in the ground). An effort-in-progress
is building a new chicken coop for their popular chickens. The chickens attract
many children and families to the garden. The ultimate goal f the volunteers who
participate in the maintenance of the garden hope to completely eliminate the
presence of drugs and prostitution, provide the community with a sanctuary that
promotes fellowship, and create a more sustainable environment through the form
of green living practices. The garden does face the risk of being reclaimed by the
city and turned into space for residential or commercial use. With the limited
amount of space in the city threatening the existence of the garden, people are
fighting to ensure the use of the space is beneficial to more than just the
community, but also the world beyond.
1.8. Problems and opportunities
Are there any specific issues/problems/barriers that pose threats to the initiative?
Are there any main areas of concern among the participants (leaders and users
alike)? Are there any opportunities that could be explored (that are currently not
explored)?
One of the main issues was untrustworthy and uncommitted gardeners and
volunteers. Formerly, keys were easily handed out to volunteers and many took
advantage of this accessibility and were never seen again. This has lead to strategy
of earning a key through increased volunteer time with the Green Team and
increased commitment to the garden. Another threat posed to the garden is the fact
that restaurants and cafes, such as Starbucks, are trying to open within the
community gardens of the Lower East Side. Funding is a continuous issue with
community gardens. Forsyth gets most of its funding through grants. An profit
opportunity that may be missed is the ability to sell their flowers and vegetables
within the community. The garden has ties with some outside farmers which come
in and sell their products. This service could be potentially increased and
advertised to the community (not just the garden volunteers) and would draw more
people to the garden and could make the community more environmentally aware.
Monday, May 10, 2010
8. 1.9. Indications of other social innovation
Do the users participate in other entrepreneurial endeavors? Do they
form small initiatives on their own? Are members involved in other
“sustainable” services within the community? (Ex. Food Co-op,
carpooling, community gardens, etc)? Do you see evidence of wider
networks that these users contribute to?
The garden does not sell what they grow. They strive to trade seeds,
plants, and flowers with other gardens in New York City. Forsyth
Garden has an abundance of bamboo that is in great demand explaining
their popularity amongst the graden tradng groups. This approach to
the supply of food diminshes living costs, enabling members of the
community to live a higher quality of life. The sustainable approach to
living also diminishes waste from the unnecessary amount of
packaging involved in store-bought food.
1.10. References
Website of the initiative
Interviewee name and contact information (email, address, phone
number)
Other references (websites, articles, other people we should talk to)
Website: http://www.earthcelebrations.com/gardens/forsyth.html
Interviewees:
Bob Humber (head gardner, phone number: 646-620-5260)
Claudia Berkal (neighborhood resident, information private)
Anna Magenta (Founder of the Garden, phone number: 212.966.9351)
Monday, May 10, 2010
9. Quantitative Data Exercise
How many members does the initiative have? How many are very
active in the initiative? How does individual spaces compare with
shared/group spaces? How many members are involved in other
community-based services? (Food Co-op, activist orgs, clothes
swapping, bike sharing, etc.) What is the size of the initiative in square
footage?
The garden consists of 30 gardeners who are all very dedicated to the
initisative. Each of the members are also juggling careers and social
agendas that they have to schedule the time they spend at the garden
around. Any spare time that the members do get, they try and spend at
the garden to maintain its appearance and tend to the growth of the
wildlife. Many of the members of the garden expand their community
involvement and sustainable forms of living beyond just the confines
of the garden, by participating in clothes swapping, car-pooling, and
food environmental organizations around the city. The individual
spaces of the garden are more personalized and protected as opposed to
the shared space that accommodates the wants and needs of many
people which are larger and designed in amore general format. The
park is owned by the Parks Department, therefore it is protected and
cannot be threatened by the government. The size of the initiative is
2400 square feet of lush green space juxtaposed against the pavement
and cement of the buildings and streets surrounding it.
Monday, May 10, 2010
11. Photo Instructions
Please take close-up detailed photos due to the
winter conditions of gardens (ex. Buds, small
greenery, tools, gathering spaces, colorful areas)
Photos may ONLY be taken with a high megapixel
digital camera (no iphone photos or low
resolution photos)
Choose highest picture quality setting that
camera allows
Always ASK permission before taking photos or
footage of people and/or spaces
See Release Form on the final page of this
document. You MUST have Release Form(s)
signed by the photo/footage subject.
Monday, May 10, 2010
12. Photo checklist
1.Context
1.1 The general context (e.g. landscape, urban area, etc)
1.2 The close context (e.g. the neighbourhood, etc)
1.3 The place from outside (e.g. building, house, etc)
1.4 The entrance (e.g. signage, access door or gate, etc)
1.5 The place from inside (e.g. dedicated room, private places,
gazebo, pond, planting areas, recreational areas, etc)
2. Participant
2.1 Two to three typical users (show them in different situations,
e.g. portrait/standing, in-action, etc)
2.2 The organiser/provider (portrait/standing, in-action, etc)
2.3 Show something characteristic of the user’s motivation to
participate?
2.4 Show the key participants in the service/organization (e.g.
leaders, gatekeepers, organizers, connectors, innovators, etc)
3. Material Artifacts
3.1 Show communication materials of the organization (leaflets,
signage, etc)
3.2 Could you show essential objects that users interact with, or
that provide key moments in the service?
3.3 Could you show evidence of entrepreneurial work by users
or providers? Show intangible/tangible innovations created by
users or providers.
4. Benefits
4.1 Could you show participant benefits? organiser benefits?
collective benefits? environmental benefits? economical
benefits?
5. Perspectives for the future
5.1 Could you show the future perspectives of the solution?
Monday, May 10, 2010
13. Film guidelines
Please take footage of the following:
The person/people you are interviewing. Ask them to introduce
themselves, their role in the organization, and a brief description
of the organization (30 sec)
A brief history of the organization (15-30 sec)
A typical activity taking place in the space including participants of
the organization (30 sec-1 min)
Participants of the organization interacting with each other (30
sec)
Participants of the organization interacting with the space/props/
objects (30 sec)
Monday, May 10, 2010
14. General Release
It is hereby agreed by and between the parties that this
document shall constitute a general release authorizing
Parsons The New School to use the photographs, statements
and video of the undersigned subject in perpetuity, without any
compensation.
It is also understood that the photographs, statements
and/or videos are to be, and may be, used by Parsons for
photographic displays, exhibits, on institution’s website, and the
like, or for inclusion in any brochures, advertisements,
newspapers, newsletters or any similar activities including
print, television or electronic media, at the discretion of
Parsons The New School.
It is further understood by and between both parties to
this agreement that the undersigned subject is not to be
compensated for the use of said materials by Parsons The New
School. The execution of this document constitutes a waiver of
any rights to compensation now or in the future.
It is further understood by and between both parties to
this agreement that this written document constitutes the sum
total of all discussions, negotiations and agreements had with
respect to this release, and that this document, when executed,
represents the entire agreement and understanding between
the parties; any agreement or understanding not contained in
this document is specifically and categorically denied.
Date:
Subject
Witness
Monday, May 10, 2010
