Union
Preparing the Garden for Winter
The students used the left over bales of hay and corn stalks from our pumpkin patch to prepare the beds for winter. They covered the beds with the hay. We also put up our new garden sign.
Tag: Union
The YMCA Five Points Branch in Union has welcomed us for a tour of their children’s garden!
One of the many plants being grown at this garden is mountain mint. It is referred as this as these plants often have a minty or thyme-like aroma when crushed.
Thank you for the tour!
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?!
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.
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.
| The students are weeding and preparing the garden for the seedings that we received and grown in our classrooms. |
Union County Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados attended the garden tour at Battle Hill Elementary School in Union. Produce is being donated to Plainfield pantry for residents to enjoy.
In addition, students are air frying radish and making chips as a healthier meal option. This garden was a garden enhancement recipient for the 2023 Community Garden Grant. Thank you to the staff and students for an amazing day of harvesting!
Union County Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados joined staff and preschoolers of the Five Points Branch YMCA for a tour of their garden!
Here, students and staff planted a variety of plants including but not limited to sunflowers, squash, and eggplants. Thank you for having us!
Kawameeh Middle School’s garden club was joined by Union Township Superintendent Scott Taylor for an educational and fund day of planting!
Kawameeh Middle School is one of the many schools harvesting their vegetables in Earth Boxes.
One of the most important components of these earth boxes are the mulch covers. These covers stop weeds from transplanting in the system, prevent evaporation, conserve water, and keeps rain out of the growing plants to prevent necessary nutrients from being washed away.
Today, joined by Superintendent Dr. Scott Taylor students planted their first pollinator garden at Livingston Elementary School in Union.
Fun Fact: Foods and beverages produced with the help of pollinators include blueberries, chocolate,
coffee, melons, peaches, pumpkins, vanilla, and almonds.
