I live five blocks away from Lincoln Place and I regret not buying here when I could afford it, but I can’t now. This block has now won Brooklyn’s greenest block competition four times by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. So, I walked over to find out what their system is.
“I Should Have Bought There”
I know I’m talking to you if you’ve ever looked at a neighborhood and just thought, “I should have bought there.” Maybe it was the gardens. Maybe the block parties were popping. The people were clearly having something figured out that you did not.
You’re Wondering if You’re Doing it Right. You Are.
If you are working on a project and doubting your method, be assured you are doing fine. Whenever you question your path while building something new, trust your instincts—you are on the correct track and succeeding.
Because here’s the thing. This block didn’t win once.
Four-Time Championships, the Same Block, Same Neighbors
Four-time championships, the same block, same neighbors. At some point, it stops being about the green thumb, and it starts to be about the process. So, I walked over to Lincoln Place between New York and Notion Avenue.It’s just a short distance—five blocks—from where I live in Brooklyn
What They Did Differently Than Every Other Brooklyn Block
I’m talking to whoever will talk back. I’m looking at what they’re planting and how they’re organizing and what they did differently than every other Brooklyn block. And honestly, the lesson isn’t about gardening. It really isn’t.
When You Apply Good Systems and Great Design, You Can Have Whatever You Want
It’s about what happens when a community is building a system that outlasts any individual gardener like you and I. I really appreciate you for stopping through today because what this means to me as a solo gardener, a black male living in Brooklyn, is that when you apply good systems and great design, you can have whatever you want.
I’m Stefan Torren — Building a Garden That Runs Itself
Introduction & Goals
- I split my time between Brooklyn and the Catskills…
- I’m creating an easy-care garden that fits my lifestyle…
- I’m designing a garden that complements my routine rather than adding to my workload.
- Consume my time: Take over my life, demand constant work, drain my hours.
Practical & Efficient Systems
- Outdoor space: Yard, garden area, landscape, outdoor living room.
- Practical: Useful, sensible, functional, realistic.
- Low-maintenance (Best for plants, grass, and overall yard work)
- Simple (Quick to manage and look after)
- Easy-going (Needs very little of your time)
- Stress-free (Does not cause extra work or worry)
Smart garden habits make regular upkeep fast and easy.
Brooklyn is Zone 7B — Stick With Me
And I’m going to tell you exactly why Brooklyn is zone 7B, right? Harsh winters, but not so harsh like I get upstate in zone 6A. So stick with me. Come on. Come on. Let me show you exactly what I like over here on this block.
Like Woah. Now This is Pretty.
Okay. Like woah. Now this is pretty. Let me show you this. Look how pretty that is. So that looks like they have some planter boxes up against a rod iron. Obviously I’m a commuter, too, so my bike can definitely be locked up.
Thrilling and Filling and Spilling Over
But I love the way that plant is thrilling and filling and spilling over. Um, we are not quite at sunset, so this is a really good opportunity to take some inspiration. Kolas, some hosta, um shade. Another beautiful.
How You Can Recycle Your Skateboard — Check That Out
And I love how they, for all of my New Yorkers out there that want to understand how you can recycle your skateboard. Check that out. That’s super cool. Um, I love that white and that purple there. That’s really pretty.
The Brownstones Are Beautiful on This Block
More kolas. And I just love how they’re incorporating artwork Heath Herring inspired planter right on the streets. The brownstones are beautiful on this block.
Beautiful Hydrangea — It Smells Lovely
Beautiful hydrangea. I don’t know which hydrangea that is. Um, but it smells lovely. Um, I have the incredible proven winter upstate. Oh, this is lovely.
The Way They Decorate a Brooklyn Stoop is Definitely Inspiration for Me
And I can see exactly why the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has, you know, given this block and this community and the neighbors their props because the way they’re going off and the way they’re showing off how they decorate a Brooklyn stoop, a Brooklyn flower box, large planters, is definitely inspiration for me.
Happier Than a Bee on a Sunflower
This is so pretty. Petunias. So, I’m sure during the day this block gets a lot of sun, right? But for right now we are coming into early evening. So sometime around today I will be happier than a bee on a sunflower.
Someone’s Dinosaur Garden — Which is So Fun
Okay. Susan Malias. That’s pretty. Okay, so obviously they have a lot of nice family here. So this is someone’s dinosaur garden, which is so fun. And that’s the thing about gardening.
You Don’t Have to Have Traditional Pots
If you are watching this video and you see that’s fun, too. If you see that, hey, I like what they’re doing here. You don’t have to have traditional pots. Someone actually just has, you know, someone is using a steel barrel that they painted inspired by the New York City ferry.
