Thanks so much to Peggy Conte for this amazing guest blog post interview with long-time garden member Nitza Wagoner!
Interview with Nitza Wagoner
by Peggy Conte
Thank you, Nitza
for all you have done for our community! I’d
like to ask you a few questions.
Q: Where are you from?
A: I was born in Puerto Rico in a small
village called Mala Pascua. One of 9
siblings.
Q:
Why do you
sometimes use the name Nin?
A: My dad used to called me Nin as a
child. I never forgot it. I use this
pen name and my mom’s surname honoring both my parents
when I write or create artwork. (Nin
Rodriguez)
Q: How long have you been a member of 615 Green?
A: I have been a member of 6/15 for almost 24 years. I joined in 1992. Though I lived in Park Slope since 1977 I
rarely ventured into the south slope back then.
It took a trip with Ellen Kirby from BBG to Washington’s Crossing to discover 6/15 Green as we passed the garden
in the van on the way back from our outing.
I saw a small crew at work in the community garden as Ellen Kirby gave a
short history of the garden movement. I
considered joining.
Q:
What do you like
most about 615 Green?
A: Gardening has always been a passion
for me. I always took charge of a little
patch of earth wherever there was one where I lived. Finding like-minded people in the garden made
me feel right at home. Through the
years, strong ties have been formed with gardeners and friendships have
evolved. I enjoy the strong sense of
community and the location of the garden is close to home. The Multi-cultural/social mix has its
rewards. The diversity of neighbors and
volunteers is very satisfying.
A: The kids space through the years has
been a Sunflower Garden, a Bamboo Hut, and a Peace Garden.
In 2011, I saw the
kids playing in a mud hole and I was concerned for the safety/health of the
kids digging in the dirt puddle last called a PEACE GARDEN.
I thought a more
ample space would serve the children in the neighborhood so I created the
SANDBOX shaped in a figure eight. One
circle was designated for continuous play and the other circle was a veggie
garden. Kathleen Cholewka assisted me in
creating this active spot. It’s location near the lawn made it quickly visible and easily
accessible. Kids loved it!! The project was a success.
In 2012
because of the new
building casting much shade into the garden, 6/15 re-designed the layout of the
garden. The sunny, Sandbox was to
become the cutting garden. The former
Secret Garden, a spot where children gathered under the Dwarf Cherry Tree that
had been formerly stewarded but abandoned was then designated as the future children’s space. After removal of much accumulated castoffs of the
garden and debris with help from other volunteers (Anahit, Matthias, Will…) I created a design plan for The Children’s Garden, which was not approved. The spot became a digging pit shortly after
that.
The soil was tested
for lead and was closed off and remediated for several months, however, that
plan was terminated. The root systems
from the neighboring trees, stone and debris retained in the soil made it almost
impossible to complete the task. I drew
up another plan to salvage the area and keep it open for child’s play. I presented my draft to the membership and it was
approved this time. I covered the whole area with Heavy Duty Garden Landscape
Cloth and changed the layout. The cloth
installation has been completed and the garden is presently open. It is once again “a very active area!”
Having retired in
2010, I have had some free time on my hands to be creative. Parents and other garden members work but
they wanted a place for the kids to call their own. This work is tedious and
time consuming work. It not being a
possibility for them, I decided once again to become the steward of the current
Children’s Garden.
My hope for the
future is that the children visiting the garden might become the next
generation of gardeners and environmentalists saving our open green
spaces. I check in almost daily to make
sure the hot spot is safe and “somewhat” organized. Gardening is a joy.
Q: Can you tell us about the beneficial
insect hotel and why you created it?
A: I designed the BIH after I got
inspired at a GreenThumb Workshop with Gahl Shottan at the Tranquility Garden
where she showed us a few models and instructed us on how to make them.
I thought it would be a good teaching tool to
instruct kids about other living “tiny” creatures that inhabit our garden environment. The hotel will eventually serve as nesting
areas for insects during winter months.
There are “residents living” there if you look closely.
The white filling in the twigs and other openings are closed doors. The insects are at work/rest.
Q: Can you talk about the Open Space Gallery and why you started that?
A: The Open Space Gallery Project was inspired by 9/11. The garden is a place for respite and
relaxation. I created the gallery, then
a Kiosk, to have artist show and share their work in our green space to help us
with healing. We sang Patriotic songs,
lighted candles in remembrance and had our first show entitled “The Empty Chairs” in
memory of loved ones that passed.
Sharing our feelings about the assault on our homeland was very
traumatic. Inviting the artist community
was my way of sharing the beauty still in our world despite this fragmented
time of sorrow in our lives. The kiosk
was a distraction. A structure to keep
us focused on what still mattered to us.
Q: What are some other projects that you
are currently working on?
A: I have collaborations with Spoke the Hub--photo
shoots of performances in the garden, Earth Matter NY- photo shoots of
Community Builds and site specific structures, BQLT- Communications Newsletter
Column and a current Prospect Hill
Senior Portrait Series. These shoots
will be exhibited in the garden, on my website or at organization site
locations. I am also a Million Trees Tree Pit Steward at NYU Medical Center on
13th Street.
My present dream
and goal is to spend time on a work I have yet to complete about my own life, “Mi Vida en Paper” (My
Life on Paper). This labor of love will
be a collage of photography and text. Three untitled pieces are in the works.
