About GreenThumb
Established in 1978, GreenThumb remains the nation's largest urban gardening program, assisting over 600 gardens and nearly 20,000 garden members throughout New York City. Our aim is to foster civic participation and encourage neighborhood revitalization while preserving open space.
Community gardens provide green space and easily accessible recreational opportunities in the areas that need them most. GreenThumb was initiated in response to the city's financial crisis of the 1970s, which resulted in the abandonment of a tremendous amount of public and private land. Residents of these devastated communities transformed these unattractive and unsafe spaces into green havens.
The majority of GreenThumb gardens were derelict vacant lots renovated by volunteers. These community gardens, now managed by neighborhood residents, provide important green space, thus improving air quality, bio-diversity, and the well-being of residents. But gardens aren't just pretty spaces; they're also important community resources.
All GreenThumb gardens offer public programs that improve quality of life for residents of all ages. So gardens may offer educational workshops, children's programs, food pantries, or community-building events like block parties. Active garden sites create a stable force in the community that serve as anchors for area re-development initiatives, while making the city safer, healthier, and cleaner.
All GreenThumb gardens are open to the public a minimum of ten (10) hours per week, so visit one of these amazing spaces to see what's growing on! Click on the "Find Your Garden" icon for the OASIS Mapping Project to find a garden near you. This link has detailed information about specific gardens, including maps and open hours. This site also allows you to find information about any property in the city, including block and lot, zoning, ownership, and more.