31st Annual GreenThumb GrowTogether Conference GuideHostos Community CollegeMarch 21, 2015

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PROGRAMRegistration 8:30 - 9:15 a.m. In front of auditoriumBreakfast 8:30 - 9:15 a.m. In front of auditoriumOpening Ceremony 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Auditorium

Welcome from Nancy Kohn, Director, GreenThumb, NYC Department of Parks & RecreationCommissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, NYC Department of Parks & RecreationBarbara Turk, Director of Food Policy at the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human ServicesKeynote Address by LaDonna Redmond, Food Justice ActivistPerformances by Choban Elektrik and the Learning Tree African Dance Ensemble

Workshop Session I 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 3rd, 4th and 5th Floors (Bldg. C)Exhibits / Networking 11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 3rd Floor BridgeLunch 12:45 - 2:00 p.m. Cafeteria, 3rd Floor and LobbyT-Shirt Pick-Up 12:45 - 2:15 p.m. GymWorkshop Session II 2:15 - 3:30 p.m. 3rd, 4th and 5th Floors (Bldg. C)T-Shirt Sale 3:30 - 4:00pm Lobby EntranceEvaluation Form and Raffle Drop off evaluation forms as you leave (look for green boxes)Throughout the day, there will be a children’s play area in the gym. Children’s workshops are listed in the main program. The play area and the workshops are for children ages 3 and up; younger children must be accompanied by an adult.Yoga demonstrations (roughly 15 minutes long) will be held in the gym during the first and second workshop sessions, courtesy of Shape Up NYC, which offers 300 free fitness classes weekly at more than 150 locations across the five boroughs. Instructors Sandi Higgins, Carmen Soto and Monica Soto will lead these demonstrations.Look through this guide for complete workshop descriptions. Use the symbols on page three for workshop categories located at the bottom of each description.

ABOUT OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKERLaDonna Redmond is a food-justice activist/writer/motivational speaker who has successfully worked to get Chicago Public Schools to evaluate junk food, launched urban agriculture projects, started community grocery stores, and worked on federal farm policy to expand access to healthy food access and production in communities of color. Very active in community journalism, she hosts a weekly radio show on KMOJ called “It’s your Health” and writes a bi-weekly column for the Minnesota Spokesman Reporter.

In her role as education and community outreach coordinator for Seward Community Cooperative, LaDonna is responsible for engaging community residents, local partners, and organizations to participate in activities, programming, and special initiatives of the co-op’s new Friendship store in Minneapolis.

In 2009, LaDonna was one of 25 citizen and business leaders named a Responsibility Pioneer by Time Magazine. LaDonna was also a 2003-2005 WKKF Food and Society Fellow. In 2007, she was awarded a Green for All Fellowship. LaDonna attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

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SESSION I WORKSHOPS11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.KEY

J Activities for Children

PBeyond the Basic Garden

q Composting

B Cultivating Community Engagement

G Financial and Political Support

$ For Teachers and Garden Educators

Y Health & Well-Being

R Horticulture

@ Making Things

$ Workshops for Teens

The Power of Herbs / RM 351Serbert Harper, Elmy Francis Herbs are powerful in treating common sicknesses as well as other aspects impacting our quality of life. Let us explore the ancient art of herbs for arthritis, asthma, diabetes, blood pressure, P.M.S., beauty care and much more.

Y

Herbal Soap Making / RM 391Khadijah Muhammad and Students – The Learning TreeTwenty adult participants will make and take with them two bars of herbal soap made from vegetable glycerin, aloe vera, coconut, chlorophyll, calendula, lemongrass, peppermint, herbs, and scented oil.

@

Trellising 101 / RM 357Deborah Greig – East New York FarmsIn New York City, where space can be limited when growing food, you can build a trellis. We will show you two ways you can build vertically to save space and harvest more easily.

P

Introduction to Season Extending High Tunnels / RM 358Shawn Connell – GrowNYCHigh tunnels are inexpensive passive-solar greenhouses that can help urban gardeners and farmers extend their growing season and improve the quality of their produce. This beginner workshop will cover how to build your own high tunnel and successfully grow in it all year round!

P

Straw Bale and Other Small Space Gardening / RM 361Carolyn Zezima, Christopher Batenhorst – NYC Foodscape The workshop will teach participants about the uses for and benefits of straw bale gardening, particularly in small or contaminated spaces, with instructions and photos of the garden in various stages. NYC Foodscape will give tips on growing food in small spaces, highlighting some small space garden projects, and giving a hands-on demo in prepping and growing in straw.

