In this story based on real events, people avoid the abandoned lot across from Nevaeh’s school—until Mr. Tony has the idea to turn it into a garden. Nevaeh’s class learns how to grow plants but also how to persevere and to give back to the community.
Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood
Discuss the Book
Mr. Tony’s Idea Pages 1–11
- Important Moment: Mr. Tony begins to clear out trash from an abandoned lot near a school.
- Ask and Share: How do you think people feel about the “haunted garden” at the beginning of the story? If you found a “haunted garden,” what would you want to do with it?
Digging With Friends Pages 12–20
- Important Moment: With Mr. Tony’s help, the children at the school plant 400 seedlings in the lot. Then they water and weed the garden.
- Ask and Share: How do the characters help each other to create the garden? What do you think would have happened if just one person tried to plant the garden on their own?
Trying Again Pages 21–26
- Important Moment: When some plants don’t grow, Mr. Tony and the children try different plants instead.
- Ask and Share: How do you think Nevaeh and the other kids feel when some of the plants don’t grow? What do you do when you try something that isn’t successful right away?
A City Farm Pages 27–32
- Important Moment: The children are able to bring home the vegetables to their families and to share with their community.
- Ask and Share: How do you think the new garden changes the community? If you could create something to help your community, what would it be?