GrowNYC Education
Students planting at GrowNYC’s Teaching Garden
In NYC, about a third of residential waste (and 50% of school waste!) is categorized as “organic” and suitable for composting (DSNY Waste Characterization Study, 2023). When organic waste is sent to rot in a landfill, it creates a toxic liquid called leachate and emits methane, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Luckily, this issue can be prevented through a process called composting!
Composting converts organic material, like food scraps, into a nutrient rich soil amendment called compost. This natural fertilizer can be added to soil to improve soil health. Though International Compost Awareness Week may only be for one week, there are many ways to get involved in composting in NYC year-round, including:
Separating organic material for curbside collection through the Department of Sanitation’s Curbside Composting program
Bringing food scraps to a Food Scrap Drop-Off site
Creating an outdoor composting system in a yard or garden, or inside with a vermicompost bin (worm bin)
Working towards a Master Composter Certification
Utilizing compost in your garden or outdoor space with free compost made from the City’s organic waste
CCNYC Community Leaders Grant Info Session (Virtual Webinar)
Tuesday, May 12th from 4 to 5 pm ET
Virtual webinar
Join GrowNYC School Gardens and Citizens Committee for NYC for a special school garden focused Info session for CitizensNYC Community Leaders Grant.
CitizensNYC has been providing grants and support to community groups with big ideas for 50 years, and applications are currently open for community grants of up to $5,000. Over the years, CitizensNYC has helped thousands of organizations, businesses, and individuals build projects.
To learn more, please register for GrowNYC and CitizensNYC's upcoming info session for school gardeners. This session will be recorded, so register if you’d like to receive a copy of the recording.
Pollinator Habitat in Your School Garden Part 2 (In-Person Workshop)
Thursday, May 21st from 5:30 to 6:30 pm ET
PS 216 Arturo Toscanini School
350 Avenue X, Brooklyn, NY 11223
Pollinators are essential to any garden community. Learn how to create habitats that support native bees, butterflies, moths, and other pollinators in school gardens, community spaces, and even window boxes.
Join GrowNYC School Gardens and Edible Schoolyard NYC for our in-person workshop where you’ll take a tour of the pollinator garden at PS 216 Arturo Toscanini School and learn how to design a pollinator habitat for your urban garden space. Enthusiasts of all ages welcome!
From Garden Beds to Forest Edges: Hands-On Strategies for School Gardening, Forest Gardens and Native Plantings (In-Person Workshop)
Thursday, June 4th from 8:15 am to 2:30 pm ET
GrowNYC Teaching Garden & The Battery Urban Farm (Governors Island & Lower Manhattan)
Participants must be NYC teachers, non-teaching school staff, administrators, or parents/guardians currently involved with gardening at their school, or planning to start an outdoor garden at their school.
Join GrowNYC School Gardens and The Battery Conservancy on this full day of workshops for hands-on strategies on School Gardening, Forest Gardens, and Native Plants. At the Teaching Garden, participants will learn and practice various gardening techniques and garden education methods to bring back to the classroom. The afternoon will be spent at the Battery Urban Farm where the discussion will focus on frameworks and resources to help you select native plants for your garden site, both at a small scale and if planning a larger forest garden. Come join us for a full day of connection and learning!
Program Update: GrowNYC Food & Nutrition Education
If your school is applying for the 11th annual NYCPS Office of Energy and Sustainability’s (OES) Sustainability Project Grant, you can partner with GrowNYC Education for food education programming, focused on the local food systems, nutrition and urban agriculture.
You can explore our programs here.
The grant application opens on May 13, 2026. The winners will be announced in September 2026 allowing schools to implement their projects for the entire school year of 2026-2027.
If you are interested to learn more, contact our Food Education Specialist Adriana Daroqui at adaroqui@grownyc.org.
Program Update: GrowNYC School Gardens
Are you applying for the OES Sustainability Grant to help start your school garden? Our team of School Garden Coordinators are here to help you brainstorm and plan for a garden program and guide you through the grant application process —all free of charge! Our team can help you with:
School Garden Programming: integration planning for incorporating a garden into your curriculum and school culture.
Teacher Workshops: tailored workshops for your teacher teams on gardening best practices.
Garden Design: evaluation of the school space for garden placement, garden goals and the final design
Grant writing: provide feedback and help craft a narrative that captures the vision and purpose of the school garden project.
Email schoolgardens@grownyc.org to be connected with a School Gardens Coordinator.
Program Update: GrowNYC Teaching Garden
Field trip season has bloomed at the GrowNYC Teaching Garden on Governors Island. Limited field trip spots remain for May and June, sign up now at our website!
The Teaching Garden will also be open on weekends starting May 30th. Stay tuned for more information on open hours and programming.
We're looking forward to seeing you at our garden.
Partner Spotlight: NYCPS Office of Energy and Sustainability
Save the Date: The $5K Sustainability Project Grant application launches May! NYCPS Office of Energy and Sustainability is opening the application on May 13th and closing on June 22nd. Learn more about the Sustainability Project Grant and RSVP for an information session here.
Climate Action Day: Water is the theme for the last Climate Action Day for the school year on May 20th. Check out step-by-step “roadmaps” to plan lessons and activities for your class, and promote your day schoolwide using the communications toolkit.
Youth Climate Summit: Middle and high school educators, inspire student
climate action by spending a day outdoors on Governors Island on June 10 or 11 for NYC Public Schools Office of Energy & Sustainability’s Youth Climate Summit. Bring 5-10 students to discover career paths in climate and sustainability, attend hands- on workshops, learn about environmental justice, and walk away with climate action ideas for the summer and beyond. Register your student group for the Youth Climate Summit by May 15. PD Opportunities: The Climate Education Leadership Team, is hosting monthly virtual PDs! Join a session and earn CTLE credits.
Plant a Seed of Support
When you give to GrowNYC, you’re not just making a donation—you’re planting a seed! With every contribution, your can help NYC neighborhoods flourish, empower the next generation of environmental stewards, and create a greener, resilient city for everyone.
Please consider standing with GrowNYC and making a tax-deductible donation today!
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Grant Opportunities
EcoRise Student Innovation Project Grant Deadline: May 15
KidsGardening Intergenerational Garden Grant Deadline: May 15
NYSAR3 Green School Grant Program Deadline: May 15
NYCPS Office of Food & Nutrition Services Nutrition Collaborative Program Deadline: May 22
National Wildlife Federation Growing a Wild NYC Grant Deadline: June 12
White-Reinhardt Ag Literacy Grant Program Deadline: June 12
KidsGardening Lots of Compassion Grant Deadline: June 15
Citizens Committee for NYC Community Leaders Grant Deadline: July 27
Herman’s Garden Seed Donation Program Deadline: Rolling
Coast of Maine Growing Good Donations Soil Program: Application open for Spring 2026 pickup
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