• Written By: Tony Hillery
• Illustrated by: Jessie Hartland
• For Ages: 4-8 years
• Language: English
• Topics Covered: Own Voices, Black Culture & Identity, Food Equity, Community Involvement, Community Garden, Food Desert.

Harlem Grown is an awesome true story about a man named Tony (the author himself!) who helped kids clear our a vacant lot across the street from their elementary school and turn it into a community garden.

Tony was a volunteer at PS 175, a school in Harlem that was also in a food desert. In the neighborhood, there was nowhere to buy fresh healthy produce. The vacant lot across the street from the school was called the haunted garden by the kids! A student named Neveah began to help Tony clear and prepare the lot, and they decided to make it a school project to create the garden.

This lesson plan includes:

• Vocabulary

• Summary

• Reflection Questions

• Continuing the Conversation Activities

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