A beatiful flower A panoramic view of flowers and trees A close-up of an opened red flower

Welcome to GreenThumb

Welcome to the GreenThumb website! As the largest community gardening program in the country, GreenThumb is proud to support community gardens in New York City. We have over 600 member gardens serving 20,000 city residents. Since 1978 we've been committed to providing support to help strengthen gardens, strengthen gardener skills, and strengthen communities. GreenThumb's services take the form of materials and technical assistance, including educational workshops.

What's New

2009 Summer Program Guide is Here!

The 2009 Spring Program Guide for June, July, and August is now available. You can download it here.  Printed copies are also available at our office or at GT workshops.

Call for Photo Submissions for Parks Photo Gallery - Deadline July 15th!

This fall GreenThumb is putting together a show at the Parks Photo Gallery with the theme "Community in Gardens", highlighting both the natural beauty and the community of these spaces. We're looking for your perspective, what draws your eye and engages you. Read here for more information and how to submit them on our site!

Street Tree Stewardship Series

Since the MillionTreesNYC campaign was launched, over 173,000 trees have been planted throughout the City, more than 30,000 just in street trees. MillionTreesNYC is scheduling tree stewardship workshops with GreenThumb gardens citywide. Sign up at MillionTreesNYC!

School Garden Registration 2009

This form is for existing and new garden sites on Department of Education properties. Registering the site is the only way your garden can become eligible for GreenThumb’s physical resource distribution. If you have questions or need more information about GreenThumb’s School Garden Registration process, please contact: Rasheed Hislop: Rasheed.Hislop@parks.nyc.gov or call (212) 788-8062. Download the form.

Open Hours Starting in 2009

After several meetings with the NYC Community Gardening Coalition and hearing many gardener’s voices on the issue, a resolution was made regarding the increase in mandatory open hours for community gardens. Gardeners must still commit, in writing, to at least 10 posted open hours per week. However, the garden is required to be open at least 20 hours a week in total. The additional 10 hours may or may not be scheduled and posted; that’s up to the garden group. Gardens must remain open when anyone is inside.

Attention School Gardeners!

Outreach Coordinator Rasheed Hislop has set up a online group for people interested or involved in school gardening to communicate with each other to share experiences, resources, concerns, questions and ideas.

If you would like to join the group and receive emails, just click on the following link: NYC School Gardening Group, and then click "Join this group" on the right side of the page. If you have questions, please contact Rasheed at rasheed.hislop@parks.nyc.gov

New Garden Grant Opportunities

CREATING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES THROUGH HEALTHY FOOD WITH OLDER ADULTS AS A DRIVING FORCE
The New York City Community Experience Partnership* (CEP) – a collaboration between The Atlantic Philanthropies, The New York Community Trust and United Neighborhood Houses of New York (UNH) – announces a new funding initiative to utilize older adults as a key resource to increase access to and use of fresh healthy food to improve life in low income communities. The initiative expects to make at least three grants of up to $70,000 per year to three different organizations. The funding is renewable for a total of three years, beginning in 2010. Those interested in applying for this funding can view and download a Request For Proposals (RFP) at www.unhny.org. If you have problems, email healthycommunities@unhny.org for help.

A RFP information meeting will be held: Tuesday, June 30 from 9:30 to 11am Hudson Guild Theater Hudson Guild 441 West 26th Street (off 10th Avenue) Manhattan.

Completed proposals are due by 5pm on Wednesday, July 29, 2009.


GARDENBURGER GRANT
Community gardening can range from creating a small school garden to adopting an abandoned plot of land and turning it into something useful and beautiful. Neighborhood associations, schools, youth groups, community centers, camps, clubs – as long as your activities are garden-related, you’re encouraged to apply.

  • Open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.
  • An organization can apply for a minimum of $1,000 and a maximum of $10,000.
  • Applications must be received by May 15, 2009.

Learn more about the grant.


COMMUNITY GARDENS CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT PROGRAM
The funds are now approved for the 2008-2009 Community Gardens Capacity Building Grant Program. For more information and to download an application, click here. If you have any questions, please call our office line at (212) 788-8070.

Applications will be accepted by NY State Department of Agriculture & Markets starting March 4, 2009. The deadline for applications is May 4, 2009.