Category - News

News

Membership Updates are Due!
All registered GreenThumb community gardens should send an updated complete list of all their members to the respective Outreach Coordinator via email or US Mail. Membership lists allow GreenThumb to identify gardens that can accommodate new members. This list is a requirement for receiving material support from GreenThumb. Download the membership update template.

GreenThumb Harvest Fair and Garden Recognition Awards
GreenThumb’s annual Harvest Fair will be held on Saturday, September 16th in Brooklyn, where we’ll be awarding ribbons to the winners of the annual Harvest Competition and also celebrating the 2nd annual GreenThumb Garden Recognition Awards.

Nominate a garden or gardener for a Garden Recognition Award. The deadline is this week!

Save the Dates!

Bronx Green-Up Harvest Festival
Saturday, Sept. 9
Join Bronx Green-Up for a celebration of the efforts of community gardeners that will include food, music, activities for kids, and much more. Learn more about the Bronx Green-Up Harvest Festival

GreenThumb Harvest Fair 2017
Saturday, Sept. 16
Bring your best harvest from your GreenThumb community garden to win prizes! Join us as we celebrate the close of the growing season. Learn more about the GreenThumb Harvest Fair 2017

Harlem Green Community Garden EXPO
Saturday, Aug. 12 – Saturday, Aug. 19
The Harlem Green Community Garden EXPO will be a week-long event advancing the cause of community gardens and displaying their outstanding resources. Learn more about the Harlem Green Community Garden EXPO.

Sixth Annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival
Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 24
The Sixth Annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival will feature music, dance, theater, spoken word, performance art, workshops and more in 50 community gardens on the Lower East Side. It’s free and open to all. Check their website for more details: Learn more about the Sixth Annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival

Grants and Opportunities

STEW-MAP is Live!
The STEW-MAP 2017 survey is now live! STEW-MAP is a map and searchable database of stewardship groups designed to help understand and strengthen our civic capacity to take care of New York’s neighborhoods. Your response and input helps support a vibrant, connected, and green NYC. Learn more about STEW-MAP, and contact stewmap.ufs@gmail.com with any questions.

Home Depot Community Impact Grant
The Home Depot Foundation offers grants up to $5,000 to 501(c)(3) organizations that are using the power of volunteers to improve the physical health of their community.
Deadline: Rolling basis until Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017
Learn more about the Home Depot Community Impact Grant

Partnerships for Parks Capacity Grants
Partnerships for Parks makes small grants of up to $5,000 to strengthen the outreach, membership, and program-planning capacity of community groups who care for their neighborhood parks in all five boroughs of New York City.
Deadline: Oct. 1, 2017
Learn more about the Partnerships for Parks Capacity Grants

Captain Planet Foundation: Environmental Education Grants
The mission of the Captain Planet Foundation is to give the next generation of environmental stewards an active understanding and love for the natural world in which they live. The Captain Planet Foundation primarily makes grants to U.S.-based schools and organizations with an annual operating budget of less than $3 million. Funding range: $500 to $2,500.
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2017
Learn more about the Captain Planet Foundation: Environmental Education Grants

Citizens Committee for New York City: Reuse and Repair Grant
Citizens Committee for New York City is partnering with the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB) and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer to launch our newest grant initiative: NYC Reuse and Repair. The goal of the grant is to support New York City in reusing, repairing, and refurbishing 100% of all discarded products that can be reused in some capacity, with the balance being recycled.
Deadline: Sept. 12, 2017
Learn more about the Citizens Committee for New York City: Reuse and Repair Grant

Building Healthy Communities: Green Your Cuisine
The Fund for Public Health in New York City (FPHNYC), on behalf of the Building Healthy Communities (BHC) initiative, is currently accepting proposals for community based organizations interested in implementing nutrition education and/or cooking workshops for residents of the Corona and Flushing communities to encourage healthy eating.
Deadline: July 7, 2017
Learn more about Building Healthy Communities: Green Your Cuisine

City Parks Foundation
View a listing of grant opportunities and other resources on the City Parks Foundation website.

Workshops

Did you know that ALL our workshops are free and open to the public? You can find soil and lumber request forms at ALL GreenThumb-led workshops.

GreenThumb Workshop Survey
Do you have ideas for GreenThumb workshops? Would you like to host a workshop in your garden, share your skills by teaching other gardeners, or simply let us know which workshops you’d like us to offer? Let us know in the GreenThumb Workshop Survey!

Saturday, July 8

Living Soil: Compost Tea for Integrated Pest Management
11:00 a.m.–Noon
NYC Compost Project hosted by Snug Harbor

This workshop will walk you through a simple DIY brewing system that will cost under $25 and give you tips on making and applying compost tea properly.

Location: Snug Harbor Compost Demonstration Site, Staten Island
For directions visit snug-harbor.org/visit/directions/
The Compost Demonstration Site is #23 on the map
RSVP: Register at snug-harbor.org/compost/

Wednesday, July 12

Composting: What’s Going on Inside my Bin?
6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
GreenThumb and NYC Compost Project

In this workshop we’ll discuss the basics of composting and how to troubleshoot common issues that come up when maintaining a compost pile. We’ll take a deeper look at the inner workings of the compost system at Morris Jumel Community Garden as an example.

Location: Morris Jumel Community Garden 457 W. 162nd St., Manhattan

Thursday, July 13

Herbal Teas Using Garden Herbs
6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Frances Dunston, herbalist at Sacred Vibes Apothecary, and GreenThumb

Herbs can do more than enhance your food—many have medicinal properties as well. For this workshop we’ll partner with an herbalist from Sacred Vibes Apothecary to discuss the healing properties of herbs commonly found in our gardens and sample some recipes for herbal teas.

