GreenThumb's 2024 winning contest design by artist, Melissa Zavala.

Register for the 40th Annual GreenThumb GrowTogether Conference

Since 1984, GreenThumb has kicked off the growing season with our annual GreenThumb GrowTogether Conference. Due to the impacts of the ongoing and unprecedented financial crisis facing the city, this year's conference will look a little different. Instead of one day of workshops, GrowTogether will take place in all five boroughs on three Saturdays in April and May with the theme Gardens of Joy: Celebrating the Fruits of Our Labor / Jardines de Júbilo: Celebrando los Frutos de Nuestro Trabajo. We will be partnering with other organizations to offer a variety of activities, including Loisaida United Neighboorhood Gardens (LUNGS), East New York Farms!, Rising Ground-Jamaica Community Partnership, and North Brooklyn Park Alliance.  

40th Annual GreenThumb GrowTogether Conference Schedule:

April 20

• New Hoe Avenue Garden, Bronx
  10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  
  Discover the secrets of building beneficial partnerships for community gardens and join educational sessions to equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to plant and care for vibrant tropical plants in your garden. Plus, learn how to reuse milk crates for planting and transform your garden into a green paradise. Register here.
  
  
• East Village, Manhattan
  Noon – 5:30 p.m.
  LUNGS Spring Awakening, an annual celebration of spring and the opening of community gardens with a neighborhood parade starting at El Sol Brillante Garden and celebrations at local community gardens. For updates, visit LUNGS Instagram page.
  
  

April 27

• ENY Youth Farm, Brooklyn
  11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  Pick up your seeds for the growing season at East New York Farms! seed distribution and take part in hands-on workshops, like building garden beds, seed starting, rock painting, and more. Register here.
  
  
• Pleasant Village Community Garden, Manhattan
  2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  Learn how to plant and care for tropical plants, how to project plan for your garden, and learn about accessible pathways, high tunnels, and more. Register here.
  
  

May 4

• Herbert Von King Cultural Arts Center, Brooklyn
  10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  Learn about lanternfly mitigation, trellising, and the basics of natural dyeing with plants. Join us for skill shares and hands-on learning experience to expand your gardening knowledge. Register here.
  
  
• Hill Street Garden, Staten Island
  10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  Learn how to make your own DIY flower press, build and repair raised beds, and join us in planting a native plant garden. Register here.
  
  
• South Jamaica Infinity Garden, Queens
  2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  Learn how to grow delicious mushrooms and how to manage funds at a garden, and then join us for a community gardening-focused film screening of the "Green Streets" documentary. Register here.

For more information, please visit our website. Thank you for your ongoing support and efforts to keep community gardening strong and vibrant.

Save the Date: 7th Annual Open Garden NYC

Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2

Each summer since 2018, GreenThumb partners with community gardens across the city to open their gates to the public during the same weekend and offer free activities, tours, performances, educational workshops, volunteer projects, and much more. 

We are seeking community gardens across the city to participate in this year's Open Garden NYC! If your garden group would like to participate, please fill out the Event Request Approval Form and be sure to answer the Open Garden NYC question to register your event. Your group can participate for a few hours on a single day or both days. 

Volunteer at a Community Garden

Celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd all month long by lending a helping hand at one of our volunteer workdays! If you are new to community gardening, this is a great opportunity to get to know community gardeners at these gardens and learn how to become a garden member.

• Volunteer Workday at Joe Holzka Community Garden
  1171 Castleton Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10310
  Saturday, April 6, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  Join hands with community gardeners and GreenThumb staff for a volunteer workday in Staten Island! Volunteers can help us remove invasive plants, relocate perennial plants, and other general garden maintenance tasks. Learn more and register here. Learn more and register here.
  
  
• Volunteer Workdays at 400 Montauk Community Garden 
  956 New Lots Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11208
  Saturdays from 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  Join hands with community gardeners and GreenThumb staff for volunteer workdays to help with general garden maintenance and disassemble garden beds on:
  - Saturday, April 6
  - Saturday, April 13
  - Saturday, April 20 
  
  
• Volunteer Workday at West 23rd Street Community Garden
  2327 Neptune Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11224
  Wednesday, April 10, 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  Join hands with community gardeners and GreenThumb staff for a volunteer workday at West 23rd Street Community Garden! Volunteers can help us fill raised beds and mulch pathways. Learn more and register here.
  

To sign up for a group of 10 or more, please contact Volunteer Program Coordinator Kyleen.Sanchez@parks.nyc.gov.

Searching for more volunteer opportunities?
Learn about joining a GreenThumb community garden on our website. Find more volunteer opportunities through Let's Green NYC, NYC Parks' strategic initiative to engage a record number of volunteers in city parks through the end of 2024 and our agency's effort to improve the health and well-being of New Yorkers and their greenspaces.

Is your garden group thinking about planning a public workday?
Get your event listed on the Community Gardens events page by filling out the event approval request form and contact your Community Engagement Coordinator to discuss more engagement opportunities.

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Community Gardeners in Conversation Panel

Community Gardeners in Conversation with Zachary Schulman, a moderated panel discussion at the Arsenal Gallery in Manhattan last month on the penultimate day of his photography exhibition, The Community Gardener Portrait Project: New York City. Photo by Elena Dubas-Ruiz, GreenThumb

Photographer Zachary Schulman with community gardeners Kyle Scott of Hope Steven Garden, Jennie Plewka of Smiling Hogshead Ranch, and Debbie Edwards-Anderson of Walt L. Shamel Community Garden reflected on their personal experiences on being community gardeners and their gardening practices during the Community Gardeners in Conversation with Zachary Schulman panel for the closing of his photography exhibition, The Community Gardener Portrait Project: New York City. 

The Community Gardener Portrait Project: New York City was presented by NYC Parks' Art & Antiquities division and GreenThumb.