About GreenThumb

Established in 1978, GreenThumb is proud to be the nation's largest urban gardening program, sustaining over 550 community gardens and supporting thousands of volunteer gardeners throughout New York City. GreenThumb gardens create hubs of neighborhood pride and provide a myriad of environmental, economic and social benefits to the neighborhoods in which they thrive. GreenThumb's mission is to support and educate community gardens and urban farming across the five boroughs, while preserving open space. By providing free garden materials, technical assistance, educational workshops, and seasonal programs, GreenThumb supports neighborhood volunteers who steward community gardens as active resources that strengthen communities.

GreenThumb was initiated in response to the city’s financial crisis of the 1970s, which resulted in the abandonment of public and private land. 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.

GreenThumb has three teams that supports gardeners and gardens:

• Community Engagement

  GreenThumb's Community Engagement team is the first point of contact for our network of community gardens. Community Engagement Coordinators are assigned to geographic areas and assist groups and gardeners with community organizing, capacity and coalition building. They also help garden groups with special projects and connecting gardeners with a variety of available resources needed to flourish.

• Operations

  GreenThumb Operations is our boots-on-the-ground team that provides material and operational support to community gardens. In addition, they support garden groups with a wide variety of services, including property and pest management. You may find them delivering clean topsoil, compost, and lumber, building new gardens from the ground up, preparing garden sites for planting, making repairs, caring for trees in gardens, or scoping projects in gardens. The Operations team also manages special deliveries and seasonal supply distributions that provide gardeners with the tools, plants, and gardening materials they need to grow.

• Planning and Programs

  GreenThumb's Planning and Programs team lays the groundwork for GreenThumb's long-term success and provides gardeners access to technical skills, support, and resources. In addition to leading GreenThumb's effort to expand our reach and impact, this team plans annual signature public programs such as GreenThumb GrowTogether conference, Harvest Fair, Open Garden NYC, and other large events. They also host 100 workshops and three specialized trainings every year. Among many special projects, the Planning and Programs team administers the GreenThumb Youth Leadership Council, coordinates numerous volunteer projects, implements grants, new garden builds and capital projects, and oversees all communications and publications.