Garden Update and Restoration Planting

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey’s Community Garden at South Branch Preserve is in its second year. The garden has expanded to 148 plots with only 6 plots not sold this year. Gardeners are planting everything in their plots from tomatoes, squash, and beans, to strawberries, lettuce, and cucumbers. The gardens are filled with trellises and posts to support the bountiful vegetables that will soon come. Some gardeners have personalized their gardens by adding stones to the outside of their garden or placing windmills in their garden. Each garden is unique in its own way and it will be exciting to see them later in the season.

Even on an overcast day, people are still working in the garden.

               Some gardeners look at each other’s plot.

Part of The Land Conservancy of New Jersey’s goal is to restore former farm land back to a forested area. Restoration plans at The South Branch Preserve have already started, with the planting of 950 trees and 3500 shrubs in the back three fields behind the community garden. The planters had a very organized system of how to plant the trees on these large fields (Shown above). 

One person would drive a tractor while someone else sat on the back of it. Then a plow, attached to the tractor, would be lowered in order to dig up the soil where the tree would be planted. The person on the back of the tractor would place a tree into the newly dug hole and other workers would pat the soil down around the tree. Planting started on May 17 and continued all of that week. In a couple of years, the once flat, open fields will be transformed into the beginnings of a large, dense forest!

Loading up the trailer, getting ready to plant!

Any questions contact gardenmanager@tlc-nj.org or (973)541-1010 x14

Gardener Spotlight: Afreen Fahad

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey’s Community Garden at South Branch Preserve would not be successful without all of the talented and generous gardeners who maintain plots there. One gardener in particular has been using her plots to benefit the community and spread awareness about organic gardening practices.

Afreen Fahad, with the help of her family and friend Rohana Chase, has been cultivating four plots at the community garden and plans to donate all of the produce to local food pantries. Afreen and Rohana are both incoming juniors at Mt. Olive High School.

In the plots, they have planted zucchini, tomatoes, three types of bell peppers, beans, oregano, rosemary, basil, rutabaga, cabbage, eggplants, and jalapenos. Recently they have harvested the cabbage and rutabaga. They have been harvesting the other crops weekly. Also, at home Afreen has started a small seedling project with her family growing spinach, leeks, and beets. As soon as they grow a little more, they will transplant them into the plots also.

Afreen’s goal is to start a kitchen garden club at Mt. Olive High School. Right now she and her friends are meeting the costs on their own, but she hopes to set up the club formally through the high school, so they can obtain funding.

Afreen is very passionate about organic gardening and the various positive impacts it can have. She has several objectives in starting the kitchen garden club at Mt. Olive High School. First she wants to donate all of the food grown to local soup kitchens and food pantries. She has already made two donations to the soup kitchen of Dover at Trinity Lutheran Church where she plans to volunteer this year.  This soup kitchen feeds about 70 people a day and also puts out small quantities of produce for people to take home.  Anindita Fahad, Afreen's mother, has graciously offered to pick up produce donations from other gardeners to bring to this soup kitchen.  Please let her know if you have extra produce that you would like to donate.

She would like to help other community members donate food to local pantries as well. Another objective is to involve her schoolmates who have an interest in gardening or environmentalism and put their interest to work. In the future, she would like to contact local nurseries to request donations of seeds and plants to produce food that will later be donated.

Besides the goal of planting and donating food, Afreen also has a broader goal of spreading awareness to her classmates about hunger, childhood obesity, and the environmental impact of importing food long distances. Now more than ever, the cheapest and most readily available foods are processed or canned and not very healthy. “Americans have historically proven resilience and self-reliance through the establishment of Victory gardens. At the time of the Second World War, when the war put a constraint on supply lines and affordability of Americans, people grew vegetables and fruits in gardens in their backyards or public parks,” says Fahad. She wants to empower her classmates by showing them that access to healthy foods doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. She also wants to spread awareness of the fossil fuels that are wasted on transporting food long distances and the chemicals needed to preserve these foods for long periods of time, not to mention, the nutritional value that is lost during these processes. “Growing one’s own produce ensures access to foods that are organically grown, seasonally available and nutritionally the best, because they do not lose any nutritional content through travel from far away farms,” says Fahad. When you grow your own food, you know exactly what is in it and that you are getting the highest nutritional value.

In setting up the kitchen garden club, Afreen wants to create roles for her classmates to cultivate the garden plots, raise funds, keep track of expenses, collaborate with other community organizations, and spread awareness of broad social issues concerning food.

It’s wonderful to have Afreen, her family, and friends as part of our garden community at South Branch Preserve. Her work is truly inspiring!

