Meet Emily Herra, 17, who turned vacant lot into garden and won $10,000

When Emily Herra was 12, she tried to introduce a composting programme at her school. The idea was met with resistance from administrators who believed it would be too complicated to implement. But the young New Yorker persisted, eventually getting the programme running and setting her sights on a bigger challenge: transforming a neglected patch of land in her neighbourhood into a space where people and nature are now thriving together. Five years later, the now 17-year-old has been recognised for her environmental work with the 2026 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. She co-founded Veggie Nuggets, a youth-led climate activism group based in Jackson Heights and the wider Queens area of New York City. Its signature project is the restoration of a previously abandoned 3,600-square-foot lot, which now features 1,800 square feet of pollinator habitat and a 130-foot climate justice mural. The prize, announced on September 15, 2026, recognises young people who have made a significant positive difference to their communities or the environment. Herra is among 15 top winners, each receiving $10,000 to support their service work or higher education, according to the award's official announcement. From school composting to a neighbourhood garden Herra's environmental work began with a relatively simple idea: making better use of waste. After getting the composting programme at her school off the ground, she wanted to extend her efforts beyond the campus. The opportunity came when she and her friends encountered an abandoned strip of land in Jackson Heights. The site, along 69th Street beside the CSX railway tracks, was covered in overgrown vegetation and rubbish. It was here the students saw an opportunity to create something useful for their community. A group of seven middle school students returned to clean up the area, working alongside two coaches. With guidance from master gardeners and the Jackson Heights Beautification Group, they learnt how to improve the soil and introduce native plants. The transformation required more than gardening skills. The young volunteers also had to navigate permits, applications and funding processes to secure the resources needed to maintain the space. Their work gradually turned the neglected patch into a community garden where residents could volunteer, learn about the environment and help support local biodiversity. The garden now contains a substantial pollinator habitat and a mural measuring 130 feet. The project combines environmental restoration with public art, using the space to draw attention to climate justice while creating a welcoming neighbourhood gathering point. When the garden disappeared overnight The project did not develop without setbacks. In autumn 2024, a contractor hired by CSX cleared the strip of land, apparently unaware that the students had established a garden there. Much of their work was wiped out. In a report by The Indypendent, Herra described the destruction as one of the most difficult moments the group had experienced together. The loss threatened not only the plants and garden beds they had built, but also the time and effort the young volunteers had invested in the site. The group, however, decided to rebuild rather than abandon the project. Veggie Nuggets subsequently secured a lease with CSX, giving it recognised permission to work on the land and reducing the risk of the garden being accidentally cleared again. The group also received a grant of approximately $10,000 to purchase tools, rebuild beds, install signs and replace plants. Herra shared that the rebuilding process was still underway while she and her teammates were watching the garden return gradually, even though the work was not yet complete. The entire experience became more than just an initiative. It was the subject of 'Perennial', a documentary made by members of Veggie Nuggets. The film premiered at the Queens World Film Festival on November 8, 2025, documenting the group's response to the destruction and its efforts to restore the space. More than planting trees Veggie Nuggets' work extends beyond one single garden. The group organises park clean-ups, environmental workshops and community activities while advocating for sustainable practices such as composting and renewable energy. Its members have also participated in campaigns against fossil-fuel infrastructure. The organisation describes itself as a youth climate activism group working to improve neighbourhoods in Jackson Heights and Astoria. Its approach combines practical projects with advocacy, giving young people opportunities to engage with environmental issues in their own communities. Herra's work has also involved partnerships with organisations including the Jackson Heights Beautification Group and JH Scraps, a local composting initiative. Such collaborations have helped the students gain practical knowledge and access resources that would be difficult to secure on their own. “Through this experience, I’ve learned that environmental work is not just about big solutions or perfect plans,” she said. “It’s about persistence, especially when things feel slow or uncertain.” Recognition for a project built by young people The $10,000 Gloria Barron Prize award gives Herra financial support for her continued service work or higher education. Established in 2001 by author T. A. Barron, the annual award recognises young leaders between the ages of eight and 18 across the United States and Canada. For Herra and Veggie Nuggets, the recognition highlights the role young people can play in improving their immediate surroundings. Their garden offers a practical example of how environmental work can begin with a small, overlooked space and grow into a wider community effort.