Sign Up in Advance for these Harvest Fair Activities:
A participant at last year's annual GreenThumb Fresh Chef Contest preparing a nutritious dish with healthy local ingredients. Photo by Elena Dubas-Ruiz, GreenThumb
Fresh Chef Competition
Do you have what it takes to be GreenThumb's next Fresh Chef? We're seeking 10 community members to show off their cooking skills at the 44th Annual GreenThumb Harvest Fair. This year, the contest will challenge participants to replicate their most delicious and nutritious version of a surprise dish demonstrated by Chef Maria Bido of La Cocina de Loisaida at the Loisaida Center. The cook-off will conclude with a panel of VIP chefs crowning the new Fresh Chef!
Sign up for the Fresh Chef Contest!
Ages 16 and up are welcome to participate in the Fresh Chef Contest. Pre-registration is required and registration will close when the contest has reached capacity.
We look forward to seeing what you cook up!
Chef Maria Bido. Photo courtesy of Maria Bido.
Learn about Chef Maria Bido:
Since the age of 6, lifetime Loisaida resident Maria Bido acquired a taste for traditional Puerto Rican dishes from her grandmother. The authentic cuisine included a combination of the flavors of Sofrito and Adobo coupled with an extremely intricate variety of plates which makes for a perfect holiday meal.
Maria has partnered with Loisaida Inc and Essex Market to conduct La Cocina de Loisaida in-person cooking classes. At the classes, attendees prepare and eat a meal with Maria as she speaks about the history and the culture of the food being prepared.
The first place winning hot peppers from last year's Harvest Fair Competition. Community gardener Arvind Sowkey with two bright red wiri wiri peppers in the palm of his hand at Discovery Community Garden in Jamaica, Queens. Photo courtesy of Arvind Sowkey
Harvest Fair Competition
GreenThumb gardeners, do you think you've harvested an award winner? Show off your abundance by sending us your photos of veggies, herbs, flowers, and fruit growing in the garden. Photos of what you grew earlier in the season are eligible to be entered into the competition as well. A panel of experienced growers will decide the winners in advance and be announced during our 44th Annual Harvest Fair.
Visit our website for the Harvest Fair Competition guidelines and categories.
If you need help with submitting your photos for the competition or have related questions, please reach out to your GreenThumb Community Engagement Coordinator.
A group of kids in a Bike Skills 101 class taught by Bike New York. Photo from Bike New York's website
Bike Skills 101: Learn to Ride - Kids Class
Non-profit education organization Bike New York will be offering a free Bike Skills 101: Learn to Ride — Kids class from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. during Harvest Fair on September 23rd. This free group class is for children who are ready to ditch the training wheels and ride a two-wheeler for the first time. With Bike New York's safe, easy, and effective method taught by experienced instructors, kids will learn how to balance, pedal, start, stop, and steer a bicycle.
Register in advance on Bike New York's website.
You must bring your child's bike and helmet to this class.
Volunteers, wearing NYC Parks orange vests, help visitors build their own scarecrows at last year's Harvest Fair. Photo by Malcolm Pinckney, NYC Parks
Volunteer at Harvest Fair
We are seeking volunteers for the 44th Annual GreenThumb Harvest Fair on Saturday, September 23 from 10:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at El Jardin del Paraiso NYC in Manhattan. Come lend a helping hand as we celebrate the start of fall! Volunteers will assist with arts and crafts, giveaways, workshop support, and more. For details and to sign up, visit: bit.ly/HFVolunteer23.
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