44th Annual GreenThumb Harvest Fair

Get ready for the 44th Annual GreenThumb Harvest Fair on Saturday, September 28, 2024 from noon to 4:00 p.m. at El Jardin del Paraiso at 710 E 5th Street in Manhattan. Join NYC Parks GreenThumb and GreenThumb community gardeners in celebrating the start of fall with workshops, live entertainment, healthy cooking demonstrations, and more! Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for more information.

Rain Date: In case of severe weather, a smaller scale event will take place at El Jardin del Paraiso on Sunday, September 29, 2024.

At this year's Harvest Fair, take part in our 2024 Harvest Fair Passport! Complete a few assignments during the event to get three stamps in order to receive a 2024 GreenThumb gardener t-shirt with the winning t-shirt design by Melissa Zavala!  Assignments include visiting a greening partner table, visiting the Harvest Fair Competition display, and more. 

The GreenThumb Harvest Fair is a family-friendly free event with activities for all to enjoy, including:

Environmental Programming:

• Microgreens Workshop: Learn how to grow greens for your salad on your windowsill
• Free daffodil bulbs from New Yorkers for Parks' Daffodil Project 
• Free seedlings from Gotham Greens 
• BioBus: Learn about plant and food science in this mobile science lab
• Willow weaving and dreaming: Learn about sustainable art practices, willow weaving techniques, and the ecological significance of willow structures from local earth-based artist Aresh Javadi.
• Greening Partner Tabling: Organizations will be on-site to answer questions and share information about their programming, including: 
  • Bronx Green-Up of The New York Botanical Garden
  • Citizens Committee for New York
  • Farm School NYC
  • Green Map System
  • M.A.P. NYC
  • GrowNYC 
  • LES Ecology Center 
  • New York Restoration Project
  • NYC Parks Stormwater Management Team
  • New York-Presbyterian Hospital
  • NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Pest Control
  • The Lower Eastside Girls Club of New York

Fun and Games:

• Dominos games
• Build your own scarecrow for your garden
• Activities with NYC Parks Recreation
• Fitness classes by Shape Up NYC
• Pick and decorate a pumpkin from the harvest patch (While supplies last)
• Face painting
• Harvest Fair Photo Booth
• Wheely Good Smoothies: Pedal your way to a delicious smoothie

Live Entertainment:

• Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre

Schedule subject to change. 
While supplies last: GreenThumb gardener t-shirts, seedlings, daffodil bulbs, and pumpkins

Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for updates on the activities being offered throughout the day.

This GreenThumb event is supported by Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens (LUNGS) and part of the 13th Annual LUNGS Arts Harvest Festival. 

2024 GreenThumb Harvest Fair Competition

The winners of the 2024 GreenThumb Harvest Fair Competition will be announced and the winning photo submissions of veggies, herbs, fruit, and flowers that GreenThumb community gardeners and home gardeners grew will be displayed in front of the willow tree, which is one of the Great Trees of New York City, at El Jardin del Paraiso (710 E 5th St.) in Manhattan. 

All community gardeners are encouraged to bring their harvest to the event, We will have a special place to display them during the day.
 

GreenThumb Fresh Chef Contest

Come cheer on 10 community members who will show off their cooking skills at the 44th Annual GreenThumb Harvest Fair!

The contest will challenge participants to replicate their most delicious and nutritious version of a surprise dish demonstrated by chef, cookbook author, and New York Times contributor Sohla El-Waylly. The first place winner of the GreenThumb Fresh Chef Contest will receive Sohla's book, "Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook.”

Learn more about the Fresh Chef Contest and GreenThumb’s annual Harvest Fair from Sohla on Instagram!

Great Trees of New York City

Last year, NYC Parks launched the new Great Tree Search, inviting citizens across the five boroughs to nominate trees of unusual size, interesting or rare species, unusual form, and/or historical significance, with the goal of increasing both the number of trees and the diversity of people telling these stories. We are happy to share that four of the new Great Trees of New York City are in GreenThumb community gardens!

During Harvest Fair, a Great Tree designation will be presented to community garden stewards of:

• Weeping Willow at El Jardin del Paraiso in Manhattan
• Weeping Willow at Creative Little Garden in Manhattan
• Dawn Redwood at Liz Christy Garden in Manhattan
• Weeping Willow at 6/15 Green in Brooklyn