The Veggie Nuggets are a youth climate action group rooted in Queens. We helped stop the NRG power plant in Astoria. We painted an environmentally-themed mural at 35th Avenue and 69th Street. And we transformed a forgotten strip of land in Jackson Heights into a small but thriving community garden. Actually, we made it twice because our first garden was unexpectedly destroyed.
The movie we made, “Perennial”, is about how we responded to the loss of our first garden. On November 8, it premiered at the Queens World Film Festival at Kaufman Astoria Studios, as part of the “Environmentally Speaking: 8 Films About Where We Live. Y’Know…The Planet?” block. Sitting in the audience and watching a project we created together appear on a festival screen felt surreal, especially because the story we told is one that we lived.
What Happened to the Garden (And What’s Happening Now)
The space we cared for sits along 69th Street, right up against the CSX tracks, a narrow patch of land most people barely noticed. Before we got involved, it was completely choked with overgrowth and trash. Working with the Jackson Heights Beautification Group, we cleared the area, planted pollinator-friendly perennials, and slowly turned it into a little oasis.
Then in the fall of 2024, almost everything was wiped out. A contractor hired by CSX cleared the entire strip, not knowing that the garden existed. Showing up that day and seeing our work gone was honestly one of the worst moments we’ve shared as a group.
But Perennial also captures what came after, the part that’s just as important as the loss.
We officially secured a lease with CSX, meaning we now have the recognized right to work on the land without fear of it being accidentally destroyed again. We also received a grant of roughly $10,000, which has allowed us to buy tools, rebuild the beds, install signage, and make overall improvements to the space. This grant has also allowed us to buy more plants to regrow the space.
This rebuilding phase is still going on, and it’s been amazing to watch the garden return bit by bit. The progress is real, even if the work isn’t finished.
Making the Film
The documentary was directed by Umed Maru, Anand Maru, Emily Herra, Eilean Faltin, Taye Seubert, Jomi Legarda, and Lillian Parrella — all of us taking on roles both behind and in front of the camera. That’s part of what makes Perennial feel different from a typical environmental
film. We focused on telling the story of our own neighborhood, our own work, and our own frustrations and hopes.
We included early footage of the garden, interviews with members, and moments where we tried to figure out what the future of the space could be. In a way, making the film became its own form of rebuilding.
How People Responded
Hearing the reactions after the screening meant a lot. One parent shared their thoughts:
“I found the film both informative and moving. What stood out to me was the message aimed at young people—not just about caring for their area and the planet, but about resilience. Even when something meaningful is destroyed, you can rebuild it and come back stronger. The Veggie Nuggets are inspiring at a time when so many teens are wrapped up in the virtual world; their work proves that real community involvement can be incredibly fulfilling.”
What “Perennial” Means to Us
For us, the title says everything. Perennials come back. They survive winter, damage, and neglect, and still find a way to bloom again in the spring. Our garden might have been cut down, but the idea behind it, youth taking ownership of their environment, is already growing again. Perennial is a reminder that even when something breaks, a community can decide to start over. And we did exactly that.
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