BQLT Monthly Gardener Gathering

November 1, 2025


Please join us for our Brooklyn Queens Land Trust (BQLT) Monthly Gardener Gathering on Saturday, November 1 from11:00 AM-12:30 PM at McIntosh Neighborhood Garden in East Elmhurst, Queens. Come learn how this host garden has been addressing their complex lead/heavy metal soil test results by drawing from several free resources: Green Thumb, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and NYC's veterans' volunteer platoon, The Mission Continues.

Special Topic: Soil Health Basics and Dealing with Lead/Heavy Metals in Urban Soils

Guest Speaker: Karen Guzman, Urban Gardens Specialist at CCE Harvest NY 

Location: 25-16 McIntosh St., East Elmhurst, New York 11369 (& 100th St.) gate entrance at top point of triangle lot. See Google Map.

Nearby Public Transportation Options:
MTA Trains & Buses: 4 minute walk from Q49 Astoria Blvd./100th St. Stop from Jackson Hts./Roosevelt Ave./Broadway/74th St. Station (E, F, M, R, 7 trains)
8 minute walk from Q72 at 94th St. /25th Ave. Stop (from 7 train at Junction Blvd. Stop)

Webinar: Biochar Applications on Urban Farms

June 10, 2026
12:00 noon - 1:00 PM

Hear from Deborah Aller, Cornell, about biochar applications on urban farms and its ability to act as a tool for soil health and climate mitigation. We will also be discussing the mission behind New York Center for Organics Recycling and Education (NYCORE).

Urban Agroforestry Summit

July 17, 2026
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
New York, NY

Learn and network with urban agroforestry practitioners, service providers and city government partners on ways to scale agroforestry in NYC

Join the Cornell Small Farms Program and Harvest New York for the first annual NYC Urban Agroforestry Summit. Begin the day by learning from invited speakers who will explore the evolution, current landscape, and future potential of agroforestry within New York City's food systems and urban forestry initiatives.

Community Gardens Soil Testing Program Accepting Applications

Soil testing supports the growth and expansion of community gardens by protecting the health and safety of the food produced in these gardens. CCE Harvest NY, in partnership with the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets (AGM) and the Cornell Soil Health Lab, is offering eligible, food-producing gardens in New York State the opportunity to send soil samples for testing without charge.

The soil test will analyze samples for heavy metals and nutrient levels. Test results help gardeners make appropriate plans to produce high quality fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Technical support and education for participating growers will be available from the CCE Harvest New York team. Learn more about the 2026 Community Gardens Soil Testing Program.