Location: Isabahlia Community Garden 615 Saratoga Ave., Brooklyn

Tuesday, July 18

Replenishing your Soil
5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
GreenThumb

Want to learn how to keep your plants growing strong this season? In this workshop we will discuss how to use amendments such as bone and blood meal to reintroduce nutrients into your soil. Amending throughout the season will keep your plants nourished and viable.

Location: 400 Montauk Avenue Block Association Community Garden 956 New Lots Ave., Brooklyn

Thursday, July 20

Carpentry 101: Creating Projects for Your Garden
6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
GreenThumb

With the right tools, you can do a lot in your garden. We’ll discuss lumber and hardware selection, explain and use some measuring tools, and practice using hand and power tools on small garden projects. Este taller se ofrecerá con traducción al Español.

Location: Eagle Slope Community Garden 586 Westchester Ave., Bronx

Saturday, July 22

Vegetable Gardening: Crop Planning for Maximizing Harvest
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
The Battery Conservancy

Participants will learn how to create an efficient crop plan to maximize yield in a small space using succession planting while maintaining healthy soil through crop rotation and other organic techniques. They will tour Battery Urban Farm to see these techniques in action. Pre-registration required at tbcevents.eventbrite.com/

Location: The Battery Enter at the corner of State St. and Broadway, Manhattan

Keeping Chickens Part 1: Spring and Summer (Bronx)
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
GreenThumb and Lilly Kesselman, GreenThumb community gardener at Brook Park

Learn the nuts and bolts of keeping chickens in the city. This workshop will be the first in a two-part series: this summer we’ll cover maintenance for spring and summer, and in the fall we’ll discuss maintenance for fall and winter. Garden groups who attend both sessions will be eligible to receive a book on keeping chickens! Part 1 this summer will be offered in two locations, and Part 2 will be offered in the fall.

Location:Brook Park 494 E. 141st St, Bronx

Tuesday, July 25

Natural Insect Repellent Candles
5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Grow to Learn and GreenThumb

Annoyed by pesky gnats and mosquitos that congregate in the garden once the summer sun sets? Interested in illuminating your garden at dusk? Join GreenThumb as we create our own natural insect repellent candles using citronella oil and soy wax. Bring flowers and garden treasures to decorate your candle!

Location: Oasis Community Garden 505 W. 52nd St. Manhattan

Thursday, July 27

Growing Plants for Dye
6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Mark Leger, GreenThumb community gardener at Phoenix Community Garden, Grow to Learn, and GreenThumb

Many of the beautiful plants that we grow in the garden can also be used to color yarn and cloth. Orange cosmos makes vibrant golds. Marigolds make yellow. Purple basil makes olive green. And there’s lots more! This workshop will cover how to plan a dye plant garden, and then we’ll get to work dying some yarn! Workshop participants will each take away a length of colored yarn.

Location: Phoenix Community Garden 16 Somers St. Brooklyn

Saturday, July 29

Feral Cat Caretaker Certificate
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
NYC Feral Cat Initiative and ASPCA

Learn the basics of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and colony care in this hands-on workshop. Attending a TNR certification workshop is the first step to gain the knowledge and skills needed to help the feral and stray community cats in your garden. Upon completion of the workshop, you will become a Certified TNR Caretaker and be eligible for free or low-cost spay/ neuter, trap loans, transportation for cats and traps, educational and networking events, newsletters, community outreach materials, and other services and support. Este taller se ofrecerá con traducción al Español.

Location: Jackie Robinson Recreation Center 85 Bradhurst Ave., Manhattan

Access all workshop info and more in GreenThumb’s Summer Program Guide

News

Help NYC Parks GreenThumb grow as we expand to reach more New Yorkers across social media!

Follow GreenThumb on:Facebook | Twitter | Flickr | Instagram | tumblr

June is GreenThumb Garden Month

June will once again be GreenThumb Garden Month. We’re asking all of our gardens to plan free community events in the month of June to show neighborhoods across NYC the full benefit of being home to a GreenThumb garden. Let us know about all of your events so that we can post them on our website.

GreenThumb Harvest Fair and Garden Recognition Awards

GreenThumb’s annual Harvest Fair will be held on Saturday, September 16th in Brooklyn, where we’ll be awarding ribbons to the winners of the annual Harvest Competition and also celebrating the 2nd annual GreenThumb Garden Recognition Awards.

You can nominate a garden or gardener for a Garden Recognition Award here.

Port-o-San rentals

GreenThumb has updated its policy on port-o-san rentals for registered community gardens. Portable toilets are available for rental nine months per year only (March through November), and must be reserved and paid in advance during one of three Open Enrollment Periods in February, May and August. Please contact your Outreach Coordinator for more information.

Garden Signage 

All community gardens located on NYC Parks property will be receiving new signage this season. The current routed signs will be removed, and garden groups can retain them and hang them internally if they would like to keep them. GreenThumb Outreach Coordinators will be in contact with gardens in the coming months.

2017 Site Inspections 

GreenThumb Outreach Coordinators will be completing annual site inspections during May and June. Gardens will be evaluated for compliance with the GreenThumb license in a variety of categories, so now is a great time to do that spring cleaning! GreenThumb and Outreach Coordinator will be in touch soon with more info.

Grants

Home Depot Community Impact Grant

The Home Depot Foundation offers grants up to $5,000 to 501(c)(3) organizations that are using the power of volunteers to improve the physical health of their community. 

