John E. Dwyer School & Admiral William F. Halsey Technology Academy

Students from John E. Dwyer School & Admiral William F. Halsey Technology Academy were joined by Commissioner Sergio Granados and Commissioner Lourdes Leon on Monday morning for their third year of gardening!

Not only does Dwyer and Halsey house pollinator gardens in their courtyard, they have also been able to establish a greenhouse so they can plant all year round!

Fun fact: Chairman Sergio Granados and Commissioner Lourdes Leon are both alumni from the Elizabeth Public School System: Admiral William F. Halsey Technology Academy and Elizabeth High School.

Joanne Hollis Garden Resident Association

Union County Commissioner Rebecca L. Williams attended the Community Garden Grant Planting at Joanne Hollis Gardens in Plainfield.

Various vegetable seeds were planted to give local residents a source for fresh food. Thank you to all who came out to support the event!

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School No. 52

Commissioner Lourdes Leon joined students and faculty from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School No. 52 on their multicultural day for another day of planting!

On today’s agenda…cucumbers!

What type of vitamins do cucumber supply humans with?

Just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

Dr. Antonia Pantoja School No.27

Chairman Granados and students from Dr. Antonia Pantoja School No.27 have planted their very own cucamelons!

Cucamelons are native to Mexico and are part of the cucumber family. They even taste like a sour cucumber with a dash of lime. Due to the fact that they look like mini watermelons, they are called sandiita in Mexico and Central America.

Fun Fact: Cucamelons are known by different names. Some of these aliases are creeping cucumber, Guadeloupe cucumber, Mexican miniature watermelon, Mexican sour cucumber, Mexican sour gherkin, mouse melon, and pepquinos.

Crossroads School

Union County Vice Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded joined faculty from Crossroads School in Westfield to kickoff their summer planting season!

Fun Fact: Crossroads School is an innovative school that educates students between the ages f 3-14 and is committed to helping students reach their fullest potential through rigorous instruction, community-based field experience, and collaborative approach. Some of the services Crossroads School provides students with include occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Behavior Analytic Services, Special Educators, and Social-Emotional Learning coaches.

David Brearley High School

Commissioner Kowalski welcomed students from David Brearley High School for their first year of planting under Union County’s Kids Dig In Grant!

Fun Fact: David Brearley High School is one of nineteen new schools to kick off their first year of planting.

With the help of Jackie from Groundworks Elizabeth, David Brearley High School students and teachers have introduced a fresh source of product to the people of Kenilworth!

Battin Annex School No.4

Students from Battin Annex School No. 4 were joined by none other than Commissioner Lourdes Leon and Maria Carvalho to plant something very special… watermelon!

Go Battin Pups!

Trivia: When is National Watermelon Day 2023?

National Watermelon Day is August 3rd, 2023!

Fun Fact: Watermelon is 92% water.

Arthur L. Johnson High School

Union County Vice Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded attended the Kids Dig In Planting at the Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark!

The school was awarded a Raised Bed Garden. We thank the principal and teachers for applying to our garden grant program for the first time this year!

AP Morris Elementary

Faculty and students from AP Morris Elementary have planted their very own pollinator garden!

When caring for a pollinator garden, it is important to plant flowers that bloom in early spring and late summer so pollinators have adequate food when emerging from and preparing for winter hibernation.

Abraham Lincoln School No. 14

Chairman Granados attended the School Garden Grant Program alongside students from Abraham Lincoln School No.14 in Elizabeth!

This year, School No. 14 welcomed two new raised bed gardens. Often, raised beds are more productive than beds in the ground because the soil is less compacted, has better drainage, and warms earlier in the spring. We can’t wait to see the growth of these gardens!