Access Oasis is NYC’s new community garden with an inclusive mission—one that centers the disabled experience in design and programming.

Gardening has been proven to reduce stress and improve mood, in addition to supporting our natural environment. Unfortunately, too many people with disabilities can’t access traditional community gardens because of a wide variety of barriers, physical and otherwise. That unintentional exclusion is a lose-lose for both the individual and the community that would be more vibrant with their contributions. Our elders and grandparents often hold a wealth of gardening knowledge, and we can't learn from them because gardens are no longer accessible to them. We want everyone ot be able to learn and teach others at Access Oasis

Members of our core organizing team know from personal experience how accommodations for our disabilities open up a world of possibilities and lead to life-changing experiences. Our approach is to proactively build accessibility into everything that we do, while remaining responsive to individual needs within the incredibly diverse disability community.

Since fall 2024, volunteers have been hard at work turning the paved lot in Astoria, Queens known as “The Sitting Area” into a beautiful oasis filled with flowers and greenery, and creating opportunities for community connection. But in order to make the full vision of Access Oasis a reality, we need funding.

This Disability Pride Month, we’re asking for donations to help us pay for:

Wheelchair accessible picnic table
Raised garden beds in varying heights, including wheelchair accessible beds
Adaptive gardening tools to accommodate for low grip, inability to bend, and more
Additional inclusive furniture & seating
Garden shed to secure tools
Bulbs to plant in Fall 2024
Plants to purchase in Spring 2025
Supplies for hosting community activities and events

Gardeners standing around 3 raised beds in the sun

Hibiscus flower in the rain Two people with wheelbarrow, compost, and cardboard for mulching

Dog with chalk crawing @accessoasis_garden Celosia flower at dusk Garden on pavement iwth raised beds in the sun Woman with sunglasses standing and watering plants in a raised bed

Support Access Oasis Garden

By Access Oasis

Support Access Oasis Garden

Help grow a disability-inclusive garden in Queens!