Deadline: Rolling basis until Sunday, December 31, 2017

Creativity Connects, National Endowment for the Arts Grants

Creativity Connects is an initiative that shows how the arts contribute to the nation’s creative ecosystem, investigates how support systems for the arts are changing, explores how the arts can connect with other sectors that want and utilize creativity, and invests in innovative projects to spark new, collaborative ideas, including in the field of agriculture. Funding amount: $20,000 – $100,000 

Deadline: May 04, 2017

Capacity Fund Grant – Partnerships for Parks 

The Partnerships for Parks Capacity Fund Grant supports community groups with small grants up to $5,000 to dedicated to parks and gardens with funding for projects to build their capacity through supporting the group’s self-awareness, ability, and sustainability.

Deadline: June 1, 2017 

Captain Planet Foundation: Environmental Education Grants

The mission of the Captain Planet Foundation is to give the next generation of environmental stewards an active understanding and love for the natural world in which they live. The Captain Planet Foundation primarily makes grants to U.S.-based schools and organizations with an annual operating budget of less than $3 million. Funding range: $500 to $2,500. 

Deadline: September 30, 2017

Other Resources

DSNY Compost Giveaway

The Department of Sanitation is hosting a Compost Giveback Event at DSNY Freshkills Headquarters on Sunday, May 21 from 9:00am to 5:00pm. While supplies last.  

NYRP Tree Giveaways

New York Restoration Project will be giving out native trees such as Tulip Poplar, Serviceberry, Black Tupelo and more! In order to receive a tree you must agree to plant it in one of the five boroughs in either your yard or community garden, and keep it properly watered and maintained. Giveaways are at multiple locations throughout the city. 

Date: Weekends, April 22- May 6, 2017

You can view a listing of grant opportunities and other resources on the city Parks Foundation website. 

Workshops

Did you know that ALL our workshops are free and open to the public? You can also now request soil and lumber request forms at ALL GreenThumb-led workshops.

GreenThumb Workshop Survey

Do you have ideas for GreenThumb workshops? Would you like to host a workshop in your garden, share your skills by teaching other gardeners, or simply let us know which workshops you’d like us to offer? Let us know in this survey!

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Planting Potatoes & Sweet Potatoes

5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.   

Potatoes and sweet potatoes come in all shapes and colors. Learn the secrets to planting these underground wonders with an opportunity to dig in the dirt.

Location: Rockaway Student Farm, 514 Rockaway Ave., Brooklyn

Thursday, May 11, 2017

The Power of Herbs

5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. 

GreenThumb Herbs are powerful in treating common sicknesses as well as other aspects impacting our quality of life. Let us explore the ancient art of herbs for arthritis, asthma, diabetes, blood pressure, even beauty care and much more. Presented in partnership with Sebert Harper. 

Location: Bronx Sunshine Garden 1768 Bryant Ave., Bronx

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Plant Giveaway / Perennial Workshop at The Battery

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

The Battery Conservancy The Battery is home to 134,000 square feet of beautiful perennial gardens grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers. Hardy, bare-root perennials and grasses harvested directly from the gardens in The Battery will be available while supplies last for participants who sign up in advance. There will also be a workshop at 11 a.m. where participants will learn how to care for perennials and grasses from The Battery Conservancy’s Chief Horticulturalist. RSVP required; registration will open in April. Please register at: http://www.tbcevents.eventbrite.com. 

Location: The Battery. Enter at the corner of State St. and Broadway, Manhattan

Marvelous Mushrooms Spring 

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

GreenThumb/Smiling Hogshead Ranch Fungi can be helpful in your garden and delicious in the kitchen. This class offers a peek into the fungi kingdom at large and addresses DIY indoor growing and cultivation methods with the option to transfer your fungi to your outdoor garden. In addition to a demonstration of basic propagation techniques, the class offers resources for finding mushroom materials to work with as you set about on your homegrown mycological pursuits. 

Location: Smiling Hogshead Ranch 25-30 Skillman Ave., Queens

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Making Creative Structures from your Existing Rubble

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 

GreenThumb This workshop will show the creative uses of existing garden rubble like used bricks, stones, concrete chunks, broken tiles, metal scraps, and gravel. Join us to learn how to mix mortar and lay bricks to build small garden structures, including berms, retaining walls for terraces and planters. 

Location: Patchen Community Square 142 Patchen Ave., Brooklyn

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Vertical Gardening 2: Pallet Planters 

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

GreenThumb and Grow to Learn In this vertical gardening series you will learn how to transform recycled pallets into vertical gardening structures. Pallet planters provide a fantastic way to add green to walls and small spaces. 

Presented in partnership with Miguel Hernandez. Sunday, 

Location: Hooper Street Garden 375 S. 5th St., Brooklyn

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Direct Sow & Transplant Workshop 

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 

Bronx Green-Up/The New York Botanical Garden Want to grow more food in less space? Tired of struggling and/or stunted transplants? Join Bronx Green-Up/The New York Botanical Garden & GreenThumb this spring to learn how to transplant and seed crops fast and easy as we demonstrate “Production Style” transplanting and seeding in the Bronx. This workshop will focus on the prep, seeding, transplanting and care of your plants to maximize production. Vegetable seeds will be available to participants to be used in schoolyards, community gardens and other public spaces while supplies last. Pre-registration is required. 

To register, email us at bronxgreenup@nybg.org or call 718.817.8026 

Location: 138th St. Community Garden 638 E. 138th St., Bronx

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Healthy Trees

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. 

