MORRISTOWN, NJ – As Thanksgiving approaches and the growing season is winding down at the Morris County Park Commission’s Community Garden, the harvest continues to be bountiful. At this Community Garden in Morris Township, a dedicated group of community gardener volunteers have grown and donated nearly 1800 pounds of fresh vegetables to the Interfaith Food Pantry of Morris County so far this year and they are not done yet! The volunteers set a goal of 2000 pounds and it looks like they just might make it.

After meeting with Katy Galton, Nutrition Educator at the Interfaith Food Pantry, the community gardeners came up with a plan to grow vegetables with the highest yields in a small space. According to Galton, the food pantry is giving out on average 1.7 tons of food per day. In 2013, 10,532 people were served, and 35% of people who received food were under the age of 18.

“The Community Gardeners are well aware of the hunger issues in Morris County and decided they wanted to do something about it,” said Horticultural Specialist Cynthia Triolo, who manages the garden. “Now we serve as a model for other Community Gardens in New Jersey looking to make the connection with their local food pantry.” The volunteers’ time and considerable effort paid off in a significant way as they have already surpassed their donations of last year by 300 pounds.

The Morris County Park Commission’s Community Garden was established in 1978 and is one of the longest running community gardens in the state. Today there are 113 plots, half of which produce year round crops using devices like row covers and cold frames.

As with many community gardens in the area, there is a wait list to join, which highlights the high interest and need for community gardens. If one community garden can produce this much food and help solve our hunger issues, imagine what others can and do. For more information on the Morris County Park Commission’s Community Garden, please call 973.326.7603.

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Morris County Park Commission, is one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey, currently protects and maintains 18,600 acres at 38 distinct sites and a year-round calendar of events and activities.