Volunteer Day: Plant Baby Plant at El Jardin del Paraiso

Join GreenThumb and Plant Baby Plant during Climate Week for one of our largest community volunteer days taking place across 3 amazing gardens: El Jardin del Paraiso, Orchard Alley, and Parque De Tranquilidad! We invite all to learn about New York City’s hidden gems and how you can become an active contributor to these spaces!Register here to attend and volunteer! Plant Baby Plant is a new grassroots movement led by Robin Wall Kimmerer that invites people to reimagine our shared future through acts of care for the living world. Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. Her book Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants continues to be an international bestseller, has earned her wide acclaim, awards and honors, and reinforces how wider ecological understanding stems from listening to the earth’s oldest teachers: the plants around us. Kimmerer was the GreenThumb National GrowTogether Conference keynote speaker in 2025. GreenThumb is grateful to continue working together to inspire New Yorkers to be active stewards of our environment. Volunteers can expect an introduction to the space and community gardening, with opening remarks by Kimmerer. Then we will split into teams to tackle projects throughout the gardens. We will weed, plant, care for street tree beds, and more! Community organizations will be present to connect with attendees, and spots will also be available for an oral history tour if you would rather dive into the history of these spaces than the dirt. (Register here for oral history tour) We invite everyone to come whether you are a seasoned garden pro or just starting. This is a great opportunity to explore these gardens, learn more about organizations doing good in our community, and connect with other garden lovers! Please wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and bring water and snacks. Note: Some tasks may involve lifting heavy materials and extended periods of bending, squatting, and moving.Location: 706 E 5th St, New York, NY 10009For information about group volunteering, please contact Volunteer Program Coordinator, Olivia Navarro at Olivia.Navarro@parks.nyc.govThis event is co-hosted by NYC Parks GreenThumb. We are proud to be the nation’s largest urban community gardening program, sustaining over 550 gardens throughout New York City. With GreenThumb’s support, community gardens are centers of environmental justice, ensuring that our city is fairer, safer, and greener for all. GreenThumb’s events are free and open to the public.