Two weekends ago, community gardeners planted more than a thousand bulbs at the end of Coffey Street.

And community gardeners interpreted the statement's strong support for new housing as an implicit threat to the abandoned lots they have turned into public greens.

Mr. Batista said community gardeners had known all along that they would have only temporary access to these public plots.

The community gardeners march on City Hall.

As for now, the 100 community gardeners are calmly preparing to remove their plants and tools.

The community gardeners have banded together to mount their own urban land reform effort.

In turn, small farmers can reach a wider audience and consumer base by drawing on community gardeners and their contacts.

For a special group, community gardeners, there are additional problems - such as sometimes having to carry jugs of water from outside sources or nearby streams.

"And a community gardener works in public view," Ms. Carter added.

There are not 29,000 vacant lots in the city, as Willie Morgan, a community gardener, is quoted as saying.