By James DeWeese
Kenrick “Trini” Lewis, a Trinidad native, toiled for six years over a hardscrabble lot adjacent to his Sherwood Village co-op, turning the concrete playground into an unusually lush garden oasis complete with more than 12 varieties of produce. His labor of love and green thumb was recognized Monday when the building's management officially dubbed the urban garden “Sherwood Forest” at the behest of state Sen. John Sabini (D-Jackson Heights).”We're not going to rob from any rich and give to any poor, but people certainly can have some vegetables,” Sabini said with a wry smile as he unveiled a Sherwood Forest sign and handed Lewis a state Senate proclamation.Lewis, who has lived in Queens for 15 years, said he modeled the garden after similar green plots in his native country.”I've been having gardens,” he said, flanked by his mother, Phyllis King. “Born and grew up in a garden community.”Tomatoes, cabbage, spinach, okra, string beans, strawberries, peppers, eggplant, oregano, basil and sunflowers are counted among the garden's leafy denizens.Sowing the more than 400-square-foot plot in Queens was not all that different than the work done in similar gardens in Lewis' native Trinidad, he said. The biggest difference, Lewis said, was the seasons.”May, June you start planting and by the by everything is done,” he said. “Back there, you're planting year round.”Until recently the concrete landscape of the playground between Sherwood Village near 98th Place and 57th Avenue and St. Paul's Church was sparse and less than attractive, Sabini said. But between Lewis' garden and the recently built church, which was dedicated and landscaped just two years ago, things are looking up. Lewis also worked on landscaping the church.”It's now a nice oasis in an urban landscape,” Sabini said. “As you can see, it's thrived.”Although Lewis worked on the plot himself, with the help of a friend named Ray, he said he is not overly attached to his crop and the produce is available to everyone in the community.”I give the produce to everyone who passes by,” Lewis said. “The part I like best is rearing it from small.”Reach reporter James DeWeese by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 157.
