March News & Events
Hi Gardeners!
I’m writing to introduce myself to you, the gardening community of New York City. I joined GreenThumb earlier this month, and I am absolutely thrilled to be working with GreenThumb and all of you to strengthen and support community gardens throughout the five boroughs. I am an urban planner by training, and I’m coming to GreenThumb after working in a variety of planning, policy and operations roles in the public, private and non-profit sectors. I may be a familiar face to some of you, as I am a community gardener myself in the East Village.
Like you, I am eagerly awaiting the start of the spring and have already begun planning for the season ahead. I encourage you to register for the 32nd annual GreenThumb GrowTogether Conference on Saturday, March 19th at Hostos Community College, where you can join over 1,000 fellow gardeners and greening professionals to kick-off this season. We’ll be hosting a record 65 workshops, with a keynote address by Tanya Fields – a food justice advocate and Executive Director of the BLK ProjeK. The GreenThumb team have outdone themselves again this year, and we’re looking forward to seeing you all there. Please also take a look at the 2016 Spring Program Guide, which covers many of the resources available through GreenThumb this season.
Since joining GreenThumb, I have been amazed by the talent and dedication of the entire team, and we’re all looking forward to working closely with gardeners across the City again this year. Please reach out and let us know how we can help, and let us know about all the amazing things that you’re planning for this season. We love learning about the creative and innovative ways that you are demonstrating sustainable living practices and bringing neighbors together in gardens across New York City.
As you know, GreenThumb is the largest community gardening program in the nation, with a network of over 1,100 community and school gardens that preserve nearly 5 million square feet of open green space to grow food, flowers, and communities. Scores of dedicated volunteers founded our gardens with the goal of improving and strengthening neighborhoods, and that tradition of service continues today through your continued efforts to care for and improve these spaces, and to insure that they remain inclusive and welcoming to all. It is your tireless commitment to that cause that make your community gardens (and garden communities) possible. Year after year the soil is worked, flowers are planted, food is grown, events are planned, neighbors interact, memories are made, and your communities are strengthened. Each garden is a unique and wonderful space, and you should all take pride when neighbors and passersby remark on their beauty and positivity.
We’ll be in touch frequently to see how we can all work together, and I’m looking forward to visiting gardens across the City and to meeting many of you in the coming months. 2016 promises to be another year of incredible opportunity and possibility, and I am excited to explore what we can accomplish together!
My best,
Bill LoSasso
Director, GreenThumb
News
32nd Annual GreenThumb GrowTogether
Saturday, March 19, 2016
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Join over a thousand community gardeners from all over New York for a day of learning, sharing, networking, and greening inspiration at the 32nd Annual GreenThumb GrowTogether! This event will be at Hostos Community College, Bronx. Pre-register by March 14 for $5. Register at the door on March 19 for $7. Admission for children 12 and under are free. Please pre-register here. We are also seeking volunteers for the event, if you are interested contact Matthew Melore at matthew.melore@parks.nyc.gov or call 212-602-5323.
GreenThumb Urban Gardener Profile
After the success of our first GreenThumb Urban Gardener Profile on Tumblr, we’re excited to share another! Congratulations to Montclair Wilson from P53 Garden in Brooklyn. You can find the interview 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.
GreenThumb Youth Leadership Council 2016
The GreenThumb Youth Leadership Council is an opportunity for 150 high school aged youth and 20 college students to volunteer at a community garden in New York City. Both high school and college youths will learn about all that goes into a garden, including botany, agriculture, horticulture and composting. Feel free to email matthew.melore@parks.nyc.gov with any questions or concerns. High school applicants please apply here. College mentors please apply here.
Workshops & Events
Saturday, March 5, 2016
GreenThumb Workshop: Starting Seeds in a Greenhouse or Indoors
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Get gardening early – we’ll walk you through the steps of sowing, go over what healthy seedlings need to grow into mature crops, and document the process by keeping good records. In partnership with New York Botanical Garden. RSVP here.
Location: Model T Garden, Bronx
Cost: Free
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
GreenThumb Workshop: Vertical Gardening – Pallet Planters
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
In this vertical gardening series you will learn how to transform recycled pallets into vertical gardening structures. In partnership with Grow to Learn. RSVP here.
Location: Steward Park, Manhattan
Cost: Free
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
GreenThumb Workshop: Intro to Horticulture
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Join us as we learn how NYC Parks designs, plants, and maintains its beautiful urban flora while gaining valuable tips for your community garden plot and personal garden. In partnership with the NYC Parks Academy. RSVP here.
Location: Brooklyn Job Corps Academy, Brooklyn
Cost: Free
Saturday, March 19, 2016
32nd Annual GreenThumb GrowTogether
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Join over a thousand community gardeners and\greening professionals from all over New York City for a day of learning, sharing, networking, and greening inspiration at the 32nd Annual GreenThumb GrowTogether!
Location: Hostos Community College, Bronx
Cost: Pre-register by March 14 for $5, includes breakfast, workshops, lunch, and a t-shirt. Register at the door on March 19 for $7, includes breakfast and workshops. Admission for children ages 12 and under are free. Please pre-register here.
Saturday, March 26, 2016
GreenThumb Workshop: Grow Your Garden Group
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
As we enter a new growing season, let’s take some time to reflect on our efforts in supporting our neighborhoods and the community gardens within them. We encourage groups to share their challenges and successes so we can learn from each other.
Location: Carver Community Garden, Manhattan
Cost: Free
Grants and Resources
New York Restoration Project Gardens for the City Program
TRANSFORM YOUR GREEN SPACE New York Restoration Project. Is there a community space in your neighborhood you’d like to see transformed? If so, apply for help from the New York Restoration Project below. You can receive support for project of various scales—from building a few vegetables beds to large-scale restoration work. Apply here.
Partnerships for Parks Resources
Partnerships for Parks offers a variety of workshops and grants for eligible community gardens. Find out more information here.
