Union Community Garden

Union County Commissioner Sergio Granados and Union County Commissioner Michèle Delisfort toured the Eleanor R. Erickson Park Community Garden in Union!

Eleanor R. Erickson Park Community Garden is one of the few gardens to have insect hotels. These are manmade structures created to provide shelter for insects. These insect houses can be helpful to insects during the winter as a means of a safe nesting place or hibernation but also in the hot summer days to cool off. Because these “hotels” attract insects, many gardeners include them in their garden as a way to increase insect pollination. Who knew?!

Toussaint L’ouverture-Marquis de Lafayette School No. 6

Did you know that there are hot banana peppers being grown in Elizabeth?

Well we’re here to tell you that they are being grown at none other than Toussaint L-overture- Marquis de Lafayette School No.6!

Fun Fact: Hot banana peppers are also known as Hungarian wax peppers. They are medium hot peppers that are hotter than jalapeños and can have a Scoville scale of 1,000 to 15,000 units. That’s really hot!

Sherman Elementary School

Sherman Elementary school has given us a tour of their “Humble & Kind” Garden!

One of the distinguishing aspects of this garden is their introduction of their recycled hanging fence planters.

Not only are there aesthetically pleasing, but they are also a great way to make more room for plants when space is constricted.

Thank you for having us!

Benny’s Blooms are Sprouting in Elizabeth

Elizabeth – Joseph Battin School No. 4 Annex

Students at Battin Annex are busy growing string beans and pumpkins this spring season.

Joanne Hollis- Plainfield

Union County Commissioner Rebecca L. Williams toured the Plainfield Housing Authority – Joann Hollis Garden in Plainfield!

We want to thank their gardeners for their work in maintaining such a diverse group of crops in this garden. 

Abraham Lincoln School No. 14- Elizabeth

Union County Commissioner Sergio Granados attended a Union County Kids Dig in School Garden Tour at School 14 in Elizabeth.

Students participated in making their own flavored drinks by adding plants grown in their garden to their lemonade. Some of the plants added were sage and mint!

Everyone should give it a try.

Thank you for having us and maintaining a beautiful garden!

Emerson School-Plainfield

Union County Commissioner Rebecca L. Williams attended a Union County Kids Dig in School Garden Tour at Emerson Elementary School in Plainfield! 

This garden is used to teach the kids effective methods of planting and sustaining a garden. One way this is done is by planting garlic.On this day we were able to harvest along with students and staff. 

Thank you for letting us join!

June Party 2024: The Great Planting Begins in Union

We were visited once more by the UHS Key Club and 6 members of our garden community. Together, we planted additional pollinator vines and grow bags of tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs. The garlic is doing great! We just donated garlic scraps to the Senior Center on Rahway Avenue.

Garden Bed Rebuilds in Union-Township

Our first workday of the 2024 Season: Lots of rebuilding of beds and new builds. We have expanded our garden to over 43 beds this year and added four height-assisted beds for our gardeners. As always, we had the UHA Key Club volunteers come to learn and help – they are fabulous group! Pictured are some gardeners as well and many builders.

Ola Edwards

Hillside

Ola Edwards Community School in Hillside have given us a tour of their garden!

We can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year!

Thank you to the staff and students who maintain this garden looking fresh as ever!