Grand Opening of the Community Garden on 7/9/13

On Tuesday July 9 The Land Conservancy of New Jersey held the official grand opening of our Community Garden at South Branch Preserve in Mount Olive.  In attendance at the event were nearly 60 individuals including local gardeners and officials from Mt. Olive Township, the Highlands Council, New Jersey Green Acres, and The Land Conservancy. 

Roy Groething Images, www.roygroething.com

Mt. Olive Township Mayor Robert Greenbaum kicked off the event with a welcome to everyone.  In his welcome, the mayor celebrated the garden as a place for people to interact and build new relationships, “neighbor meeting neighbor.”  David Epstein, President of The Land Conservancy, also gave a warm welcome to all of the attendees and provided some background on the garden as well as The Land Conservancy’s goals for the future of the property.  

Roy Groething Images, www.roygroething.com

Rory Corrigan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Land Conservancy, recognized several individuals who contributed to the garden including Mt. Olive Township, state representatives, and garden volunteers.  Plaques were presented to the Mt. Olive Township Council and Casey & Keller, Inc. for their outstanding work and support for the garden.

After the informal ceremony, attendees were invited to tour the garden and see what the gardeners have been able to create from their plots.  Many of the guests wandered the garden, as the gardeners proudly showed off their produce.  Mayor Rob Greenbaum was even invited by gardener Mary Ellen Alcock to pick a zucchini from her garden plot. 

Roy Groething Images, www.roygroething.com

The gardeners come from many different backgrounds and professions and have different levels of gardening experience as well as purposes for gardening.  Several of the gardeners live in condominiums and apartments, and have limited space for planting.  Other gardeners have large yards and gardens of their own, but want to meet new people in the area.  Some have young children and want to teach them that food not only comes from grocery stores and fast food restaurants but can come from the earth with a little patience and care. 

Roy Groething Images, www.roygroething.com

We didn’t realize that it would be much easier to build a community in the garden than it was to build the garden itself.  Constructing the garden took many hours of planning and physical labor.  In order to keep the disturbance to a minimum, the parking lot was built on the former site of a house that had been there when the property was a farm.  To irrigate the garden, a well was dug, and pump was installed and hooked up to electricity.  The garden area was tilled and fenced in.  The 10’x10’ plots were laid out with mulch paths dividing them.  This involved pushing countless wheelbarrows full of mulch into the garden.  Before the mulching was finished, ditches to accommodate rubber tubing for the irrigation were dug.  The spigots were installed, and the mulch paths were finished.

While the “garden” part was not easy, the “community” part came naturally.  The Land Conservancy is delighted to have a group of gardeners who are willing to help manage the garden.  A strong volunteer committee is already in place to take over a great deal of the management responsibilities relating to the garden.  Many garden members have put in a special effort to make sure the garden is successful.  One volunteer, Kimberly Blais, went to Lowe’s and Home Depot and was able to get 10 hoses donated to the garden.  Another gardener, Linda Amatucci, is donating a wooden picnic table to go in the garden seating area.  Shelly Morningstar has offered to weed the plots that haven’t been sold this year and organize a crew to help her. 

Additionally, Two leaders from the volunteer committee, Alicia Louie and Perri O’Flynn have stepped forward to organize the first potluck dinner, an opportunity for the gardeners to get to know each other and share the food they have grown.  The dinner will be on August 8 from 6-9 pm.  These are just a few of many examples of the generous efforts the gardeners are making to ensure that this garden is beautiful and successful.

Roy Groething Images, www.roygroething.com

Other garden events have included a seedling sale and an educational meeting on organic gardening hosted by two master gardeners.  We are in the process of planning more events such as yoga in the garden, and we would like to set up a food donation program for gardeners to give their extra produce to local food pantries.

Click on the link to watch Mayor Greenbaum's address at the grand opening. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0X4GvAUGQE

Evolution of the Community Garden at South Branch Preserve

Along with our restoration work at South Branch Preserve, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey has constructed a community garden North Section of the Preserve located along Wolfe Road near Route 46 East.  The garden is laid out in a grid with wood chip paths separating the garden plots.  Gardeners have purchased plots and planting crops of their choice.  The Land Conservancy has been working hard for several months to have the garden up and running in time for the spring growing season.  Of the 140 plots, 78 have been purchased and cultivated, and 62 are still available for purchase.  Here is a behind the scenes look at each phase of the garden construction until its current appearance.