GreenThumb Join us for a walk in the garden and beyond the garden gates to look at trees. Learn how to successfully cultivate and care for the trees in your garden. This workshop will cover multiple topics including tree identification, choosing the right tree for the right site, as well as ways to keep your trees healthy and vigorous. We will explore the ornamental features of selected species and touch on cultural practices such as pruning, mulching, watering and other characteristics such as salt-, drought-, pollution-, and compaction-tolerance. 

Presented in partnership with Ronen Gamil. 

Location: Union Street Garden 970 Union St., Brooklyn

Grow to Learn Spring 2017 Workshop Registration

See the Grow to Learn Spring 2017 Workshop Calendar and registration. They have lots of topics for you to select, and will be adding to this form as the season goes on, check back regularly to the events calendar for more workshops from Grow to Learn and other partner organizations. You must register to attend any Grow to Learn workshop- fill out the information below to sign up for one or more workshops of your choice

Access all workshop info and more in GreenThumb’s Spring Program Guide

Hello GreenThumb Gardeners!

The GreenThumb garden season has officially arrived! We kicked it off Saturday, March 25 at the 33rd annual GreenThumb GrowTogether Conference, with more than 1,500 gardeners, workshop leaders, greening partners, and volunteers. It was a great day, and we’re thankful that so many of you were able to join us in the Bronx.

It’s never too early to start planning ahead, so be sure to keep late March 2018 open as we prepare to celebrate GreenThumb’s 40th anniversary at the next GrowTogether! Start looking for those old photos and documents now, because we’ve got big things planned for the celebration to come.

I’m looking forward to seeing you all soon.

My best,

Bill LoSasso
Director, GreenThumb

News

GreenThumb Spring Supply Distribution

Saturday April 15 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Pick up basic gardening and maintenance supplies for your registered GreenThumb community garden, including
WHEELBARROWS + GARBAGE BAGS + GLOVES + NOZZLES + WATER HOSES + SHOVELS + HOES + LONG HANDLED CULTIVATORS + SPRAY BOTTLES + TWINE + BAGGED DSNY COMPOST + PUSH BROOMS

• You must RSVP online or by calling our main line at (212) 602-5300 by April 12
• Let us know if another garden group is picking up on behalf of your group
• On-site pick-up only at the date and locations below
• One pick-up per garden group
• You can carpool with other garden groups that may not have access to transportation

Material support will only be available to garden groups without violations.

Pick-up by RSVP from 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Walk-ins from 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last, for registered GreenThumb gardens only. Garden groups are strongly encouraged to pick up supplies in their borough.
BROOKLYN
New Vision Garden
590 Schenck Ave.
Train: 3 to New Lots Avenue
Bus: B15 to New Lots Avenue/Schenck Avenue, B6 to
Livonia Avenue/Ashford Street

BRONX
La Finca Del Sur/South Bronx Farmers Garden
175 E. 138th St. (corner of Grand Concourse)
Train: 4 or 5 to 138th Street/Grand Concourse
Bus: Bx1 or Bx33 to Grand Concourse/East
138th Street

MANHATTAN
Green Oasis Community Garden
382 E. 8th St. (between Ave. C and Ave. D)
Train: L to 1st Avenue, F to 2nd Avenue
Bus: M9/M8 to Avenue C/East 10th Street

MANHATTAN
Chenchitas Group Garden
1691 Madison Ave.
Train: 4 or 6 to 110th Street or 2/3 to Central Park
North/110th Street
Bus: M1 to Madison Avenue/East 111th Street

BROOKLYN
Hattie Carthan Community Garden
719 Marcy Ave.
Train: G to Bedford/Nostrand Avenue
Bus: B38 to Lafayette Avenue/Marcy Avenue, B44-SBS
to Bedford Avenue/Lafayette Avenue

If your GreenThumb garden group cannot attend our supply distribution in your respective borough, please pick up the garden supplies on Thursday, April 20th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the LIC Compound, Queens Plaza South and 10th Street (under the Queensboro Bridge).

Staten Island gardeners can pick up on Thursday April 27 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at:
Joe Holzka Community Garden
1170 Castleton Avenue

June is GreenThumb Garden Month

June will once again be GreenThumb Garden Month. We’re asking all of our gardens to plan free community events in the month of June to show neighborhoods across NYC the full benefit of being home to a GreenThumb garden. So, please chat a little at your first membership meeting of the year and show us what you’re capable of! We’re counting on you all to let us know about all of your events so that we can post them on our website.

Harvest Fair and Garden Recognition Awards

Save the date: The annual Harvest Fair will be held on Saturday, September 16th in Brooklyn, where we’ll be awarding ribbons to the winners of the annual Harvest Competition, and also celebrating the 2nd annual GreenThumb Garden Recognition Awards.

NYRP Tree Giveaways

New York Restoration Project will be giving out native trees such as Tulip Poplar, Serviceberry, Black Tupelo and more! In order to receive a tree you must agree to plant it in one of the five boroughs in either your yard or community garden, and keep it properly watered and maintained. Giveaways are at multiple locations throughout the city.
Date/Time: Weekends, April 22- May 6, 2017
Grow to Learn Spring 2017 Workshop Registration

See the Grow to Learn Spring 2017 Workshop Calendar and registration. They have lots of topics for you to select, and will be adding to this form as the season goes on, check back regularly to the events calendar for more workshops from Grow to Learn and other partner organizations. You must register to attend any Grow to Learn workshop- fill out the information below to sign up for one or more workshops of your choice.