P

Youth Engaging Gardens / RM 558Cristian Fernandez, Brian Moody, Damian Lawson, Melvin Lopez, Christopher Perez, Erik Calvo, Marcos Luciano, Tyler Perez, Rosaura Romero – The Brotherhood/Sister SolIn Frank White Memorial garden in West Harlem, young people are at the forefront of working and maintaining the garden. We will share how we were able to achieve such a high engagement of young people, and show participants how to engage youth in their own gardens through various activities.

$

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Healthy Soils, Healthy Communities: What Can We Learn from Soil and Vegetable Test Results? / RM 555Members of Cornell UniversityJoin the Healthy Soils, Healthy Communities team to discuss testing soils and vegetables for lead and other contaminants. Learn about healthy gar-dening practices and steps to take in your garden!

P

Principles of Designing a Pollinator Garden / RM 454Ursula Chanse, Chrissy Word, Ray Pultinas – Bronx Green-Up/The New York Botanical Garden and The Clinton Garden of DeWitt Clinton High SchoolCommunity and school gardeners: Learn the principles of designing a visually appealing pollinator garden, including the basics of plant communities, site assessment, native plant selection and care, and maintenance tips. Special focus on starting a school garden.

R

History of Community Gardening in NYC / RM 457Members of Cornell University Community gardening beginnings, from the 70’s to the present.

$

Turning Garden Harvests into Tasty Food / RM JFKGeorge Edwards, Peter Forte, Holly Howitt, Lyna Vuong – Garden to Cafe ProgramThe Garden to Cafe Program, with help from students, will connect produce harvested from gardens with easy and tasty lunches you can make at home.

Y

Collecting Stories / RM 551Sabine Bernards – Citizens Committee for New York CityUse oral history to collect the narratives of your community garden, green space, or group. Learn tips and tools for recording and sharing your stories.

B

Organizing Your Garden / RM 550Janice Hawkins-Flood – Bronx Land Trust BoardOrganizing your garden can help you keep in touch with your gardeners, plan workdays and events, raise money, shovel snow, and manage tasks that need to be done in and around your garden space. With the information you collect, you can also apply for grants.

B

How to Make Aerated Compost Tea / RM 363Michelle Hernandez, Esther Lui, Shafina Rahim, Imane Azzam-Rehali – NY Compost Project hosted by Earth MatterLearn how to make actively aerated compost tea from mature compost to enhance your soil and make your plants thrive. Hands-on-activities. Participants will take home a free brewing bag.

q

Preventing Rats in Your Garden & Compost / RM 512Caroline Bragdon – NYC Dept. of HealthThis workshop will teach participants how to prevent rats, how to identify signs of rat activity, and develop a proactive plan to prevent rats. There will also be a discussion of the City’s role in neigh-borhood rat management and what the Health Department does to control this pervasive pest.

Y

Senior Citizens Garden Hats and Picture Collage / Lobby on Main FloorDeborah Gilliard , Tahtiana Gilliard, Joyell Gilliard – Community Board #10Participants will create and make beautiful picture collages and design garden hats.

@

Group Structure & Bylaws / RM 554GreenThumb Staff – GreenThumbIs your garden group in need of structure and better organization? This workshop will help you to hone the fundamentals of group structure and basics of by-laws. Learn how to write them so that you have a resource to guide how you work together effectively.

B

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Paper Pots and Soilless Potting Mix / RM 362Pamela A. Davis – Just FoodThis hands-on workshop will teach you how to make paper pots and seed-starting mix from most materials found around your home, school, and/or community garden.

@

Nonprofit Incorporation, Tax Exemption and Fiscal Sponsorship / RM 565Members of Lawyers Alliance for New YorkWhat are incorporation, tax exemption, and fiscal sponsorship? Come find out what they could do for your garden and what those processes look like.

G

Herbal Interactive / RM 561Aazam Otero, Jen KlineLearn more about herbs and their uses, from the garden variety to the regional and cultural. Make your own digestive aid to take home.

Y

Community Land Access / RM 552Paula Z. Segal – 596 AcresLearn how to read city data, tap community resources, use the 596 Acres map and website to engage your neighbors, and plot your next steps to gain access to city land for your community projects. Many communities in Brooklyn have successfully used these tools to create gardens and host events in formerly empty lots. Could your community be next?

B

Barrier-free Gardens / RM 465Eric Thomann Gardens should be accessible to everyone. This workshop shows several design features that allow all to enjoy your garden. If you’re planning a project, bring in your ideas to share and develop.