The first step in the process was to obtain approval from the Mt. Olive Township Planning Board.  This involved creating a detailed site plan showing the location of the parking lot, garden, and well.  In order to keep the disturbance of the area to a minimum, the parking lot was constructed on the former site of the farmhouse and barn previously located on the property.  The parking area was covered with gravel and lined with logs rather than being paved to provide a more permeable surface. 

The garden’s location was determined by the power lines that run across the property.  Originally the garden was planned to be adjacent to the parking lot but was moved further away, to avoid disturbance to the power lines. 

Once the location of the garden was laid out, a shed was purchased to store the tools for the gardeners and The Land Conservancy staff. 

Once the shed was placed on the site, the soil was tilled and plowed to prepare the plots for planting.

After the soil was tilled a metal fence was erected around the perimeter of the garden, with rabbit fencing placed on the lower parts of the fence.  The rabbit fencing has a tighter weave than the metal fence in order to keep small rodents from making their way into the garden. 

While work was being done on the inside of the fence, a 422 foot well was dug outside the fence that pumps 25 gallons of water per minute.  Once the well was dug, electrical lines were installed to provide power to the pump. Water was now onsite for the gardeners!

Ten foot square plots were measured and laid out in the garden, the paths vary from 2 to 3 feet between the garden plots.  With the plots measured and laid out, irrigation ditches were dug to install pipes and spigots throughout the garden. 

The paths and the area around the shed were mulched and a 325 foot walking path connecting the parking lot to the garden was laid out and covered with wood chips.

All of this work was completed by May 25  for the opening of the garden.  Work on the garden continues throughout the growing season to ensure the pathways and garden plots remain free of weeds for gardeners and visitors.    

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Aerial Photographs: Credited to the Musconetcong Watershed Association

Repairs Completed After Hurricane Sandy Downs 100 Trees within the South Branch Restoration Site

After moving along most of the Atlantic Coast as a Category 1 storm, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey on October 29, 2012. It was the second costliest hurricane in the United States, following the infamous Hurricane Katrina that devastated New Orleans. Coastal towns of New Jersey were subjected to quickly rising tides and severe waves generated by the storm, and the interior of the state dealt with the strong and violent winds of the storm. Across many towns, downed trees resulted in serious and dangerous damage to both property and the power grid.

Upon inspection of the South Branch Preserve Restoration Site in Mt. Olive, we discovered over 100 trees fell, many landing one on top of another, with over a third of these trees crushing portions of the deer exclosure fencing surrounding the Restoration Site. Fallen trees can be beneficial to the property by promoting new growth and habit for many species. But, loss of the fence’s integrity placed the new plantings and sensitive native flora at great risk of loss by deer over-browsing. The exclosure fence protects the native plantings and allows the understory a chance to thrive and create a healthy forest.

Removing the trees and repairing the extensive damage to the exclosure fence was going to be an arduous task that would take time. Time we did not have, only a few days after the storm, deer tracks could already be found inside preserve. The Budd Lake Hilltop Rod & Gun Club quickly agreed to help and by mid-December had cut and removed the trees so the fence could be repaired. Staff carefully re-hung the damaged fencing and the Dodge Foundation generously provided financial support to purchase replacement fencing and materials. The exclosure fence repairs have been completed and deer are once again restricted from the site. The absence of deer as well as the increase in microhabitats from the downed trees will improve the health and diversity of the flora and fauna of the area.

Fifth and Sixth Properties Added to South Branch Preserve, Mt. Olive Township

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is pleased to announce that they have closed on two properties totaling 18 acres to be added to The Land Conservancy’s South Branch Preserve in Mt. Olive Township.  These are the fifth and sixth properties to be added to the Preserve since its establishment in 2010.  Purchased in partnership with the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, these properties adjoin the South Section of the Preserve located at the end of Shop Lane and its intersection of River Road in the Township.  The Morris County Utilities Authority and New Jersey Water Supply Authority is working with The Land Conservancy on four projects; these are the first two to be purchased. 

“The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is delighted to have closed on these properties,” states David Epstein, President of The Land Conservancy.  “We thank our partners, the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority and the New Jersey Water Supply Authority, for their participation in these projects.  In addition, we wish to recognize the ongoing support of Mt. Olive Township to protecting the headwaters of the South Branch of the Raritan River, a drinking water supply source for over 1.5 million New Jersey residents. We hope this project will inspire our state, county and local agencies to continue to fund these important preservation initiatives to ensure our water resources remain secure and plentiful.”

“The Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority is pleased to be a partner in the protection of these properties which add to the South Branch Preserve,” explains Glenn Schweizer, Executive Director of the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority.  “The Preserve is an important water management resource in Morris County consisting of headwaters to the South Branch Raritan River Watershed which provides drinking water for many in Morris County and New Jersey.”

