Our Impact
We improve our city’s greenspaces. Through ‘Greening the In-Between’, we connect people with plants in communities throughout the city. We show that well-planned, equitable urban horticulture has the power to transform individuals, communities, and our environment.
The People-plant Connection
Urban horticulture improves human well-being, promotes social justice, and sustains a healthy ecosystem. Planted spaces increase the quality of our environment, the amount of fruits and vegetables we eat, our physical activity, our ability to manage stress and illness, and our social cohesion. The Hort’s programs are diverse, practical, therapeutic, and educational. We create greenspaces, provide services to people in need, and demonstrate the importance of plants in our lives.
Horticulture
The Hort provides low-cost horticultural services to bring greenspaces into the daily lives of people who otherwise would have limited access to nature. We do this with a workforce development model, training New Yorkers for meaningful careers in urban horticulture.
Therapeutic Horticulture
The Hort’s renowned therapeutic horticulture programs provide opportunities for people to enjoy the well-documented rehabilitative, vocational, and community benefits of cultivating plants and gardens.
Education
The Hort provides a range of educational programs – classes, activities, events, convenings – to advance urban horticulture literacy among our children, youth, teachers, parents, the general public, community leaders, planners, healthcare providers, and supportive housing providers.