Participate/Training Program

Compost and Farm Apprenticeship Programs (Ages 18 to ∞)

Program Description

This course is designed to engage participants in hands-on practical skills to learn how to make “Gold Standard” compost with the goal of utilizing best management practices for the improvement of soil and plant health. Trainees will learn how to grow plants on a small scale urban farm. Apprentices will develop skills using appropriate technology, tools and devices that can be employed in a variety of urban environments (e.g. community gardens, urban agriculture enterprises, multi-unit apartment buildings).

There are two distinct applications and cohorts – please note the program criteria before applying:

GreenThumb Community Garden cohort

  • Open to all GreenThumb Community Garden members 18 years and above
  • 11 Friday sessions
  • March 6 – May 15, 2026 from 9am-4:30 pm
  • This programming is provided free of charge to accepted candidates, paid for by Earth Matter and NYC Parks GreenThumb

Seed to Seed cohort

  • Open to people 18 years and above
  • 20 Saturday sessions
  • April 4- August 15, 2026 from 9am-4:30pm
  • This programming is provided free of charge to accepted candidates, paid for by Earth Matter and NYC Community Composting Network, which is generously funded by The NYC Council

 

We also have other opportunities to participate with Earth Matter NY.

2026 GreenThumb applications closed

2026 Seed to Seed applications closed

Program Objectives

Participants will develop skills in the following program areas:

Compost & Organics Processing

  • Learn the basics on how to compost
  • Create balanced compost recipes
  • Maximize productivity using a variety of scalable composting devices
  • Collect and analyze compost data and lab reports
  • Perform DIY soil and compost field tests
  • Make compost teas and other soil amendments

Small-scale Urban Farm Management

  • Plant propagation and season extension
  • Design and install irrigation systems
  • Crop planning and bed preparation
  • Explore experimental growing methods with comparative studies
  • Care for chickens and worms
  • Assist in maintaining a perennial Lavender field
  • Carpentry for building farm and compost infrastructure
  • Develop and create value-added products

Environmental Education

  • Design and lead farm related projects, activities and compost workshops with visitors and groups
  • Seed to Seed cohort may support public Saturday Open Hours

Program Benefits

Upon completion of the program, Participants will gain:

  • An Urban Farm Apprenticeship Certificate (120 hours)
  • Skills in Urban Agriculture 
  • Connections to a network of individuals and organizations involved in the New York City urban agriculture, greening and composting movements
  • Advanced knowledge about environmental issues and concerns in New York City
  • Opportunities to develop leadership skills in Ecological Management and Environmental Education

Who we’re looking for

Are you a budding composter or farmer (age 18+) interested in taking your skills to the next level? This apprenticeship program is for those looking to develop skills in composting, agriculture, horticulture, and environmental education. If you are a team player who is ready and eager to get your hands dirty, while sharing tactics and strategies for making compost, and farming in New York City and beyond please apply!

 

Our Apprentices’ Legacies

  • NYC Solid Waste Advisory Boards members in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens
  • Co-founder of composting facility in Nashville, Tennessee
  • NYC Compost Project staff
  • Lavender Field Manager at Earth Matter
  • Vermicompost Educator
  • Grownyc Food Box Coordinator and Compost Coordinator
  • Founder of CLC in Connecticut with local food scrap collection
  • Fulbright Research Fellowship recipient investigating the resiliency of composting systems in Spain
  • Farm School Instructor
  • Leader of community composting and food scrap drop off at community sites
  • Reclaimed Organics staff
  • Community Compost Grants recipient
  • College Eco Club Leader 
  • Canadian Zero Waste store staff
  • Hydroponic System Installation Technician
  • Preschool Sustainability Coordinator
  • Gotham Greens Manager
  • Sunworks Educator 
  • Gowanus Canal Conservancy staff

2026

NYC Parks GreenThumb Spring 2026

Marisa (square pic)

Marisa DeDominicis

2026 Soil Start Farm Manager / ED

Elena D'Amanda

Elena D’Amanda

2026 Soil Start Farm Co-Manager & Educator

Elena D'Amanda

noa woodley

2026 Farmer & Educator

Angie Urrea

Akele Coffey

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Alex Selby

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Cash Lawrence

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Charrise Cutright

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Christian Gray

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Dana Monroe

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Elisa Medina

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Kaitlyn Mahoney

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Kwolanne Felix

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Laura Nova

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Maciej Buko

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Maggie Cely

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Marian Martin

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Naomi Bajah Cann

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Natsuko Isono

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Nora Tjossem

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Ray Russell

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

S. Kimberly Wright

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Stella Cooper

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Tiffany Morgan-Rienzi McNeish

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Alycia Rockey

2026 GreenThumb Apprentice

2025

Seed to Seed Apprentices 2025

Marisa (square pic)