GrowNYC’s Project Farmhouse Open House
11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Join Grow NYC for a ribbon cutting ceremony, mini-workshops, cooking demos, a photo booth and more fun at GrowNYC’s new Center for Sustainability and Education, Project Farmhouse.
Location: GrowNYC’s Project Farmhouse, 76 East 13th Street, Manhattan
Cost: Free

Grants

Every Day Capacity Building Grants
National Environmental Education Foundation’s 2017 Every Day Capacity Building Grant provides Friends Groups with grants of up to $5,000 to help build their organizational capacity to serve public lands. Groups must have nonprofit status or be fiscally sponsored in order to apply.
Deadline: Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Greening Stem Grant for Educators
National Environmental Education Foundation’s 2017 Greening STEM Grant for Educators will fund programs that support the integration of Green STEM into place-based, hands-on learning experiences on a public land or waterway. Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000.
DEADLINE: Thursday, April 13, 2017
CRE Rising Fund Grants
The Community Resource Exchange’s CRE Rising Fund connects their expert consultants with small nonprofit to complete no-cost consulting engagements. These projects help the selected nonprofits further meet the needs of their target populations.
Deadline: Friday, April 28, 2017
Our Streets & Spaces Request For Proposals
The Fund for Public Health NYC, on behalf of the Building Healthy Communities initiative is currently accepting proposals for community based organizations and groups interested in activating their neighborhood’s streets and public places with healthy engagement. Eligible neighborhoods include: Morrisania, Mott Haven, Hunts Point,
East Harlem, and Brownsville.
Deadline: Monday, May 1, 2017
East Harlem Walks Request For Proposals
The Fund for Public Health NYC, on behalf of the Building Healthy Communities initiative is currently accepting proposals for community based organizations and groups interested in activating the East Harlem Community Walking Trail, a 3.5 mile pathway along East Harlem sidewalk that runs along 106th and 115th street.
Deadline: Monday, May 1, 2017
Walmart Community Grant Program
The Walmart Foundation offers a Community Grant Program awarding grants from $250 to $2,500. Through this program Walmart Associates support the needs of their communities by providing grants to local organizations. Groups applying must hold nonprofit status, be a recognized government entity, or a faith-based organization.
Deadline: Rolling basis until Sunday December 31, 2017
Home Depot Community Impact Grant
The Home Depot Foundation offers grants up to $5,000 to 501C organizations that are using the power of volunteers to improve the physical health of their community.
Deadline: Rolling basis until Sunday, December 31, 2017
Patagonia: Environmental Grants
Patagonia support small, grassroots, activist organizations with provocative direct-action agendas, working on multi-pronged campaigns to preserve and protect our environment. Funding amount: $2,500 – $15,000
Deadline: April 30, 2017

Creativity Connects, National Endowment for the Arts Grants
Creativity Connects is an initiative that shows how the arts contribute to the nation’s creative ecosystem, investigates how support systems for the arts are changing, explores how the arts can connect with other sectors that want and utilize creativity, and invests in innovative projects to spark new, collaborative ideas. A key component of Creativity Connects is a grant opportunity in the Art Works category that supports collaborative, mutually beneficial partnerships between the arts and non-arts sectors, specifically: Agriculture, Business and Economic Development, Science, Technology, Healthcare, Community, Education, Environment, Military, Transportation. Applicant Eligibility: Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations; units of state or local government; or federally recognized tribal communities or tribes may apply. Funding amount: $20,000 – $100,000
Deadline: May 04, 2017
Captain Planet Foundation: Environmental Education Grants
The mission of the Captain Planet Foundation is to give the next generation of environmental stewards an active understanding and love for the natural world in which they live. The Captain Planet Foundation primarily makes grants to U.S.-based schools and organizations with an annual operating budget of less than $3 million. Funding range: $500 to $2,500.
Deadline: September 30, 2017
More Info: here.

Workshops

GreenThumb will now offer soil and lumber request forms at ALL workshops.

GreenThumb Workshop Survey
Do you have ideas for GreenThumb workshops? Would you like to host a workshop in your garden, share your skills by teaching other gardeners, or simply let us know which workshops you’d like us to offer? Let us know in this survey!

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Vertical Gardening 1: Living Walls
6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
In this vertical gardening series, you will learn how to make your own living wall pouch to install on your garden fence, wall, or structure.
Location: East Side Outside Community Garden, 415 East 11th Street, Manhattan
Cost: Free
Please RSVP here.

Tomato Heaven
6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Hard-to-find, heirloom, tomato, such as like Mortgage Lifter, Speckled Roman, and Green Doctors, are luscious little globes of food history. They’re also bursting with vitamins and minerals. Learn hands-on how to successfully start your own tomato plants from seeds
Location: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn
Cost: Free
This hands-on class is free with RSVP. To reserve your spot, please email Maureen O’Brien at mobrien@bbg.org or call (718) 623-7385.

Friday, April 8, 2017

Gazebo Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Chestnut Street Community Garden
1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Come join us at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new gazebo built and donated by the Urban Workshop NYC students of the Lyons Community School. Recognize the efforts of these amazing high school students as we thank them for this gift and also open the 2017 garden season.
Location: Chestnut Street Garden, 9 Chestnut Street, Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Hot Pile Compost Build
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Come meet our great master composters of the garden. Event hosted by the wonderful team at the Snug Harbor compost project. Come out and meet everyone and learn about composting.
Location: Joe Holzka Community Garden, 1170 Castleton Avenue, Staten Island
Cost: Free

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Easter Egg Hunt at Joe Holzka Garden
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Come out and join our first-ever Easter egg hunt!
Location: Joe Holzka Community Garden, 1170 Castleton Avenue, Staten Island
Cost: Free

Thursday, April 11, 2017

Organizing for Garden Success: Bylaws
5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Disorganization creates dysfunction. In this workshop, we will discuss methods for developing bylaws and garden rules with your fellow garden members, so that your group has the tools needed for successful community building, governance, and decision-making.
Location: United Community Centers, 613 New Lots Avenue, Brooklyn
Cost: Free
Please RSVP here.

