Fifth Annual Community Garden Conference
MORRISTOWN, NJ – A greater awareness of food security, the food watershed, and simply FOOD is driving the farm to table and ‘locavore’ movement. These interests come together at the Fifth Annual Community Garden Conference, to be held on Saturday, March 7 at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown, NJ. This day-long program, which runs from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., begins with keynote speaker, Joseph Simcox. Mr. Simcox is a botanical explorer in the mode of 18th century adventurers. He has travelled the continents searching, not for gold, nor the fountain of youth, but for food. As an ethnobotanist and food security specialist, his work has taken him to the most remote regions, documenting and tasting thousands of little known edibles. “His talk will inspire us to see the food as the connection between cultures and encourage us to continue to seek sustainable agricultural processes,” said Lesley Parness, Superintendent of Horticultural Education.
The program is a collaborative effort of The Morris County Park Commission, The Friends of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum, and the Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Other sessions include, Preserving Your Harvest, Crop Rotation, Asian Vegetables, Garden Coordinator Roundtable Discussion, and Attracting Pollinators.
“The importance of community gardens might seem obvious, but the benefits go way beyond just providing fresh, healthy food. Studies have shown that people’s lives are improved through the cultivation and enjoyment of plants, that gardens foster bonds of friendship and support, and that community gardeners and their children eat healthier diets than non-gardening families,” said Cynthia Triolo, Horticultural Program Specialist. “Community gardens reduce our carbon footprint and create greenspace that filters rainwater and restores oxygen to the atmosphere thereby reducing water and air pollution. Ask any community gardener and they will tell you that growing one’s own food is a tremendous source of pride and joy, but that the connection made with other gardeners, and with the earth itself are just as important,” Triolo concluded. For more information, and to register for this program, visit arboretumfriends.org.
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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.
The program is a collaborative effort of The Morris County Park Commission, The Friends of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum, and the Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Other sessions include, Preserving Your Harvest, Crop Rotation, Asian Vegetables, Garden Coordinator Roundtable Discussion, and Attracting Pollinators.
“The importance of community gardens might seem obvious, but the benefits go way beyond just providing fresh, healthy food. Studies have shown that people’s lives are improved through the cultivation and enjoyment of plants, that gardens foster bonds of friendship and support, and that community gardeners and their children eat healthier diets than non-gardening families,” said Cynthia Triolo, Horticultural Program Specialist. “Community gardens reduce our carbon footprint and create greenspace that filters rainwater and restores oxygen to the atmosphere thereby reducing water and air pollution. Ask any community gardener and they will tell you that growing one’s own food is a tremendous source of pride and joy, but that the connection made with other gardeners, and with the earth itself are just as important,” Triolo concluded. For more information, and to register for this program, visit arboretumfriends.org.
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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.
Great Dixter – Past, Present, and Future with Fergus Garrett
MORRISTOWN, NJ – Garden groupies alert: Fergie is coming. No, not that Fergie, Mr. Fergus Garrett, Head Gardener at one of England’s most famous and beloved gardens, Great Dixter. “Mr. Garrett is indeed a celebrity in the world of horticulture,” says Lesley Parness, Superintendent of Horticultural Education. “What a perfect way to begin our year-long ‘Focus on England’ programming,” she continued. This illustrated talk by Fergus Garrett will take place on Sunday, February 14, at 3:30pm, at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township.
Once the home of legendary horticulturist and garden writer Christopher Lloyd, Great Dixter is now a historic house and garden, as well as a center for horticultural education, and a place of pilgrimage for garden lovers across the globe. Mr. Garrett’s talk details the history of this iconic property, describes its renowned meadows and ancient woodlands, and its planting styles which combine the semi-naturalistic influence of Sir Edwin Lutyens and the vivacious influence of Mr. Lloyd, under whose tutelage Mr. Garrett studied. The presentation concludes with a description of present garden operations and an eye into the future plans of the Mr. Garrett and the Great Dixter Charitable Trust.
Fergus Garrett is the recipient of the 2008 Royal Horticultural Society’s Associateship of Honor, the 2013 International Contributor Award from the Perennial Plant Association and the 2013 Longhouse Landscape Award.
Following the talk, light refreshments will be served. The cost of this talk is $50 per person. For more information and to register, visit arboretumfriends.org.
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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.
Once the home of legendary horticulturist and garden writer Christopher Lloyd, Great Dixter is now a historic house and garden, as well as a center for horticultural education, and a place of pilgrimage for garden lovers across the globe. Mr. Garrett’s talk details the history of this iconic property, describes its renowned meadows and ancient woodlands, and its planting styles which combine the semi-naturalistic influence of Sir Edwin Lutyens and the vivacious influence of Mr. Lloyd, under whose tutelage Mr. Garrett studied. The presentation concludes with a description of present garden operations and an eye into the future plans of the Mr. Garrett and the Great Dixter Charitable Trust.
Fergus Garrett is the recipient of the 2008 Royal Horticultural Society’s Associateship of Honor, the 2013 International Contributor Award from the Perennial Plant Association and the 2013 Longhouse Landscape Award.
Following the talk, light refreshments will be served. The cost of this talk is $50 per person. For more information and to register, visit arboretumfriends.org.
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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.
