Yout' Gardening in New Jersey

Friends,

It ain't just Tony Soprano planting "hits"  in Secaucus anymore - there actually are some decent gardens in the "Garden State."

Best wishes,
Adam (AKA - "Don Rocco") Honigman
Volunteer
Clinton Community Garden


They worked 'Together'
Friday, February 20, 2004

By Regina Schaffer
rschaffer@sjnewsco.com

GLASSBORO -- What began as a small vegetable garden last spring to help at-risk youth has bloomed into an effort gaining national attention.

The Together Youth Shelter --a division of the Center for Family Services -- was recently selected from more than 500 kids' gardening programs nationwide to receive a 2004 Youth Garden Grant from the National Gardening Association.


As part of the grant, Together Youth Shelter will receive an assortment of garden products donated by leading companies in the lawn and garden industry to maintain and expand the existing garden project.

"We were obviously very happy," said Linda Carr, a garden instructor at the shelter. "Now we can actually buy things for the garden instead of bringing borrowed tools. It will enhance what we can do for the garden."

With the new supplies, Carr said she plans to add an herb garden to teach students how to use the spices for real life tasks, such as cooking. The shelter has already begun to receive seeds and tools, and is awaiting an irrigation system -- all as a result of the grant.

About 12 children are currently staying at the shelter, Carr said, though more than 200 children come through the shelter's revolving door each year. The garden was formed last spring through a federal McKinney grant for homeless children, as an effort to give at-risk youth a creative outlet.

During the summer of 2003, children at the shelter planned, planted and tended the vegetable and butterfly garden, learning about science and ecology while working together on the outdoor project. The food grown in the garden was used to fix meals at the shelter.

"National Gardening Association is proud to support this terrific kids' garden," said Joan White, education program director. "The Together Youth Shelter Program was selected because of their demonstrated commitment to actively and creatively engaging youth in the gardening process and improving the community."

Together Youth Shelter is a program of Center For Family Services, a nonprofit organization helping the communities of Camden and Gloucester counties to offer counseling and support.




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