Marisa DeDominicis

2025 Soil Start Farm Manager / ED

Elena D'Amanda

Elena D’Amanda

2025 Soil Start Farm Co-Manager & Educator

Angie Urrea

Abigail Gordon

2025 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Aiyo Cheboi

2025 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Alex Selby

2025 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Alexa Degioannini

2025 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Deepak Dhasarathy

2025 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Denelis Acosta

2025 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Finn Clarke

2025 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Geeta Fleck

2025 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Jade Cruz

2025 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Kaitlyn Quach

2025 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Martha Rosas

2025 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Pamela Santos

2025 Earth Matter Apprentice

NYC Parks GreenThumb Fall 2025

Chelsea Kelley

Maria Alta Peña

2025 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Roman Santos

2025 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Jojo Attal

2025 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Cate Desler

2025 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Pia Marie Santos

2025 GreenThumb Apprentice

NYC Parks GreenThumb Spring 2025

Chelsea Kelley

Angel Pleasant

2025 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Asia Pittman

2025 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Carmin Sherlock

2025 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Chelsea Parise

2025 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Diana Paula Paredes

2025 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Dior St. Hillaire

2025 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Indigo Griffith

2025 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Piper Werle

2025 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Sam Davis

2025 GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Sasha Schaafe

2025 GreenThumb Apprentice

2024

Marisa (square pic)

Marisa DeDominicis

2024 Soil Start Farm Manager / ED

Elena D'Amanda

Elena D’Amanda

2024 Soil Start Farm Assistant & Educator

Elena D'Amanda

Audrey di Mola

2024 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Bianca Garcia

2024 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Dan Yafet

2024 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Earl Taylor

2024 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Erika Marte

2024 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

J.P. Halling

2024 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Jean-Phillip Philogene

2024 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Lauren Wansker

2024 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Leah Mercado

2024 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Marcelle Georges

2024 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Shayna Rich

2024 Earth Matter Apprentice

2023

Marisa (square pic)

Marisa DeDominicis

2023 Soil Start Farm Manager / ED

Elena D'Amanda

Elena D’Amanda

2023 Soil Start Farm Co-Manager & Educator

Angie Urrea

Jenny Chen

2023 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

William Romney

2023 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Brother King

2023 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Emily Ventura

2023 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Israt Adedin

2023 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Rasheda Mitchell

2023 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Sara Ruiz

2023 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Becky Bacheller

2023 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Brian Buckley

2023 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Nancy Ye

2023 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Vanessa Butler

2023 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Ameera Khawaja

2023 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Charlotte Bell

2023 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Kasey Watkins

2023 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Bryen Pittner

2023 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Kingsley Taylor

2023 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Christian DeFilippo

2023 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Rodrigo Salazar

2023 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Brenda Gaytan

2023 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Valery Zorrilla

2023 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Ludmila Fedorova

2023 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Annie Yang

2023 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Isis Gonzalez

2023 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Carlos Oquendo

2023 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Benay Chisholm

2023 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Ana Torres

2023 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Sammy Do

2023 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Jess Rivera

2023 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

2022

Marisa (square pic)

Marisa DeDominicis

2022 Soil Start Farm Manager / ED

Elena D'Amanda

Elena D’Amanda

2022 Soil Start Farm Assistant & Educator

Elena D'Amanda

Athena Wyatt

2022 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Brenda Paredes

2022 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Daniel McGee

2022 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Leah Asha Allen

2022 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Luke Eddins

2022 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Maggie Fitzpatrick

2022 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Michael Ryan Wood

2022 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Moe Magali

2022 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Neishja Ransom

2022 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Shalevia Quiles

2022 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Alina Butnaru

2022 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Briana Collier

2022 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Ebony Boone

2022 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Jenny Nelson

2022 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Nadege Alexis

2022 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Rainer Keller

2022 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Sandra Watanabe

2022 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Sophia-Yemisi Adeyemo-Ross

2022 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Sylver Pondolfino

2022 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Neenah Payne

2022 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Ni Cai

2022 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Donata Dawson

2022 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Caitlin Yee

2022 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Andrea Fisher

2022 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Elena D'Amanda

Jonathan Diaz

2022 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

flower

Michael Pate

2022 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

2022 Compost Journey 2 Pilot

Andrew Tyttrell

Andrew Tyrell

2022 Earth Matter Apprentice

Read about Andrew’s composting work here.

Chelten Leggett

Chelten Leggett

2022 Earth Matter Apprentice

Natalia Sucre

Natalia Sucre

2022 Earth Matter Apprentice

2021

Marisa (square pic)

