Soil Health and Compost Practicum (Part 2 of 2)

August 5, 2023


Cornell Cooperative Extension's Makela Elvy, Partnerships for Parks, and NYC Parks GreenThumb bring you a two-part learning series on soil vitality and its impact on plants. Plant health is directly linked to the health of the soil it's growing in. If we take care of the soil, the soil will take care of our plants and crops.

This hands-on workshop will build on our knowledge of soil health basics and dive into practical ways of assessing and improving soil health. We will look at an example of a thriving garden compost system and see how compost amendments affect different soil types. Prepare to get your hands dirty! 

A Cantonese interpreter will be available at this workshop.

Location:
Rodale Pleasant Park Community Garden
437 East 114th Street
Train: 4/6 to 116 St
Bus: M15 to 1 Av/E 113 St 

This event is FREE! Pre-registration is not required.

El Camino del Micelio: Cultivo de Hongos en Otoño

September 20, 2025
11:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Bronx, NY

Aprende a cultivar hongos de forma sencilla en tu huerto comunitario este otoño con los equipos de Cornell Co-op Extension y GreenThumb. En este taller para principiantes y para cualquier persona interesada, Yolanda Gonzalez y Karen Guzman explorarán cómo los hongos pueden apoyar la salud del suelo, cerrar ciclos de nutrientes y ofrecer alimentos nutritivos para tu comunidad. Practicaremos dos técnicas para cultivar setas en bolsas o camas de cultivo con materiales accesibles, y conversaremos sobre cómo integrar el cultivo de hongos en proyectos de huertos comunitarios.

Maximizing Your Garden -- Fall Prep

September 21, 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Woodside, NY

In this hands-on session, Urban Garden Specialist, Karen Guzman, will discuss how to make the most of your garden space by understanding the growing seasons and selecting crops that thrive in each one. You'll learn practical strategies to extend the life of your favorite crops and plan ahead for future seasons.

Cultivating Climate Resilience of Urban Agriculture in New York City

September 24, 2025
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
New York, NY

A Panel Presentation and Hands-on Soil Health Demo!

Join the New York Climate Exchange and Cornell Cooperative Extension's Ag Climate Resiliency Program, New York Soil Health, and Harvest NY for a Soil Health Field Day in Governor's Island. This event focuses on best practices for building climate resilience on urban farms and is part of the 2025 Soil Health and Climate Resilience Field Days. It will offer a farm tour, as well as valuable insights and hands-on demonstrations to enhance soil health through biochar applications.

Whether you're a seasoned farmer or just getting started, this event is perfect for anyone who wants to learn the basics of climate resilience, adaptation planning, and soil health-- hearing directly from urban farmers in New York City. 

New Produce Auctions in NYS!

With the opening of the new Augusta Produce Auction on August 19th, New York State now has 11 produce auctions! See the new map of produce auction locations across the state and contact information.

New York Urban Farms Sustainable Pest Management Fact Sheet Series

Cornell Cooperative Extension has partnered with dozens of urban farms across New York State to demonstrate and evaluate sustainable pest management strategies. Together with farmers, we found success using control methods that prevent or reduce crop losses through exclusion strategies, crop timing, host resistance, the introduction of beneficial organisms, and more. Regardless of management strategy used, common requirements for success include a knowledge of the pest and disease complex, preventative deployment and commitment to the process. The New York Urban Farms Sustainable Pest Management Fact Sheet Series includes case studies highlighting pest management techniques that New York urban farms have found valuable.