1 of 38

Gardening 101

Community Garden Series (Part 2)

2025

2 of 38

We are GrowNYC

Our mission is to empower all New Yorkers to equitably access fresh, locally grown food and neighborhood green spaces, reduce waste, and care for the environment.

We protect the environment, create green spaces, help people stay healthy, and give them opportunity to make a positive impact.

3 of 38

We make it easy for you to have a positive impact.

We are providing outreach and education to increase participation in the city’s zero waste programs and help conserve natural resources.

We are bringing more green space to our city by building and rejuvenating community and school gardens.

We are fostering environmental stewards by providing thousands of children and adults with opportunities for meaningful interactions with the natural environment.

We are transforming our regional food system and ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to the freshest, healthiest local food.

Zero Waste

Conservation

Education

Green Space

Food Access and Agriculture

Our Work

4 of 38

Meet Your Facilitators

Chantel Kemp

Education Manager

Colleen Graves

School Gardens Coordinator

Emma Holtzman

School Gardens Coordinator

5 of 38

Our Work

With a community first program we offer free gardening assistance, educational workshops, and green skills training.

These services are designed to be accessible and inclusive, serving all community members across generations.

5

6 of 38

Community Agreements

Respect comes first
One Mic
Listen to receive, not respond, nor retaliate
Be present
Allow learning moments
Think/Reflect Beyond Borders
Be Teachable
Speak from “I” not “We”
Take the lesson, leave the name

6

7 of 38

In this workshop, we’ll learn:

7

1. Food Justice

2. Garden Basics

3. Q&A

4. Resources

8 of 38

Recap: Gardens as Community Hub

8

9 of 38

Gardens as Community Hubs

9

Start small, Dream BIG
Community is a shared feeling
Establish community partners
Start a canvassing document
Plan for the future
Add multi–cultural layers
Establish garden programming
Ask for HELP!

CG: Yesterday’s conversation centered on activities to do to bring a garden to your community long before you think about garden design and crop planning. We talked about the community engagement elements to the process with regards to walking the blocks around the garden area, talking and listening with people about the dreams and plans for the garden, finding those community partners to help pull resources together and finding the folks interested to participate. The garden can be multi-cultural, it can be multi-generational and can serve so many different purposes for your community. It doesn’t just have to be a space for gardening, but can be that welcoming spot for youth & teens, neighborhood groups to meet, to family celebration events. The garden will be unique to your community and will reflect what’s important to y’all. and above all else, yesterday we reiterated–Ask for Help! Don’t do this alone. Invite and Surround yourself with folks to help bring about and sustain the garden.

10 of 38

Food Justice

10

11 of 38

Food Justice recognizes food as a human right.

It addresses not only what food we are eating, but how it relates to us and how it gets to us.

Farmers, food workers, & consumers, all deserve good quality of life and access to healthy, affordable, fresh food.

Food Justice

12 of 38

Food Sovereignty

Food Sovereignty gives agency to the community to govern and have influence over our food system & food consumption in a way that positively impacts the community.

Food Sovereignty asserts that a community has the right to establish food policies & systems in a way that is equitable and not dependant on global markets & corporate dominance.

12

13 of 38

13

Free Community Food Fridge

Green Skills Training

Free Seed Library

Equitable Harvesting

14 of 38

Food Sovereignty Examples

Equitable Harvesting Practices
Food Pantries
Community Fridges
Peer to Peer Green Skills Training
Seed Saving & Seed Keeping
Seed Libraries
Sharing seedlings & starts
Unbiased Marketing
Cooperative & Flexible Systems

14

15 of 38

Culturally Relevant Foods

Scorpion Peppers

African Corn

Bitter Melon

Okra

Hibiscus

Underground

Railroad Tomatoes

Collard Greens

Cilantro

16 of 38

Food Sovereignty Models

16

ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL

AGENCY

COLLECTIVE

ENVIRONMENT

Race/Ethnicity/Nationality
Gender
Religion/ Spirituality
Identity
Relationship status
Family
Income
Education
Trauma & Grief
Employment
Entrepreneurship

Participatory Practices
Decision Making
Trainings
Open Opportunities
Community Agreements
Food Policies
Marketing

Engagement & Organizing
Free Resources
Advocacy
Joy & Community Connection
Basic Needs
Economics

Holistic Health
Biodiversity
Sustainability
Climate
Transportation
Disrupting Redlining
Housing
Representation & Inclusivity

17 of 38

Things You Can Do!

Learn more about food justice movements in your community and around the world
Volunteer or steward at a community garden or urban farm
Volunteer or become a member at a food co-op
When you have the choice/buying power, purchase from or invest in food businesses that are confronting food injustice (local, minority or women or worker-owned, environmentally sustainable, fair trade, etc.)
Share food from your culture or others with friends and family
Advocate for food policy change by contacting your representatives
Be creative! There are so many ways to build a better food system

18 of 38

Garden Basics

18

19 of 38

Climate

19

Know your grow zone
Understanding Weather Systems & Microclimates

Check the weather!
What are other gardeners saying about their spaces
Hurricanes
Earthquakes

Observe your space & climate
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is used for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you

2023 Canada Fires (Orange Skies)

How are the plants responding? What did well? What didn't grow well?
How is rain, excessive heat & other weather conditions impacting the space? Do you need to conserve water? Are you experiencing flooding or drought?

