It’s Thursday night, folks, and we’re hearing the weekend is going to be lovely. Kick it off right tonight at the Tradesman with a fundraiser for Bushwick’s newest community green space El Garden.

El Garden is more than a year a half in the making, and it’s the creation of Evergreen Lots, a coalition of local volunteers who began collaborating on 596 Acres, Brooklyn’s much-lauded land access advocacy site. Although lots of different options for the garden’s location where explored, the final home for the project is the lot at 120 Jefferson street, between Evergreen Avenue and Central Avenue.

You may have have spotted some action at the site already; bulbs have been planted, it’s gotten some raised beds, and plans are in the works for more beds and a 3 bin forced-air compost system a la BKROT. And plans require an initial investment, which is why El Garden’s playing host tonight!

The event doesn’t have a suggested donation, but it will provide attendees with plenty of excellent reasons to support El Garden’s endeavors. A bevy of Bushwick’s premier local businesses are sponsoring the event and will ensure that there’s no reason to leave thirsty or stay off the raffle circuit. Drink specials are courtesy of the newly-launched Jack From Brooklyn, who make a deluxe version of the spiced West Indian hibiscus liquor Sorel, and Manhattan Agriculture, who are providing their raspberry and ginger-infused General Chang’s Wild Dragon Kombucha as a component of a peach bellini. Raffle prizes include gift certificates and treats from Fine & Raw, Kávé, The Bushwick Food Coop, and Bunna Café, among many others, and limited edition Evergreen Lots tote bags will be available for sale for the first time ever. Things kick off at 7, and it should be an excellent time.

Evergreen Lots has organized several events leading up to its launch this spring, including a very sweet family seed bomb workshop last Mother’s Day and a clean up and bake sale this past November, and you can expect the garden to host plenty of other events as it gets warmer out, including a celebration of World Book Night, a dog hangout day and art events, on top of regular garden open hours.

Stop by tonight–we’ll see you there!