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Ashford Learning Garden: Easter Egg Hunt
2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Come and join us for arts and crafts and an opportunity to find eggs filled with candies or treats.
Location: Ashford Learning Center, 341 Ashford Street, Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Thursday, April 18, 2017

Building SIPS in Raised Beds
6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Learn how to build your own Sub-Irrigated Planting System (SIPS) in a raised bed. SIPS water forms below and allows plants to absorb moisture more efficiently, which saves water and helps plants build strong root systems.
Location: Chestnut Street Garden, 9 Chestnut Street, Brooklyn
Cost: Free
Please RSVP here.

Hot, Hotter, Hottest: Growing Peppers
6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Peppers are fiery, tasty, healthy, and beautiful. Learn to source, raise, and prepare some real scorchers—and a few sweeties and milds, so you can grow a chile fest in your own back yard!
Location: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn
Cost: Free
This class is free with required pre-registration. Please regsiter here.

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Earth Day of Action at Stars of Hope Garden
12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
This Earth Day, gather with your neighbors to help spruce up our community garden for the upcoming planting season. Neighbors will be lending a hand to repair garden boxes and compost bins, redesign front garden entrance, and prune trees and grape vine.
Location: Stars of Hope Community Garden, 213 Madison Street, Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Harlem Grown Earth Day Celebration
10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Harlem Grown is hosting a day of family-friendly activities and service projects to celebrate Earth Day and the unofficial kick off of the 2017 growing season! There will be free yoga, natural dye demonstrations, arts and crafts, storytelling for children, and garden service projects for adults throughout the day!
Location: Harlem Grown, 116 West 134th Street, Manhattan
Cost: Free

Earth Day Parade and Celebration at Rivers Run Community Garden
10:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join Rivers Run Community Garden as they celebrate Earth Day with a day of family fun. They are hosting this event with the Co-Op City Little League. The parade will start at 10:15 a.m. from the Greenway (at Bellamy Loop) to Rivers Run Community Garden and the Little League field. The celebration features a free composting workshop, recycling projects, arts and crafts, and free giveaways.
Location: Rivers Run Community Garden, 801 Co-op City Boulevard, Bronx
Cost: Free

Elizabeth Street Garden: Seed Bomb Workshop
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Explore what makes a healthy soil in this hands-on workshop. Participants will learn about the soil-nutrient cycle and the role compost has in rebuilding soils and encouraging plant growth. Then, participants will make their own Native Wildflower Seed Bombs by combining seeds, clay, and locally-produced compost into small balls perfect for tossing anywhere that needs an extra burst of flowers!
Location: Elizabeth Street Garden, 203 Elizabeth Street, Manhattan
Cost: Free
Please RSVP here.

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Building a Trellis in Your Garden
2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Learn techniques for building a trellis for your crops. Supporting your plants can give them better access to sunlight, provide structural support, and help you plant a lot of crops in a small space.
Location: BACDYS Garden, 215 Forbell Street, Brooklyn
Cost: Free
Please RSVP here.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Aphids, Whiteflies and Slugs, Oh My! + Staten Island Spring Supply Distribution
5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Struggling with aphids, whiteflies, and other pests in your garden? Join us for an overview of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), focusing on simple, organic methods for dealing with pests in your garden.
Location: Joe Holzka Community Garden, 1170 Castleton Avenue, Staten Island
Cost: Free
Please RSVP here.

Saturday, April 29, 2017

GreenThumb Plant Starts Distribution: Brooklyn
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Get your veggie transplants at our annual giveaway, plus tips on square foot gardening. All supplies are for registered GreenThumb community gardens only and are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. On-site pick-up only. If picking up for more than one garden, you must RSVP by calling (212) 602-5300. There will also be a Square Foot Gardening demonstration from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Location: UCC Youth Farm, 613 Schenck Avenue, Brooklyn
Cost: Free

GreenThumb Plant Starts Distribution: Bronx
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Get your veggie transplants at our annual giveaway, plus tips on square foot gardening. All supplies are for registered GreenThumb community gardens only and are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. On-site pick-up only. If picking up for more than one garden, you must RSVP by calling (212) 602-5300. There will also be a Square Foot Gardening demonstration from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Melrose New Generation Community Garden, 377 East 160th Street, Bronx
Cost: Free

Highland Park Community Garden Opening Day
1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Enjoy a fun-filled opening day at Highland Park’s community garden. Enjoy workshops, music, and games.
Location: Highland Park Children’s Garden (in Highland Park), 400 Jamaica Avenue, Brooklyn
Cost: Free

The opening Garden Meeting/Potluck for the W 104th st Garden is Sunday April 2nd, 2017 from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm in the Schneider apartment’s meeting room. 

Please join your fellow garden members for the meeting and the potluck eating! Please feel free to bring food for the potluck. 

Welcome garden season 2017!

News

Garden Groups Reminded to Clear Snow

As we enter the winter months, clearing snow and ice from the sidewalks in front of gardens after a winter weather event is the responsibility of all gardeners. GreenThumb’s designated garden contacts should work with their membership to make plans for snow and ice removal before and after a winter weather event. A failure to clear sidewalks in front of gardens located on City-owned property is a violation of GreenThumb rules and the license agreement (Section C.ii). Keeping pedestrian corridors in front of gardens clear and passable is not only important to keeping members of your community safe, but it’s also the law and maintenance of our gardens reflects on us all as members of the gardening community.

