November Monthly Newsletter
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Volunteers and GreenThumb staff at a volunteer workday earlier this year at George Washington Carver Community Garden in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Photo by Kyleen Sanchez, GreenThumb
In early February, GreenThumb led a volunteer workday at George Washington Carver Community Garden to engage community members in essential hands-on winter tasks and share vital information on how to join a garden. The goal of this workday was to provide volunteers an example of how neighbors can effectively take care of a community garden, together, as a group. A few hours resulted in transformative results: a completely reorganized shed, clear visibility into the garden through proper pruning of shrubs and trees, and 13 new people who have joined the garden as committed members.
Learn more about our upcoming volunteer workdays below and find out how to get involved at your local community garden on our website.
As the 2025 community garden season has come to a close and the colder months are upon us, all of us at NYC Parks GreenThumb wish to extend our deepest thanks to all the community gardeners for their countless hours of volunteering, engaging their communities with events and resources, and maintaining these important green spaces for all New Yorkers to enjoy.
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The 2024 GreenThumb Garden Recognition Award honorees with NYC Parks GreenThumb staff, NYC Parks officials, and guests. Photo by Malcolm Pinckney, NYC Parks
9th Annual GreenThumb Garden Recognition Awards
It's the last chance to nominate GreenThumb gardens and gardeners (including your own and yourself!) for one of the 2025 GreenThumb Garden Recognition Awards! Each year, GreenThumb honors and celebrates community gardeners who are beautifying their neighborhoods, growing healthy food, protecting the environment, and healing their communities at this annual ceremony. Learn more and complete the Nomination Form by Sunday, November 30, 2025.
2026 GreenThumb Gardener Trainings
- Tea Arts & CultureLearn to host community programs using tea as a centerpiece! In this hands-on series with Tea Arts & Culture, you'll discover tea tasting, brewing techniques, and the histories behind tea traditions—while fostering mindfulness and connection.
- GreenThumb Leadership Academy (GLA)Are you ready to strengthen your skills as a community garden leader? GLA is a free, citywide leadership development program for community gardeners across all five boroughs of NYC.Learn more and apply here by Friday, November 14, at 11:59 p.m.
- Academia de Liderazgo de GreenThumb (GLA)¿Está listo/a para fortalecer sus habilidades como líder de huerto comunitario? GLA es un programa gratuito de desarrollo de liderazgo para horticultores comunitarios en los cinco condados de NYC.Aprende más sobre el programa y aplica aquí antes del viernes 14 de noviembre a las 11:59 p.m.
- Compost and Farm Apprenticeship ProgramThis 11-week training with Earth Matter NY gives GreenThumb gardeners hands-on experience in small-scale urban farming with a focus on composting. Participants learn to make "Gold Standard” compost, explore various composting systems, and apply best practices to improve soil and plant health.Learn more and apply here by Sunday, February 1, at 11:59 p.m.
- Connecting to Our Roots: Introduction to Herbalism Intensive TrainingThis 6-session course on plant medicine rooted in Black healing traditions, covering herbal history, medicine making, and support for the nervous, digestive, and respiratory systems. Participants will gain tools for community-based herbal care and develop their intuition with medicinal plants.Learn more and apply here by Sunday, February 1, 11:59 p.m.
- Rooted In Care: Building Sustainable Volunteer Culture in Community GardensDesigned for garden leaders, coordinators, and organizers, this training invites participants to reimagine what a truly sustainable garden culture can look like when we center relationships, care, and interdependence—rather than overwork and burnout.Learn more and apply here by Monday, February 16, at 11:59 p.m.
- Raising Chickens in the Garden TrainingWhat does it take to keep chickens in a community garden? In this training in collaboration with the chicken caretakers at Tranquility Farm in Brooklyn, GreenThumb community gardeners will learn the basics of chicken care, chicken health and biology, coop structure and maintenance, and more.
Volunteers, gardeners, and GreenThumb staff after a successful volunteer workday at Euclid 500 Community Garden last month. Photo by Kyleen Sanchez, GreenThumb
Volunteer at a Community Garden
If you are new to community gardening, volunteering is a great opportunity to get to know community gardeners and learn how to become a garden member at these gardens.
- 586 Tinton Ave. Bronx, NY 10455Saturday, November 8, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.El Flamboyan is a community garden group led by local residents. The residents are creating a green space open to all. Join us for a hands-on volunteer day to help beautify the gardens curb appeal, we will be moving beds, planting tulip bulbs, and placing landscape edging. No prior experience necessary - beginners are welcome!
- 54-01 101st St. Queens, NY 11368Saturday, November 22, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.We invite all community members to join us and become involved with something so vital in our lives...nature! Sparrows Nest Community Garden is in the process of reinventing the space and looking for new garden members. Rain Date: November 23
You may request translation services for any GreenThumb workshop for any language at least three weeks in advance at greenthumbinfo@parks.nyc.gov.
Highlight of the Month:
Putting the Garden to Bed: Winterizing Raised Beds
Prepare your raised beds for winter while building healthier soil for next season! In this practical workshop, you'll learn how to protect your beds from frost and nutrient loss by using cover crops, mulching techniques, and other simple methods that prevent your soil from being exposed to harsh winter conditions. We'll discuss the benefits of covering your soil to retain nitrogen, reduce erosion, and support soil life through the cold months. Whether you're new to gardening or looking to refine your fall practices, this workshop will help you confidently put your raised beds to bed, ensuring a strong, vibrant start in spring.
GreenThumb Workshops
- November 4, Webinar: Garden Conflict Transformation Circle – Session 2
- November 8, Queens: From Seed to Community: A Far Rockway Community Garden Tour
- November 13, Manhattan: Community Ecology Reading Group
- November 18, Bronx: Como Escribir Auspicios: Guía Básica para la Subvención de Líderes Comunitarios de CitizensNYC
- November 19, Webinar: Facing Climate Change as Urban Gardeners
- December 3, Webinar: Grantwriting 101: A Guide to CitizensNYC Community Leaders Grant
- December 4, Manhattan: Practical Knot Tying for Urban Gardeners
- December 8, Funding Your Garden's Vision: Applying for the NYC Green Fund Grassroots Grant
- December 11, Crochet for the Garden: Crafting Connection & Practical Tools
Learn about all our upcoming programming in our Fall Program Guide!
More Workshops & Events
- November 5, Bronx: Bronx Green-Up's Pumpkin Smash 2025 at Lehman College
- November 9, Manhattan: LES Ecology Center's Pumpkin Smash 2025
- NYC Parks is seeking thousands of volunteers for the 2025 Trees Count to measure the size, location, and condition of the city's trees. Volunteers can sign up today at the 2025 Trees Count Hub website.
Resources & Grants for Artists
Looking for funding to bring art events and cultural programs to your community garden? Visit your local arts council to find out what grants they have available for local artists: Brooklyn Arts Council; Bronx Council on the Arts; Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance; Staten Island Arts; The New York Foundation for the Arts currently administers the Queens Arts Fund, providing grants to artists and arts organizations within Queens.
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