Aresh actually spoke at Petrocollapse. I talked to him afterwards about vegetable gardens around Manhattan, and he said that there really aren't very many. The organization is pretty cool, but they seem to have their hands full in the Bronx, so I don't think they'll be starting up in Manhattan anytime soon.

There are lots of community gardens (www.cenyc.org), but hardly any of them are food gardens. But perhaps the Council on the Env't is the place to start. As for greenmarkets, there are a bunch on the upper west side, not on the east side. But that website is where to find who to contact re: green markets.

peakguy--I'm not the kind of person who's good at making contacts, but if you make headway somewhere, I'll help you out in the garden. The upper east side is certainly closer than the Bronx for me...

I have emailed the Council on the Environment, but no response yet. The local green area is Carl Schurz park, so maybe that's something I should get involved with but again they don't do food. When I walked past yesterday, I thought the large broad double horseshoe shaped pathway would be big enough for the farmer booths.