William Curtis-Bey

Founder, Green Bey Gardens

William Curtis-Bey, founder of Green Bey Gardens, is a seasoned horticulturist with a lifelong passion for cultivating vibrant green spaces in urban environments. 

Early in his gardening career, a pivotal mentorship with Professor Milford Graves, a renowned figure in jazz, herbalism, and gardening, instilled in him a unique philosophy: gardening as a martial art, demanding both harmony and meticulous execution.

Inspired by the gardens and gardeners in Japan, William studied Japanese history and gardening while living in Kyoto, enrolled in Long Island University’s study abroad program. He also attended the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems at the University of California, Santa Cruz where he completed their Ecological Horticulture program. While studying in Santa Cruz, he studied organic farming operations and food distribution, while learning the gardening methods of the programs founder and master gardener, Alan Chadwick.

William has over three decades of gardening experience including working with organic farms, private, non-profits, landscape companies and public parks in New York, His previous jobs include working as a Foreman of Landscape Management at Central Park Conservancy, Supervisor of Horticulture Operations at Riverside Park, Manhattan District Garden Manager at New York Restoration Project and working with several smaller “high end” landscaping firms throughout New York City, Pennsylvania and California.

In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations of Green Bey Gardens, William is completing his first book, Gardening as Martial Arts, which explores his approach to integrating horticulture, biomechanics, physical discipline, and martial arts philosophy into a unified practice. He has also begun speaking publicly on the subject, including an invitation to serve as a keynote speaker at the New York Botanical Garden’s 2026 Hortie Hoopla.

Building on the book and his public speaking, William is developing both in-person and online G.A.M.A. courses designed to introduce gardeners, horticulture professionals, martial artists, and others to the fundamentals of Gardening as Martial Arts. Through these efforts, he hopes to establish G.A.M.A. as a practical system for cultivating the body and mind while developing a deeper, more intentional relationship with the land.

His unique skillset and horticultural expertise translates into creating low-maintenance, organic gardens that seamlessly blend functionality with aesthetic beauty, each project a meticulously crafted symphony of nature and design.