B

Plan to Plant with Companions / RM 460Sara Katz, Bernie Conway Bronx Green-Up at The New York Botanical GardenCreate a plan for your garden plot! We’ll map out the gardening season, discussing options such as companion planting, crop rotation, and succession planting.

R

Soda Bottle Workshop: Simple Passive Hydroponics for All / RM 364Lee Mandell, Alex Galczak – Boswyck FarmsBuild a soda bottle planter with Boswyck Farms! This simple exercise will teach you how to build a passive hydroponic system entirely out of commonly found materials. The workshop includes a brief lecture on the history and application of hydroponics. Every participant will leave with a soda bottle planter to take home, complete with grow medium and seeds for starting your first plant. The hands-on portion of the workshop is appropriate for people aged 5-105. The lecture is designed for people with a high-school level of scientific understanding.

@J

Oh Those Aches and Pains / RM 464Karen Washington – La Familia VerdeGardening season is right around the corner; learn how to alleviate undue stress on your back and joints through exercises and practicing good body mechanics.

Y

Seed Keeping: Storytelling, Liberation, and How to Save Seeds / RM 553Onika Abraham, Owen Taylor Keeping seeds connects us to our past and to our collective future. Come explore the “why” and “how” of saving seeds and the stories they hold through discussion and hands-on practice.

R

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Green Chemistry: Natural Beauty Products / RM FDR 3rd FloorGioya DeSouza - Fennelly Columbia University – Act Green LLCParticipants will learn how to make natural beauty products and take home samples. They will learn the natural chemistry of each organic ingredient and its impact on their body and the environment.

Y

SESSION II WORKSHOPS2:15 – 3:30 p.m.The Power of Herbs / RM 351Serbert Harper, Elmy Francis Herbs are powerful in treating common sicknesses as well as other aspects impacting our quality of life. Let us explore the ancient art of herbs for arthritis, asthma, diabetes, blood pressure, P.M.S., beauty care and much more.

Y

Herbal Soap Making / RM 391Khadijah Muhammad and Students – The Learning Tree Twenty adult participants will make and take with them two bars of herbal soap made from vegetable glycerin, aloe vera, coconut, chlorophyll, calendula, lemongrass, peppermint, herbs, and scented oil.

@

Trellising 101 / RM 357Deborah Greig – East New York Farms In New York City, where space can be limited when growing food, you can build a trellis. We will show you two ways you can build vertically to save space and harvest more easily.

P

Introduction to Season Extending High Tunnels / RM 358Shawn Connell – GrowNYC High tunnels are inexpensive passive-solar greenhouses that can help urban gardeners and farmers extend their growing season and improve the quality of their produce. This beginner workshop will cover how to build your own high tunnel and successfully grow in it all year round!

P

Straw Bale and Other Small Space Gardening / RM 361Carolyn Zezima, Christopher Batenhorst – NYC Foodscape The workshop will teach participants about the uses for and benefits of straw bale garden-ing, particularly in small or contaminated spac-es, with instructions and photos of the garden in various stages. NYC Foodscape will give tips on growing food in small spaces, highlighting some small space garden projects, and giving a hands-on demo in prepping and growing in straw.

P

Youth Engaging Gardens / RM 558Cristian Fernandez, Brian Moody, Damian Lawson, Melvin Lopez, Christopher Perez, Erik Calvo, Marcos Luciano, Tyler Perez, Rosaura Romero – The Brotherhood/Sister Sol In Frank White Memorial garden in West Harlem, young people are at the forefront of working and maintaining the garden. We will share how we were able to achieve such a high engagement of young people, and show participants how to engage youth in their own gardens through various activities.

$Healthy Soils, Healthy Communities: What Can we Learn from Soil and Vegetable Test Results? / RM 450Members of Cornell UniversityJoin the Healthy Soils, Healthy Communities team to discuss testing soils and vegetables for lead and other contaminants. Learn about healthy gar-dening practices and steps to take in your garden!

P

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Principles of Designing a Pollinator Garden / RM 454Ursula Chanse, Chrissy Word, Ray Pultinas – Bronx Green-Up/The New York Botanical Garden & The Clinton Garden of DeWitt Clinton High SchoolCommunity and school gardeners: Learn the principles of designing a visually appealing pollinator garden, including the basics of plant communities, site assessment, native plant selection and care, and maintenance tips. Special focus on starting a school garden.

