GreenThumb May News

May News & Events Thank you for making our 2016 GrowTogether an enormous success.  With over 1,600 participants, 69 workshops, over 29 sponsors and partner organizations you were part of the growing local gardening movement.  GreenThumb's conference was highlighted by a keynote address from food justice activist Tanya Fields, founder and executive director, the BLK Projek.  We are pleased that this year's GrowTogether was so successful.  Please enjoy the following photos of the event and share your photos or stories with us atwww.greenthumbnyc.org News GreenThumb: Plant Start Giveaway Saturday, May 7, 2016 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Get your veggie transplants at our annual giveaway, and learn some tips on square-foot gardening. All supplies are for registered GreenThumb community gardens only and are available by RSVP while supplies last. One site pick-up only.You must RSVP by calling  (212) 602-5300 or signing up on the online form here . Location : Melrose New Generation Community Garden, Bronx Cost: Free Saturday, May 21, 2016 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Please RSVP by calling (212) 602-5300 or by filling out the online form here. Location: GreenThumb Compound, Queens Cost: Free GreenThumb Garden Month  This June, we invite you to join gardeners across the city to celebrate GreenThumb's first ever 'Garden Month'. We want to highlight the thousands of green pioneers across our urban gardens while showing all New Yorkers the benefits of a healthy garden by inviting the community to join the celebration, learning and service. Please let us know now about your workdays, film nights, workshops, summer concerts or any fun event you are planning so we can help promote them through our online event listing system. Events will be posted for all to see on the NYC Parks website as well as GreenThumb's web calendar, mailing lists and social media. Help spread the word about our beautiful green spaces and the people who make them bloom. Please submit your events for the month of June online here or call 212-602-5300. New Local Summer Supply Giveaway Pick-up basic gardening and maintenance supplies for your registered GreenThumb garden. Please make note of the changes to our traditional summer supply giveaway.  GreenThumb will be coming to the boroughs to distribute our free supplies. You must RSVP online at www.greenthumbnyc.org or by calling our main line at (212) 602-5300 by May 31st Let us know if another garden group is picking-up on behalf of your group On-site pick-up only at the dates and locations below One pick-up per garden group You can carpool with other garden groups that may not have access to transportation Pick-up by RSVP for registered GreenThumb gardens in good standing (no violations) ONLY from 10:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Walk-ins from 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. Saturday June 4th, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Saturday June 11th, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. GreenThumb Urban Gardener Profile Gioya Desouza-Fennelly has been gardening for over 20 years in New York City, first at Penny Harvest Garden and now in a plot at Columbia University, Manhattan. The garden plays a central role in the neighborhood, bringing together different generations into a common green space. You can find the story 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 – Urban Gardener Profile. Grants NYRP Gardens for the City Program TRANSFORM YOUR GREEN SPACE NYRP helps transform a schoolyard. Is there a community space in your neighborhood you'd like to see transformed? If so, apply for help from NYRP below. NYRP provides support for project of various scales–from building a few vegetables beds to large-scale restoration work. Apply here. Citizens Committee for New York City Compost Grant In collaboration with the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board and Borough President Gale Brewer, CCNYC is awarding grants of up to $750 to start or expand compost projects in NYC. Groups such as community gardens, schools, tenant associations, and community organizations in all 5 boroughs are eligible for the grant. Grant funds can be used to build compost bins, purchase other compost materials or tools, do outreach and education, and more. Apply here. Workshops & Events Saturday, May 7, 2016 GreenThumb Workshop : Plant Start Giveaway  11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Get your veggie transplants at our annual giveaway, and learn some tips on square-foot gardening. All supplies are for registered GreenThumb community gardens only and are available by RSVP while supplies last. One site pick-up only.You must RSVP by calling  (212) 602-5300 or signing up on the online form here. Location : Melrose New Generation Community Garden, Bronx Cost: Free Tuesday, May 10, 2016 Partnerships Academy Workshop : Partnering for Success (Bronx) 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Would you like to have more support for your community group? At this workshop, participants will gain the skills to build strong relationships with businesses, government, and other organizations. You will leave knowing what type of organization you are going to approach next, and how to get them on board. Location : The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx Cost: Free Wednesday, May 11, 2016 GreenThumb Workshop : The Power of Herbs  5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Companion planting is growing garden plants together that have complementary requirements and so do not compete for light, water, or other resources. Many herbs are good companions: they are beneficial to pollinators, give off essential oils that repel pests and don't require too much water. Come to the workshop to learn more! Please RSVP here. Location: Franklin Memorial Garden, Bronx Cost: Free Saturday, May 14, 2016 GreenThumb Workshop: Event Planning For Volunteer Work Days 11:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Do you want to learn how to plan an event that will also improve your community garden space? Come out and join us at El Flamboyan for an event planning workshop, fruit tree pruning, volunteer work day, and a cookout to celebrate at the end of the day. Please RSVP here. Location: El Flamboyan Community Garden, Bronx Cost: Free Butterfly Project NYC Native Plant Share 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Join Butterfly Project NYC, Grow to Learn, and The New York Botanical Garden/Bronx Green Up Program to learn more about the connections between native plants and pollinators and how to encourage them in urban landscapes. This year's workshop is once again part of NYC Wildflower Week. Plants will be available for pickup, to be used in schoolyards, community gardens, and other public spaces while supplies last. Pre-registration is required. To register, fill out the online form at butterflyprojectnyc.org by 5:00 p.m. on May 9. Location: Grove Hill Learning Garden, Bronx Cost: Free Wednesday, May 18, 2016 GreenThumb Workshop: Brick Laying/BBQ Pit Construction  6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Don't know what to do with the bricks in your garden? You can't beat the taste of barbecued meat cooked on an open fire. Forget rushing to the garden center to buy an expensive barbecue; set aside one day and you can have your own stylish brick barbecue. Learn the basics of safe construction and what is allowed in your community garden. Please RSVP here. Location: La Isla Garden, Bronx Cost: Free Saturday, May 21, 2016 GreenThumb Workshop: Plant Start Giveaway 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Get your veggie transplants at our annual giveaway, and learn some tips on square-foot gardening. All supplies are for registered GreenThumb community gardens only and are available by RSVP while supplies last. One site pick-up only. Please RSVP by calling (212) 602-5300 or by filling out the online form here. Location: GreenThumb Compound, Queens Cost: Free GreenThumb Workshop: Marvelous Mushrooms 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Fungi can be helpful in your garden and delicious in the kitchen. This class offers a peek into the fungi kingdom at large and addresses do it yourself indoor growing and cultivation methods with the option to transfer your fungi to your outdoor garden. In addition to a demonstration of basic propagation techniques, the class offers resources for finding mushroom materials to work with as you set about on your homegrown mycological pursuits. Please RSVP here. Location: Smiling Hogshead Ranch, Queens Cost:Free Thursday, May 26, 2016 GreenThumb Workshop: Weed Walk : Plant ID 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. A weed is just a plant out of place. If we know which weeds are in and around our garden, we may put some of them to productive use. Join us for a stroll to begin identifying those weeds. Please RSVP here.  Location: La Finca del Sur, Bronx Cost:Free