The South Branch Preserve now totals 390 acres. The North Section (totaling 208 acres) is located immediately below Budd Lake at the intersection of Wolfe Road and Route 46.  The South Section is 182 acres and incorporates this newly preserved property.

South Branch Preserve:

In partnership with Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, Mt. Olive Township, New Jersey Water Supply Authority, Trout Unlimited, Raritan Headwaters Association, and New Jersey Green Acres, The Land Conservancy has worked to protect the watershed lands surrounding the South Branch of the Raritan River, a drinking water supply source for over 1.5 million New Jersey residents. The South Branch Preserve is a great example of efforts to bring together public and private organizations with different interests and resources to preserve lands of regional and statewide significance. The long term vision is to increase the South Branch Preserve to 1,000 acres to serve as a showcase for watershed preservation and restoration; organic farming, a community garden, and resource-based recreation including fishing and hiking.


Located in the headwaters of the South Branch of the Raritan River at Budd Lake, the South Branch Preserve is a remarkable watershed containing scenic views, rich forests, tilled agricultural fields, diverse wetlands, and unique riparian corridors. The South Branch of the Raritan River flows into the main stem of the Raritan River, which is the largest river basin located entirely within the state New of New Jersey and is one of its most critical water supply sources.

The Land Conservancy and its partners have added five properties to the Preserve, which now totals 390 acres and includes three-quarters of a mile of the river flowing through the Preserve. The Land Conservancy continues to focus its efforts on the preservation of the watershed of the South Branch of the Raritan River. Far reaching plans are being developed for managing the South Branch Preserve property to ensure it protects the South Branch of the Raritan River and provides for public enjoyment.

South Branch Preserve Update 3: Birds and Wildlife

Entrance Gate

     Every time we pay a visit to our South Branch Preserve Restoration Site we keep spotting more species of birds, butterflies and amphibians. I decided to conduct a breeding bird survey inside the 100 acre fence on June 21, 2011. I walked from the entrance gate, down Shop Lane to the end of the cul-de-sac, through the forest, across the main stream and down Yalda Court back to the main gate. I walked this entire loop from 6am to about 7am. As I walked this route I counted all of the birds I saw or heard on the entire walk.

Shop Lane

This route will be completed in the same manner each year. On this first year’s walk I ended up spotting or hearing 30 species of birds and 85 individuals. Catbirds were the most plentiful bird spotted with 11 individuals. There was a three way tie for the second most individuals seen. They were six each of the following species, the beautiful red/orange scarlet tanager, the ground loving ovenbird and a flycatcher called the eastern wood-pewee.

Three uncommon hairy woodpeckers were spotted as well as its larger cousin the pileated woodpecker. One threatened species was seen called a Cooper’s hawk  which may nest on the property or an adjacent property.

     The information from this survey will be used to monitor the changes in the bird populations of the site as restoration of the forest continues. This survey will help us determine what bird species favor the site. We suspect that when the understory re-establishes itself in the future there will be an increase of ground nesting bird species. Right now our ongoing total bird list for this site stands at 51 species.

Great Spangled Fritillary Butterfly

     A total of twenty-one species of butterflies, have been identified at South Branch Preserve Restoration Site as of fall of 2011. During the summer & fall they were spotted feeding on the flowering native plants that grew from the many species of wildflower seeds that were planted on the site in the summer of 2010. They were also observed feeding on the native plants that were already growing onsite.

Great Lobelia at the South
Branch Preserve

This site is blessed with an abundance of frogs as evidenced by the frequent visits from the great blue herons. One week after the vernal ponds were created American toads produced their egg masses in several of the vernal ponds. One week later these eggs hatched and thousands of tadpoles were seen swimming around in the shallow waters.

Green frogs and tree frogs are numerous as well and breed onsite. Twice we have spotted box turtles on the site. Three species of snakes have also bee observed, they are garter, water & brown snake. Five species of salamanders were found so far on the site. Many were spotted under the hay bales that are used for erosion control.

Green Frog

     Conventional wisdom suggests that if an amphibian population is thriving, the area is probably clear of pollutants. This is true at our restoration site. A lot of the water starts right on site from seeps and springs and it is near the top of the mountain at around 1000 feet above sea level.

     

Twice a red fox has been spotted inside the fence. Evidence of black bear, (claw marks on a tree and scat) & coyote (scat) has been seen outside of the fence. We are keeping an ongoing list of the wildlife that is seen on the site so our list increases with every season.

                                                                    Dennis Briede

                                                                    Stewardship Manager