20 of 38

20

NYC Growing Zone

Zones 7A/7B generally have a moderate growing season and can support a wide variety of plants, including some tropical species that can tolerate mild winters.

This includes crops like:

Tomatoes
Peppers
Broccoli
Collards
Kale
Beets

21 of 38

21

First & Last Frost

A frost (ice crystals forming on surfaces) generally happens between September and October, when the air temperature is between 36-32°F. A freeze happens when air temperature dips below 32°F. The colder it gets, the more damage you'll see to annual and perennial plants.

The last frost generally happens between April and May. This year’s last frost date is May 12th, signaling the start of spring and when the soil’s internal temperature has reached at least 50°F at night to sustain planting.

22 of 38

Types of Plants

Annuals

Live for only 1 year
Must be replanted with seeds or a cutting
Start annuals after the final frost

Perennials

Lives for at least 3 years
Usually comes back year after year
Foliage dies in the winter but comes back due to overwintering roots

22

Trees & Shrubs

Perennials
Can live between 100 - 1,000 years old
Need to be watered and mulched just like other plants

Biennials

2 year cycle
Grow in the spring and go dormant in the winter
Seeds naturally like perennials
Typically inedible the second year from bolting

23 of 38

Planting Guide

Direct Seeding

Direct seeding is very easy. You don’t have to bury them deep and seeds that are viable will grow quickly.

Transplanting

Transplants save time and only requires a few simple steps.

Purchase healthy and viable plants
Squeeze the side of the pot
Turn the pot upside down (it should be able to slide out with minimal force)
Pull apart the roots at the bottom before planting in soil
Separating the roots of the transplant is going to allow the roots to spread easier underground
Plant directly in the soil, burying until the root ball is fully covered

Broadcasting Seeds

Broadcasting seeds is very effective for cover crops, native seeds, wildflowers and grass seeds. It does not have to be “exact” and is a great activity for kids!

24 of 38

Understanding Germination

Germinate: To come into existence; to birth, develop or grow.

Using simple materials you can create the ideal conditions for seeds to grow. (Ziplock bag, water, seeds and the sun)

Through Germination we can understand the germination rate of a seed.

Germination rate refers to the percentage of seeds that will grow.

Germination saves time over direct sowing and can sometimes activate the seeds faster.

24

25 of 38

Establish A Companion Planting Guide

Companion Planting is growing different plants together as “companions” or “friends” to benefit each other. Some of the benefits of companion planting are natural pest deterrents, attracting beneficial insects, improving soil health, weed suppression & more. Companion planting helps improve pollination and overall garden health.

25

26 of 38

Companion Planting

Guide

26

27 of 38

Food Producing Crop Plan

27

Hibiscus

Marigold

Collards / Onions

Cilantro

Bok Choy/

Oregano

Thyme/Culantro

Cerasee

Bitter Melon

Buena Mulata

Aje Dulce

Choc. Scotch Bonnet

Underground Railroad Tomato

Calendula, Holy Basil, Echinacea

Bee Balm, Lemon Balm, Yarrow, Chamomile, Mugwort, Spearmint, Milkweed

African Corn/ Pole Beans/ Butternut squash

Strawberries

Watermelon

Okra/ Scorpion peppers

Rice Peas

Gandules

Sweet potatoes

Pink lady Roses

Lavender

Morning Glory

Three Sisters Bed

28 of 38

Pollinator Crop Plan

28

Mint

Bee Balm

Milkweed

Wildflower Seeds

Black Eyed Susan

Chives

Marigold

Rosemary

Parsley

Blue Sage

Bee Balm

Marigold

Hibiscus

Wild Yarrow

Lemon Balm

Milkweed

Borage

Oregano

Blue Aster

Purple Cone Flowers

Lavender

Russian Sage

Chamomile

Calendula

29 of 38

Beneficial Pollinators

29

Bees

Butterflies

Dragonflies

Lady Bugs

Birds

Hummingbirds

Beetles

The Wind

30 of 38

New York Natives

30

Aster

Dandelion

Goldenrod

Milkweed

Mint

Red Deadnettle

31 of 38

Food Producing Gardens

31

Medicine Wheel

Pollinator Garden

Wellness & Sensory & Rehabilitation Gardens

32 of 38

Things To Remember

Create your crop plan and a companion plant guide to help you better understand which flowers, herbs & crops grow well together.

Plant things that benefit the environment and are culturally inclusive.

Share seeds with community members in order to create educational, inclusive & fun gardening experiences.

Food Justice recognizes that food is a right, not a privilege. All beings have the right to have food that is fresh, nutritious, accessible, affordable & culturally relevant.

Food Sovereignty asserts that a community has the right to establish food policies & systems in a way that is equitable and not dependant on global markets & corporate dominance.

32

33 of 38

Additional Resources

33

34 of 38

Additional Resources

34

35 of 38

Next Session:

Gardening 102

June 12th

4pm -5pm

35

36 of 38

Garden Engagement Survey

36

37 of 38

Questions?

37

38 of 38

Chantel Kemp

Manager

ckemp@grownyc.org

GROWNYC PRESENTATION TITLE HERE

38

grownyc.org

@GrowNYC