R

Real Food in a Fake Democracy: How to Find Safe Food, Improve Your Health, Satisfy Your Cravings, and Vote with Your Fork / RM 560Amy RoweA few nutrition principles can help prevent or cure many illnesses. We’ll discuss building health by identifying trustworthy sources of nutrition information as well as invigorating, delicious, and affordable foods.

Y

Exploring Community: Food, Agriculture and Diversity / RM 551Members of Bushwick Food CoopJoin members of the Bushwick community as we discuss food’s direct impact on our community and how we foster relationships through food. Snacks will be provided by the Bushwick Food Coop.

YR

“Green Streets” – Film on Community Gardening / RM 593Maria DeLuca “Green Streets” is an 87-minute award-winning documentary on community gardening in NYC. It spans the gardening movement in the ’70s and ’80s, covering 35 gardens in all five boroughs. Currently still in active distribution, it has been widely shown on U.S. national TV and in 11 coun-tries. “An exuberant film full of dazzling variety...and green life, both vegetable and human... that celebrates our deepest hopes and joys.” (Riverfront Times, St. Louis)

B

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Fermentation 103 / FDR 3rd FloorKatherine Mastrota – Community Board M11A definitive guide to home fermentation. Alcohol, vinegars, souring, and pickling will be addressed. Participants will receive an instruction/resource booklet, SCOBY, vinegar, and fermented food samples. Free raffle prizes.

Y

Advocating for Your Garden / RM 550Aziz Dehkan – NYCCGCThis workshop will discuss how to maneuver the political maze of how to protect and preserve your community garden. It will also include information on how to raise money to keep your garden solvent.

G

Neighborhood Compost Collection / RM 363Vandra Thorburn, Joanne Andersson – Vokashi, Inc. Learn about building a neighborhood compost collection service from Vokashi, the first eco-living compost service in New York City.

B

Reducing Cat Populations in Community Gardens / RM 512Alicia Williamson This workshop will explore the causes of a free-roaming cat population; how this affects our communities, gardens and other green spaces; and how community gardeners and rescuers can work together to prevent a rapidly increasing cat population. We will also look at techniques to protect our gardens, humanely manage free-roaming cats in and around gardens, and the potential benefits.

B

High School Students and Community Garden Green Infrastructure Project / RM 467Members of The Heritage School, Columbia University & GrowNYC GrowNYC, Hope Community, Columbia University Graduate Students and Heritage High School students together are designing and installing a rainwater harvesting system/ bioswale at the Modesto “Tin” Flores Community Garden. The high school students will present their work.

$Use Your Bean / RM 362Maureen O’Brien – Brooklyn Botanic GardenBlue lake, calico, lazy housewife, yard-long, true cranberry, and christmas; beans are protein powerhouses. Learn to select, grow, harvest, save, cook, and eat lovely legumes.

R

Growing Resources: Crowd Funding for Community Gardens / RM 565Ethany Uttech and Delbert Ferguson – IOBYJoin IOBY, a nonprofit digital engagement platform, to learn how community gardens can use crowd funding to raise funds and engage community.

G

Herbal Use of Common Weeds / RM 561Sarah Elisabeth Eat your way to a nutritional and weedless garden with a hands-on-workshop in the practical use of common weeds.

Y

Measuring Our Success / RM 552Sheryll Durrant and D. Rooney – Five Borough Farm ProjectHow can we measure the good work we’re doing in our gardens and farms – from skills shared to food scraps composted to veggies grown? Learn how to collect this information for improving practices and for help when seeking funding and resource support. Join gardeners from Farming Concrete and Five Borough Farm for a tour of some of our measurement and evaluation tools.

B

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Designing Your Community Garden for Present and Future / RM 465Cindy Goulder – Ecological Landscapes/Urban Gardens (also Poplar St. Community Garden) Identify critical issues in shaping gardens in space and time; learn from the process, achievements, and mistakes of other community gardens; and address design problems raised by attendees.

P

Aquaculture 101 / RM 460Chef Marion Moses – Culinary Kids - Culinary Arts Initiatives Introduction to the science of aquaculture and its impact on the American food movement.

P

Food, Seeds, Soil, Storms, Fires & Swarms… / RM 364Tracy Fitz, Jenn U. City Solar Food, seeds, soil, storms, fires, swarms, peace, famine, health, zero net, and renewable energy… their relationship and your part.

P

Fantastic Spring Flowers in Neon Colors / RM 464Effie Serlis and Shelagh Krueger – 6B Garden We will do a brief picture lesson of spring flowers, then create imaginative 3-D clay flowers in their own little pots in bright colors. An air-drying clay workshop for children 7 years and older and adults.