GreenThumb GrowTogether Conference 2017

Come celebrate the official kick-off of the community gardening season in New York City. The day will be packed with 30+ workshops on garden related topics including: food systems education, kids’ activities, vegetable growing techniques, and designing your community garden for the present and future. The conference will also include a panel discussion on ways to sustain your garden legacy. This year’s keynote speaker is Tony Hillary and is the Founder and Executive Director of Harlem Grown. Tony founded Harlem Grown to address the health and academic challenges facing public elementary school students in Harlem. Our youth speaker is Kadiatou Ba and has been a youth participant at Harlem Grown since its inception 5 years ago. Please get your tickets HERE

GreenThumb GrowTogether 2017 Networking Form

We are happy to share this opportunity to network and connect with community gardeners around the issues of urban agriculture, food justice, sustainability, youth, community organizing and much more. We invite you to complete this form in order to obtain table space at our lunchtime networking event. Download the form here: GreenThumb GrowTogether 2017- Networking Event Table Form. Please complete and return this form no later than February 17th, 2017. Confirmation letters with conference information will be sent out within the first week of March.

GreenThumb Youth Leadership Council 2017

GreenThumb is launching its third year of the Youth Leadership Council. This free program is designed for high school youth between 14 and 21 years old and college students to volunteer in a GreenThumb community garden located throughout the five boroughs. The program will take place during the spring/summer of 2017. Any student interested in agriculture, composting, botany, construction, stewardship or community engagement should apply.

Alcorn State University: Research on African American Farmers

The Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Research Center, which is located at Alcorn State University, is a national center that was created to assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and to improve their success. They are conducting a research study on the participation of African American farmers in programs, which are sponsored by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. This study desires to explore the involvement of African American farmers in USDA programs to understand the factors that contribute to their participation.

Community Board Applications are Now Available for the 2017-2019 Term

As hand-on volunteers with deep community ties, GreenThumb gardeners are great candidates to serve on boards, which play an important advisory role on neighborhood issues including land use, city budgets, local service provision, and other community issues. Community boards are consulted when new gardens are begun, and they identify funding priorities in neighborhoods every year during the City budget process.

Learn more about Community Boards

Please see the links below if you’re interested in learning more or applying:  

• Bronx
• Brooklyn
• Manhattan
• Queens
• Staten Island

Grants
Borough President Capital Grant Funding

Borough President Capital Grant Funding applications are available. Every year the Borough President’s provide funding in support of various important capital projects throughout the city. This funding is available to city agencies, nonprofit organizations, cultural institutions, and public schools for projects serving New York City purposes. Please follow the links below for your respective borough.

Deadline February 14th

City Council Capital Grants

New York City Council offers capital funding requests for non-profit organizations. Submit your application for your garden through CapGrants.

Deadline March 24th

Workshops

GreenThumb will now offer soil and lumber request forms at ALL workshops.

Saturday, February 4, 2017
GreenThumb Workshop: Organizing for Garden Success: Panel and Q & A
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Part 3 of 3: Disorganization Creates Dysfunction

This three-part workshop series is designed to help your garden group build a strong foundation to deal with the many issues that arise in a community space. In this workshop, come hear the success stories of three gardens that have overcome conflict by creating group structure and bylaws.

Location: GreenThumb Office, Manhattan

Cost: Free
Please RSVP HERE or call 212-602-5300

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

GreenThumb Workshop: Sharing Our Farm Traditions

5:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m.

The goal of this workshop is to connect and educate participants on the diversity of gardening traditions among GreenThumb gardeners and to demonstrate how these traditions can be maintained and promoted on various-sized land parcels. We’ll highlight the online Vegetable Garden Planner tool to demonstrate how to take the guesswork out of planning for a bountiful garden season.

Location: Brownsville Recreation Center, Brooklyn

Cost: Free
Please RSVP by calling 212-602-5300

Saturday, February 18, 2017

NYC Compost Project: Crazy for Composting

11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Are you passionate about composting but want more from your bin? These Q & A sessions provide the practical tips, advice, and encouragement you’ll need to take composting to the next level, whether you are just starting out (Session 1) or have been digging in for years (Session 2). Registered GreenThumb community gardens will be able to request an order of compost, soil or clean fill for spring delivery.

Location: New York Botanical Garden, Bronx

Cost: Free

Registration is required to attend this event. Please RSVP here.

For more information, please email compost@nybg.org or call (718) 817-8543.

Saturday, February 25, 2017

GreenThumb Workshop: Fruit Tree Pruning

11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Learn why fruit trees need annual pruning for the best production. Discover and practice how to prune the different types of fruit trees at the ideal time of year, in late winter.

Location: Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Bronx

Cost: Free

Please RSVP online here or by calling (212) 602-5300.
Staten Island Garden Get Together

10:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

GreenThumb invites you to a forum for Staten Island community members to learn more about starting, growing, or joining a community garden.

Location: Snug Harbor, Staten Island

Cost: Free

Please rsvp 

Green Thumb NYC 

www.greenthumbnyc.org

GreenThumb Garden Month 

This June, we invite you to join gardeners across the city to celebrate GreenThumb’s first ever ‘Garden Month’. We want to highlight the thousands of green pioneers across our urban gardens while showing all New Yorkers the benefits of a healthy garden by inviting the community to join the celebration, learning and service. Please let us know now about your workdays, film nights, workshops, summer concerts or any fun event you are planning so we can help promote them through our online event listing system. Events will be posted for all to see on the NYC Parks website as well as GreenThumb’s web calendar, mailing lists and social media. Help spread the word about our beautiful green spaces and the people who make them bloom. Please submit your events for the month of June online or call 212-602-5300.