Marisa DeDominicis

2021 Soil Start Farm Manager / ED

Elena D'Amanda

Elena D’Amanda

2021 Soil Start Farm Assistant & Educator

Angie Urrea

Angie Urrea

2021 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelsea Kelley

Chelsea Kelley

2021 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chelten Leggett

Chelten Leggett

2021 Earth Matter Apprentice

Chloe Benitez

Chloe Benitez

2021 Earth Matter Apprentice

Shane Bastien

Shane Bastien

2021 Earth Matter Apprentice

Emma Kilroy

Emma Kilroy

2021 Earth Matter Apprentice

Esmeralda Herrera

Esmeralda Herrera

2021 Earth Matter Apprentice

Jonathan Saint-Hilaire

Jonathan Saint-Hilaire

2021 Earth Matter Apprentice

Sarah Chien

Sarah Chien

2021 Earth Matter Apprentice

Tori Ciardiello

Tori Ciardiello

2021 Earth Matter Apprentice

Taisiya Nasretdinova

Taisiya Nasretdinova

2021 Earth Matter Apprentice

Leigh Howard

Leigh Howard

2021 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Camille Motta

Camille Motta

2021 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Douglas Purviance

Douglas Purviance

2021 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Jasmine McPherson

Jasmine McPherson

2021 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Jennifer Seda

Jennifer Seda

2021 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Maria Riffo

Maria Riffo

2021 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Shawn Garcia

Shawn Garcia

2021 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Sofija Kas_

Sofija Kas

2021 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Suzi Sadler

Suzi Sadler

2021 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Nora McCauley

Nora McCauley

2021 Spring NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Jennifer Seda

Chelsea Yamada

2021 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Maria Riffo

Dian Hawkins

2021 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Shawn Garcia

Edo Mohammed

2021 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Sofija Kas_

Enmy Uribe

2021 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Jennifer Seda

Fran Sanhueza

2021 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Maria Riffo

Noemi Moreno

2021 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Shawn Garcia

Ora Goodwin

2021 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Sofija Kas_

Pat Mohr

2021 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Jennifer Seda

Rebecca Blythe Pryor

2021 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Maria Riffo

Shawn Powell

2021 Fall NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

2020

Marisa DeDominicis

Marisa DeDominicis

2020 Soil Start Farm Manager / ED

Jenny Blair

Jenny Blair

2020 Soil Start Farm Assistant

Andrew Tyttrell

Andrew Tyrrell

2020 Earth Matter Apprentice

“I really enjoyed meeting other like minded people during the apprenticeship. Earth Matter has had a positive impact on my community & myself. Highly recommend Earth Matter’s Program.”

Kellen Insfran

Kellen Insfran

2020 Earth Matter Apprentice

“My experience at Earth matter has been filled with gratitude. Learning something new each visit, given the opportunity to figure things out intuitively. Being around amazing individuals. It has been a humbling experience.”

Natalia Sucre

Natalia Sucre

2020 Earth Matter Apprentice

“I got a solid foundation in methods for producing gold standard compost in backyard and hot composting devices and a critical awareness of the many variables involved and the many questions I have to explore. Also hope: seeing so many different people connect and take action against climate change and the systems that drive it gave me hope.”

Qihui Jin

Michael Qihui Jin

2020 Earth Matter Apprentice

“Making compost is like boosting the digestive system of the earth, which is the foundation of any form of life. Living in a well-managed environment is the key for all of us to achieve optimal health.”

Kimberly M. Brown

Kimberly M. Brown

2020 Earth Matter Apprentice

Stella Wong

Stella Wong

2020 Earth Matter Apprentice

“i just opened a can of worms for myself…so much to continue to explore, experiment and execute.”

David Niles

David Niles

2020 – 2021 Earth Matter Apprentice

Em Ruby

Em Ruby

2020 Earth Matter Apprentice

Pedro Rivera

Pedro Rivera

2020 NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Liz Royzman

Liz Royzman

2020 NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Jared Elbert

Jared Elbert

2020 NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Karla Cabrera Carrera

Karla Cabrera Carrera

2020 NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Javier Cabrera

Javier Cabrera

2020 NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Ursula Hershey

Ursula Hershey

2020 NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Miriam Summerford

Miriam Summerford

2020 NYC Parks GreenThumb Apprentice

Vanessa Hays

Vanessa Hays

2020 US Compost Council Compost Mentee

“My goal for this mentorship was to achieve a more professional understanding of managing my compost facility and implementing better management to produce great compost. I believe this mentorship has provided all that and more”

2019

Seth Adelsberg

2019 Earth Matter Apprentice

Charles Casela

2019 Earth Matter Apprentice

Hilary Guilliams

2019 Earth Matter Apprentice

Alex Ng

2019 Earth Matter Apprentice

Jo Mispel

2019 Earth Matter Apprentice

Cornelius Schmid

2019 Earth Matter Apprentice

Anna Cheung

2019 Earth Matter Apprentice

2018

Ilsa Enomoto

2018 Fellow

Tisha Magsino

2018 Earth Matter Apprentice

AJ Feldman

2018 Earth Matter Apprentice

Gabriella Piedmonte

2018 Earth Matter Apprentice

Jenni Robinson

2018 Earth Matter Apprentice

Elena Damanda

2018 Earth Matter Apprentice

Harvey Ng

2018 Earth Matter Apprentice

Casey Harron

2018 Earth Matter Apprentice

Our Apprentices

Follow our Flickr page to see all of our apprentice activity!