J

Community Gardens and Gentrification Roundtable / RM 553Prita Lal, Owen Taylor Community gardens have helped revitalize neighborhoods. Yet, how can these same community efforts lead to displacement of gardens and longtime community members – and what can we do to protect both?

B

How to Find Things for Your Garden Greg Ingram – GLI GraphicsSince I’ve been a member of a community garden, I’ve had to find things for it. My journey in locating garden items falls in three categories: purchased, donated, or loaned. I will lead the class in exploring how to pursue finding things effectively.

P

The New York City Housing Authority Garden & Greening Program / RM 475Nikki Johnson, Akela Tucker, Denise Reyna – The New York City Housing AuthorityParticipants will gain an understanding of the history, background, and current focus of the New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) Garden & Greening program. Participants will also identify ways to connect with their local NYCHA garden and begin the process of creating a cohesive NYC community gardening system.

B

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SESSION 1 WORKSHOPS 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.Senior Citizens Garden Hats and Picture Collage @ Lobby on Main Floor

The Power of Herbs Y 351

Trellising 101 P 357

Introduction to Season Extending High Tunnels P 358

Straw Bale and Other Small Space Gardening P 361

Paper Pots and Soilless Potting Mix @ 362

How to Make Aerated Compost Tea q 363

Soda Bottle Workshop: Simple Passive Hydroponics For All @J 364

Herbal Soap Making @ 391

Principles of Designing a Pollinator Garden R 454

History of Community Gardening in NYC $ 457

Plan to Plant with Companions R 460

Oh Those Aches and Pains Y 464

Barrier-free Gardens B 465

Preventing Rats in Your Garden & Compost Y 512

Organizing Your Garden B 550

Collecting Stories B 551

Community Land Access B 552

Seed Keeping: Storytelling, Liberation, and How to Save Seeds R 553

Group Structure & Bylaws B 554

Healthy Soils, Healthy Communities: What Can We Learn from Soil and Vegetable Test Results? P 555

Youth Engaging Gardens $ 558

Herbal Interactive Y 561

Nonprofit Incorporation, Tax Exemption and Fiscal Sponsorship G 565

Green Chemistry: Natural Beauty Products Y FDR 3rd Floor

Turning Garden Harvests into Tasty Food Y JFK 3rd Floor

KEY

JActivities for Children

PBeyond the Basic Garden

qComposting

BCultivating Community Engagement

G Financial and Political Support

$For Teachers and Garden Educators

YHealth & Well-Being

R Horticulture

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SESSION 2 WORKSHOPS 2:15 – 3:30 p.m. The Power of Herbs Y 351

Trellising 101 P 357

Introduction to Season Extending High Tunnels P 358

Straw Bale and Other Small Space Gardening P 361

Use Your Bean R 362

Neighborhood Compost Collection B 363

Food, Seeds, Soil, Storms, Fires & Swarms… P 364

Herbal Soap Making @ 391

Principles of Designing a Pollinator Garden R 454

The New York City Housing Authority Garden & Greening Program B 457

Aquaculture 101 460

Fantastic Spring Flowers in Neon Colors J 464

Designing your Community Garden for Present and Future P 465

High School Students and Community Garden Green Infrastructure Project $ 467

Reducing Cat Populations in Community Gardens B 512

Advocating for Your Garden G 550

Exploring Community: Food, Agriculture and Diversity YR 551

Measuring Our Success! B 552

Community Gardens and Gentrification Roundtable B 553

How to Find Things for Your Garden P 554

Healthy Soils, Healthy Communities: What Can We Learn from Soil and Vegetable Test Results? P 555

Youth Engaging Gardens $ 558

Real Food in a Fake Democracy: How to Find Safe Food, Improve Your Health, Satisfy Your Cravings, and Vote with Your Fork Y 560

Herbal Use of Common Weeds B 561

Growing Resources: Crowdfunding for Community Gardens G 565

"Green Streets" - Film on Community Gardening B 593

Fermentation 103 Y FDR 3rd Floor

KEY

JActivities for Children

PBeyond the Basic Garden

qComposting

BCultivating Community Engagement

G Financial and Political Support

$For Teachers and Garden Educators

YHealth & Well-Being

R Horticulture

@Making Things

$Workshops for Teens

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City of New York Parks & RecreationGreenThumb49 Chambers Street, Room 1020New York, NY 10007

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