Capstones
Graduation Date
Winter 12-17-2021
Grading Professor
Bob Sacha
Subject Concentration
Documentary
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Abstract
Jae Lee is an urban farmer and keeper of New York City soil. Lee spends her time working across gardens throughout New York City. At Phoenix Community Garden in Ocean Hill, Brooklyn, she devises a community composting plan and picks up food scraps from local cafes. She then takes those food scraps to Phoenix Community Garden where she and some of the garden members process those food scraps and turn it into "black gold" or compost. Lee believes that a large part of her role on earth is nourishing the soil. However, New York City gardens are not only inhabited by vegetables and people. City dwellers also share the streets with animal friends, rodents. Rats and some garden members challenge Jae’s desire to carry out composting and her vision of human beings being at peace with their environment.
Recommended Citation
Peart, Natalie, "Black Gold" (2021). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gj_etds/533