New Local Summer Supply Giveaway

Pick-up basic gardening and maintenance supplies for your registered GreenThumb garden. Please make note of the changes to our traditional summer supply giveaway. GreenThumb will be coming to the boroughs to distribute our free supplies. 

You must RSVP online at www.greenthumbnyc.org or by calling our main line at (212) 602-5300 by May 31st

• Let us know if another garden group is picking-up on behalf of your group
• On-site pick-up only at the dates and locations below
• One pick-up per garden group
• You can carpool with other garden groups that may not have access to transportation

Pick-up by RSVP for registered GreenThumb gardens in good standing (no violations) ONLY from 10:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

Walk-ins from 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.
Saturday June 4th, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Saturday June 11th, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

GreenThumb Urban Gardener Profile

Gioya Desouza-Fennelly has been gardening for over 20 years in New York City, first at Penny Harvest Garden and now in a plot at Columbia University, Manhattan. The garden plays a central role in the neighborhood, bringing together different generations into a common green space. You can find the story here! If you’d like to have your story profiled please fill out our Urban Gardener Profile form and we will be in touch with you – Urban Gardener Profile.

Grants

NYRP Gardens for the City Program

TRANSFORM YOUR GREEN SPACE NYRP helps transform a schoolyard. Is there a community space in your neighborhood you’d like to see transformed? If so, apply for help from NYRP below. NYRP provides support for project of various scales–from building a few vegetables beds to large-scale restoration work. Apply here.

Citizens Committee for New York City Compost Grant

In collaboration with the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board and Borough President Gale Brewer, CCNYC is awarding grants of up to $750 to start or expand compost projects in NYC. Groups such as community gardens, schools, tenant associations, and community organizations in all 5 boroughs are eligible for the grant. Grant funds can be used to build compost bins, purchase other compost materials or tools, do outreach and education, and more. Apply here.

Workshops & Events

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Partnerships Academy Workshop : Partnering for Success (Bronx)

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Would you like to have more support for your community group? At this workshop, participants will gain the skills to build strong relationships with businesses, government, and other organizations. You will leave knowing what type of organization you are going to approach next, and how to get them on board. 

Location : The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx

Cost: Free

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

GreenThumb Workshop : The Power of Herbs 

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Companion planting is growing garden plants together that have complementary requirements and so do not compete for light, water, or other resources. Many herbs are good companions: they are beneficial to pollinators, give off essential oils that repel pests and don’t require too much water. Come to the workshop to learn more! Please RSVP here.

Location: Franklin Memorial Garden, Bronx

Cost: Free

Saturday, May 14, 2016

GreenThumb Workshop: Event Planning For Volunteer Work Days

11:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Do you want to learn how to plan an event that will also improve your community garden space? Come out and join us at El Flamboyan for an event planning workshop, fruit tree pruning, volunteer work day, and a cookout to celebrate at the end of the day. Please RSVP here.

Location: El Flamboyan Community Garden, Bronx

Cost: Free

Butterfly Project NYC Native Plant Share

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Join Butterfly Project NYC, Grow to Learn, and The New York Botanical Garden/Bronx Green Up Program to learn more about the connections between native plants and pollinators and how to encourage them in urban landscapes. This year’s workshop is once again part of NYC Wildflower Week. Plants will be available for pickup, to be used in schoolyards, community gardens, and other public spaces while supplies last. Pre-registration is required. To register, fill out the online form at butterflyprojectnyc.org by 5:00 p.m. on May 9. 

Location: Grove Hill Learning Garden, Bronx

Cost: Free

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

GreenThumb Workshop: Brick Laying/BBQ Pit Construction

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Don’t know what to do with the bricks in your garden? You can’t beat the taste of barbecued meat cooked on an open fire. Forget rushing to the garden center to buy an expensive barbecue; set aside one day and you can have your own stylish brick barbecue. Learn the basics of safe construction and what is allowed in your community garden. Please RSVP here.

Location: La Isla Garden, Bronx

Cost: Free

Saturday, May 21, 2016

GreenThumb Workshop: Plant Start Giveaway 

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Get your veggie transplants at our annual giveaway, and learn some tips on square-foot gardening. All supplies are for registered GreenThumb community gardens only and are available by RSVP while supplies last. One site pick-up only. Please RSVP by calling (212) 602-5300 or by filling out the online form here. 

Location: GreenThumb Compound, Queens

Cost: Free

GreenThumb Workshop: Marvelous Mushrooms

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Fungi can be helpful in your garden and delicious in the kitchen. This class offers a peek into the fungi kingdom at large and addresses do it yourself indoor growing and cultivation methods with the option to transfer your fungi to your outdoor garden. In addition to a demonstration of basic propagation techniques, the class offers resources for finding mushroom materials to work with as you set about on your homegrown mycological pursuits. Please RSVP here. 

Location: Smiling Hogshead Ranch, Queens

Cost: Free

Thursday, May 26, 2016

GreenThumb Workshop: Weed Walk : Plant ID

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

A weed is just a plant out of place. If we know which weeds are in and around our garden, we may put some of them to productive use. Join us for a stroll to begin identifying those weeds. Please RSVP here. 

Location: La Finca del Sur, Bronx

Cost: Free