Urban gardening consultant and meditation facilitator Shaulene Wright is urging New Yorkers to take simple, practical steps toward greener and calmer city living. From rooftop tomato plants to community compost bins, Wright believes success in both life and community often grows from the smallest seeds.

“Care for plants the way you care for your mind,” Wright says. “Slowly, patiently, and with kindness.”

Wright’s call comes as New York faces mounting environmental and social pressures. According to NYC Sanitation data, food scraps and yard waste make up nearly one-third of the city’s residential trash stream, yet less than 10 percent is currently composted. At the same time, studies show urban residents face higher rates of stress and anxiety, with nearly 1 in 5 adults in NYC reporting symptoms of depression each year.

For Wright, these issues are linked. She has seen firsthand how a small garden or meditation circle can ground individuals and connect neighbors. “A few years ago, I helped a father and his daughters start a balcony garden,” she recalls. “By the end of summer, those kids were sharing bowls of cherry tomatoes with the whole building. It wasn’t just food—it was community.”

Wright encourages residents to start small. “You don’t need a backyard. A pot of herbs on a windowsill is enough to change the way you see your space,” she says. Composting can be as simple as saving food scraps for a neighborhood drop-off site. “Even one bag of composted waste makes a difference.”

Her message is clear: success is not about scale, but about consistency. “The most important growth is often the kind you can’t see yet—the roots forming quietly beneath the surface,” Wright says.

Wright invites New Yorkers to take one small step this season—plant a container, start a compost jar, or join a neighborhood meditation group. “When you share a plant or a cup of tea, you’re sharing a moment of care,” she says. “And those moments build a stronger city.”

About Shaulene Wright

Shaulene Wright is an urban gardening consultant and meditation facilitator based in Brooklyn, New York. She specializes in rooftop and balcony gardens, composting, and small-space food production. Wright also leads weekly mindfulness sessions at Lotus Wellness Studio and organizes neighborhood initiatives that connect gardening with community well-being. She received the Community Greening Award from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in 2018 and continues to advocate for accessible, sustainable practices in city living.

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Contact Person: Shaulene Wright
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City: Brooklyn
State: New York
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Website: https://www.shaulenewright.com/