Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski visited Crossroads School in Westfield for a Kids Dig in Garden Tour!
One of the most interesting plants in this garden are none other than marigolds!
Fun Fact: Marigolds have religious significance in Mexican, Spanish, and Indian cultures, where they are used to decorate altars and in celebrations.
Thank you to all of the staff and students who keep this garden looking amazing.
Progress Report after raised bed installation:
Students grew strawberries in starter pots prior to the installation of raised beds. After the raised beds were installed, we added soil and replanted the strawberries. Other images show the progress of tomatoes, garlic, lettuce, peppers, cucumber, fig tree starters, and herbs such as basil, cilantro, and parsley in other beds. Students learned in groups about starting seeds, the growth process, transportation, maintenance, growth time, planting time, and harvesting crops for consumption.
Union County Commissioner Sergio Granados joined students and staff members of Dr. Antonia Pantoja School No. 27 for a tour of their beautiful garden!
Among the many plants that are being grown in this garden, one of the most popular are tomatoes!
Did you know that in 2016, the largest single tomato plant was found at Walt Disney World Resort, Florida?
It covered an area of 56.73 meter sq. which is bigger than an Olympic sized pool.
Students at Morris Union Jointure Commission have welcomed an ADA bed to their very own garden!
As we continue to see growth in their earth boxes, we have also seen new additions to their garden. Among these are colorful strawberry painted rocks. Did you know that these rocks are meant to deter insects and other animals from eating the real plants and vegetables? Very clever!
The sunshine and our garden volunteers are helping FSPY garden transform and flourish! Special thanks to Groundwork Elizabeth and the County of Union, New Jersey Garden Enhancement Grant for the funds to create our beautiful FSPY garden!
Commissioner Kowalski joined members of Hanson Park Conservancy for the County’s first ADA garden bed planting!
ADA garden beds are meant to make gardening easier and accessible for everyone, regardless of limitations. We can’t wait to see how members of this community are impacted by this new installation and the progress that this will make in all of the member’s future plantings!
Thank you to all who participated and made this possible.
Students and staff members of St. Bartholomew’s were joined by Jackie of Groundwork Elizabeth for an in-depth mini lesson on plants and gardening!
Not only were students able to learn about this topic, they were also able to plant their very own tomatoes, basil, and milkweed among many others. Groundwork Elizabeth member Jackie wasn’t the only special guest, students were joined by none other than earthworms!
Did you know that there are approximately 2,700 different kind of earthworms? In addition, earthworms have the ability to replace or replicate lost segments.
Thank you to all who participated and made this possible.
Today Commissioner Granados joined students and staff of Linden Academy of Science and Technology for their first ever planting!
Linden Public Schools aim to prepare all students for their individual lives and for their roles as citizens in this technology-rich and scientifically complex world. Gardens are a great way to implement science and technology through the studies of different organisms, plants, and even the creation of different devices to detect soil fertility, chemicals, and water.
Thank you to all who participated and made this possible.
Students from Escola Amadeu Correia School at the Portuguese Instructive Social Club (PISC) in Elizabeth participated in a planting event of lettuce and tomatoes. Garden Education has now been incorporated into their curriculum in order to understand the importance of agriculture. The PISC garden grows a variety of vegetables, many of Portuguese origin to teach the younger generation about their culture.
