Since 1978, with the support of Operation Green Thumb, 20,000 inner-city residents of diverse ethnic backgrounds have transformed over 1,000 crime and vermin infested abandoned lots into fertile oases of vegetable and flower gardens in New York City. Here the community gardeners narrate vivid stories about life on both sides of the garden fence: from their fight against grug dealers, gangs and the lack of city support for their communities, to the successes of the gardens as food suppliers to the homeless, needy family and their senior citizens.