Big Apple Goes Green — People Are Really Playing Around With Color
Big Apple goes green. Love that. People are really playing around with color here. They’re playing around with art. That’s a tin can with a bee with plastic wings. They’re using different textures.
New York is a Melting Pot of Culture and People With Ideas
They’re being super creative with how they are displaying their plants. This is a really cool drum. So, this might be a music lover.“And that’s what New York is all about.“It is a lively group of different cultures and people, full of new ideas and bright energy.”
- “It is a rich mix of backgrounds and minds, packed with creativity and motivation.”
Their Sweet Potato Vines Are Vining. Okay?
And for those of you who’ve never been to New York, I really hope that you get an opportunity to come on over to Lincoln Place because their sweet potato vines are vining. Okay? And I just want to show you if you do not think that I’m telling you what it is or dropping you some game.
Greenest Block in Brooklyn by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Let me see that this block has entered the contest. Greenest block in Brooklyn by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Right. Look at that. This is about gardening.
Good Horticultural Practices — You Have to Earn
Criteria for judging includes level of participation, variety of suitability of plants, care of street trees, color, creativity, a total visual effect, use of native plants, soil condition and use of mulch and other good horticultural practices.
This Block Has Horticultural Guidelines — It’s Not About Just Planting
This sign is perennial. Use it again when you need to enter next year. That’s the thing. It’s not about just planting. You know, this block has horticultural guidelines, you know. It’s not about like, hey, I just want to be in the contest. You have to earn.
“Do Not Cut the Flowers” — You Can Admire, You Can Respect
How you doing? Like nice block. Yeah. So, I like how the community is telling people, “Do not cut the flowers.” You can admire the garden. You can respect the plants and the pollinators, but you’re not going to cut our flowers.
Bees Love it Here — So Many Good Pollinators
Look at that. Bees love it here. So many good pollinators. A
nother cool bee lover. Tin can with plastic wings mirroring.
What I Love Most — More Than Anything — is a Conifer
Okay. Finally, for those of you who know me and what I love
most more than anything other than a Patty Leel sweet potato pie from Walmart is a conifer.“So, this juniper has some berries growing on it. I’m still learning, so I’m not quite sure what that means yet.”
That Thing is Popping — The New York Taxi
But what I will tell you is that thing is popping. Look at that. So again, this is a really clever way to pay respect to iconic visuals of New York, the New York taxi. They’re promoting cleaner transport and a greener future.
Don’t Hate, Propagate — Random Acts of Gardening
Love this styling and variety of perennials and shrubs, trees, and a conifer. That’s a beautiful, beautiful display. This is another practice of random acts of gardening by using a wheelbarrow as a planter. Don’t hate, propagate. That’s cool.
A Really Cool Showcase of Music Lovers
Sedums. Oh wow. So nice here. People really like their kolas. And let me actually show you here. So, this is a really cool showcase of music lovers.
Music, Nature, and Community — When the Brooklyn Chamber Players Go Green
When the Brooklyn Chamber players go green, music, nature, and community. I love this. So, they do outdoor performances. They transform the neighborhood streets and gardens into vibrant concert spaces, sustainable practice, community connections.
Really Cool Orchestras Happening Right There Side by Side
Here it’s all about making music accessible, local, and rooted in everyday beauty of Brooklyn. How cool is that? So, think really cool orchestras happening right there side by side with this beautiful display.
I Am Coming to You Every Sunday
Listen, if you are enjoying my content, I ask that you press subscribe. I’m trying to get to a thousand followers by 2027. We are in summer 2026. I am coming to you every Sunday to give you my view, perspective, authentic voice in the space of gardening, home in the outdoors.
I Am a New York Boy — Here Since 1998
You know, I am a New York boy. You know, I’ve been here since 1998, originally from Delaware. So when I uncover my inspiration, right, like somewhere like Lincoln Place and I’m coming here to you, it’s because it’s valuable.
Our Resources Are Strong Here and So is Our Creativity
It’s an opportunity for you to see what New York is doing, how we planting, how we showing up in this space, right? Because our resources are strong here and so is our creativity. I am so honored to just have walked the Lincoln Place block and I’m really, really thankful that I can show it here to you.
“Get Off My Block. You Don’t Live Here.” — See You in the Dirt
I really hope that you enjoyed this and you should definitely come by and check me out next Sunday because I think the neighbors are coming through and they’re like, “Get off my block. You don’t live here. You live five blocks away.” All right. So, I’ll see you soon. All right. See you in the dirt. For more helpful home and garden guides, visit Home Care Guide Hub.
