{"id":2173,"date":"2026-05-19T19:31:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T19:31:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/?p=2173"},"modified":"2026-07-30T18:36:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T18:36:30","slug":"jvj-stem-academy-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/2026\/05\/19\/jvj-stem-academy-2\/","title":{"rendered":"JVJ STEM Academy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1\" style=\"color:#06786d\">Elizabeth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Planting 101<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Union County Commissioner Stanley Neron joined JVJ STEM Academy with their new raised garden bed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Thank you to all of the students who came out to plant with John from Groundwork Elizabeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;galleryId&quot;:&quot;6a8c3bf2bd104&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery alignfull has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a8c3bf2be9d2&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a8c3bf2be9d2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"982\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"2176\" src=\"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3742.jpg\" alt=\"Commissioner Stanley Neron conversing with John from Groundworks \" class=\"wp-image-2176\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3742.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3742-300x223.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3742-768x571.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3742-1024x762.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3742-1200x893.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1320px) 100vw, 1320px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Screenshot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a8c3bf2bef1a&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a8c3bf2bef1a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"985\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"2178\" src=\"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3743.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of JVJ students, teachers, Union County representatives and Commissioner Neron \" class=\"wp-image-2178\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3743.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3743-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3743-768x573.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3743-1024x764.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3743-1200x895.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1320px) 100vw, 1320px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Screenshot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a8c3bf2bf3fc&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a8c3bf2bf3fc\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"985\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"2175\" src=\"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3745.jpg\" alt=\"Commissioner Stanley Neron photographed with John from Groundworks and teacher from JVJ Stem Academy \" class=\"wp-image-2175\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3745.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3745-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3745-1024x764.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3745-768x573.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3745-1200x895.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1320px) 100vw, 1320px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Screenshot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">A fun fact about planting: plant roots continue growing after the top growth slows. Root development is especially active during cooler weather. Helping plants establish before the next growing season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;galleryId&quot;:&quot;6a8c3bf2c049b&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery alignfull has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a8c3bf2c0853&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a8c3bf2c0853\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"2180\" src=\"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3744-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"JVJ students hard at work, planting in their new garden bed\" class=\"wp-image-2180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3744-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3744-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3744-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3744-1-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3744-1.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Screenshot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a8c3bf2c0d32&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a8c3bf2c0d32\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"2181\" src=\"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3115-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of a thriving strawberry plant in the JVJ raised garden bed\" class=\"wp-image-2181\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3115-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3115-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3115-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3115-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3115-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3115-1-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/07\/IMG_3115-1-1980x1485.jpg 1980w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Elizabeth Planting 101 Union County Commissioner Stanley Neron joined JVJ STEM Academy with their new raised garden bed! Thank you to all of the students who came out to plant with John from Groundwork Elizabeth. A fun fact about planting: plant roots continue growing after the top growth slows. Root development is especially active during&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[11],"class_list":["post-2173","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gardens","tag-elizabeth"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"1970-01-01 00:00:00","action":"","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","browser_timezone_offset":0},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/48"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2173"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2173\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2243,"href":"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2173\/revisions\/2243"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ucnj.org\/plant-a-seed-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}