Smiling Hogshead Ranch

06/01/2026

Thanks to everyone who came to the Deadly!?! Nightshade family planting party. Our tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers are happy in their new homes, and we reenergized with spooky snacks to end the day. 🍅🍆🫑☠️

05/31/2026

Two years ago, photographer Zachary Schulman captured this moment at Smiling Hogshead Ranch. Today, that portrait is hanging in Astoria Park alongside inspiring stories from community gardeners across NYC.
What I love most is that this exhibit isn’t about individuals, it’s about the power of community gardens. These spaces grow food, pollinators, friendships and resilience. They turn forgotten lots into places of beauty, learning, and connection. We are honored that Smiling Hogshead Ranch is part of this story and grateful to everyone who has planted, composted, w**ded, watered, taught, learned, and built community with us over the years. If you find yourself in Astoria Park, take a stroll and read the stories. They’re a beautiful reminder of what happens when people come together to care for a piece of land.

05/30/2026

A little digging, a little watering, a little w**ding, and a lot of community.
Tonight we refreshed our horseshoe shaped garden bed, watered the berm, admired the first mullein buds and tasted ripening serviceberries and mulberries, and shared a meal together after a productive evening in the garden.

05/30/2026

Join us for a ghoulishly delightful planting day. Did you know tomatoes, eggplants, bell peppers, and potatoes are all part of the Solanaceae plant family, which also includes deadly nightshade (belladonna) and devil's apple (Jimson w**d)? Add some spooky flair to your outfit, channel your inner Addams, Poe, or Gorey. Be edgy, metal, punk or goth. Dark and delicious snacks, savory or sweet to share, are encouraged too - We're dying to see you this day. Let's bury something together.

05/25/2026

Native plants, muddy boots, buzzing bees, and community care, that’s a Marvelous Monday at the Ranch! Huge thanks to the The Bee Conservancy for donating these beautiful native plants to the Ranch! Together we spent the day planting pollinator habitat, building up our berms, and making more room for life to thrive. Rain or shine, the garden keeps growing!

05/23/2026

05/23/2026

05/23/2026

Today we tackled a big patch of mugwort to give the roses more space to bloom, worked on terracing the berm with logs and branches to help prevent erosion and create more habitat for insects and tiny garden creatures, and welcomed new members and first-time volunteers into the mix. The garden keeps growing because of many hands, many ideas, and a whole lot of care.The roses are breathing a little easier tonight!

05/22/2026

Please register to volunteer https://buff.ly/n54WnbN

05/21/2026

Join us on Memorial Day for a w**ding workday extravaganza! We will be focusing on reclaiming one area of the garden from the w**ds and get it ready for our beautiful herbs and flowers. Join us for as long or as little as you would like!