Free activities and events in New York City

Urban Farm Tour On Governors Island

Published: September 30, 2023; Aithor: Julia Sonrisa

Discover a world of bees, compost, and organic gardening right in New York City!

Join us for a tour of the Urban Farm on Governors Island, and learn about the organizations — including The Bee Conservancy, Earth Matters, and GrowNYC who are making the city a little greener.

Tours take place on the FIRST SATURDAYS* of every month from 2 — 3:30 p.m. (weather permitting). Meet at Gate 14 at 1:55 p.m.

Note: Can’t make the tour? The Urban Farm is open every weekend from May to October 31 from 12 — 4 p.m. for individual exploration! These guided tours are offered once a month by Island stewards who know the land and organizations.

For detailed information about the ferry schedule and how to get to Governors Island, CLICK HERE

The Bee Conservancy Sanctuary is located on the Urban Farm of Governors Island, which is open to the public from 12-4 pm Saturdays & Sundays. Check out our map for how to get there and look for a Bee Conservancy sign!

The Bee Conservancy’s Bee Sanctuary is located on an outdoor urban farm.

Please dress accordingly; hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, comfortable shoes, and refillable water bottles are highly recommended.

• Please wear comfortable attire and shoes, and bring items you may need for this environment, such as a water bottle, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat.
• The Urban Farm is open from 12-4 p.m. every weekend through Oct 29th.
• There are no wifi or charging outlets at our outdoor sanctuary.
• The walk from the Manhattan Ferry Landing to TBC is about 10-15 minutes. The Brooklyn Ferry docks about a 5-minute walk away. There are public restrooms, water fountains, and restaurants on the way and around the Island.
• Any giveaways taking place are based on a first-come, first-serve basis.

About Your Hosts

The Bee Conservancy (TBC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting bees, safeguarding the environment, and securing food justice through community-based education, research, habitat creation, and advocacy.

GrowNYC runs The Teaching Garden, a 1-acre educational urban farm that often hosts field trips for groups of students. All of the produce is eaten by students who visit, donated to organizations that distribute it to folks in their community, or occasionally dropped at community fridges. Vegetables, fruits, and herbs grown in the Teaching Garden are donated to a food pantry that distributes fresh food in Brownsville and East New York.

Earth Matter is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the art, science, and application of composting in and around New York City. Earth Matter is leading the Zero Waste Island initiative — in partnership with the Governors Island Trust with the goal of reducing the island’s waste export to zero! 100% of the organic waste collected (including food vendor serviceware and kitchen scraps, and landscaping cleanup waste) is now processed at our Compost Learning Center, creating fertile compost used across the Island and NYC.

Time: 2:00 — 3:30 pm EDT

Free!

Registration

Detailed information and discussion of the event.