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9th
Sep 2016

Wrangle Brook Community Garden - Sept 2016

 

Project of the Unitarian Universalist Ocean
County Congregation 734 Route 37 West,
Toms River, NJ 08755 www.uuocc.org

 

   A few years ago, this place was just an overgrown plot of weeds. Now, it’s a garden that has donated more than 900 pounds of fruits and vegetables to food banks.

   In 2014, a group of volunteers set about to turn this strip of land into a community garden. The land is tucked away by a Toms River neighborhood south of Lakehurst Road, and north of Silver Ridge Park East. The crossroads would be River Terrace in Toms River, and Southampton Road in Berkeley Township. At one point, there was a beach here on the Wrangle Brook. There are remnants of a basketball court and other park features. All of that fell by the wayside, and it became a place for trespassers doing illegal things. Now, it’s being reclaimed.

   The land encompasses some 4 or more acres of undeveloped area, although the garden itself is just on half an acre right now. The Pinelands Antique Engine Association dragged discs through the earth several times, churning up the soil and making it habitable for farming. Last year, rye was planted as a cover crop to build up the soil. Volunteers installed fencing, electricity and irrigation.

   Right now, there is a common garden, where the fruits and vegetables are going to the People’s Pantry of Toms River. There is a large portion growing pumpkins and butternut squash. A section is set aside for children to plant things and watch them grow. There are also raised beds set up that were reserved by residents to grow their own food. 

   A volunteer coordinator has the task of making sure that the schedules for watering, picking, and delivering are adhered to. People come from Manchester, Lakewood and Toms River to tend to their gardens.

   “There’s potential to extend it,” said Bonney Parker, garden coordinator. “So many people contribute to the garden, it is the epitome of what a community can get together to do.”

   “We try very earnestly not to use GMO. We’re trying to stay organic,” she said about genetically modified organisms, pesticides, and fertilizers. 

   There was a group effort involved. The town’s Department of Public Works brought in mounds of compost and helped clean it up. Mark Vannella, clean community coordinator for the town, helped with a grant. The county provided wood chips. Home Depot provided staircase-like garden boxes. Clayton Concrete gave hundreds of cinder blocks.

 

 

   The Unitarian Universalist Congregation helped with funds, volunteers, and other support. Bob Rokas, the project manager, gathered the tradesmen and worked with them to build garden boxes, fences, irrigation and other projects.

   Councilwoman Judy Noonan, who helped oversee some of the project on the township’s end, complimented the people working there. “You’re extending yourself and your hard work is going to help people in need.”

  

 The group is actively looking for members, either gardeners or volunteers for the food bank. They meet at the Unitarian Universalist Ocean County Congregation, 734 Route 37 West, Toms River. For $25 a year, a household can plant in a 10 x 4 foot raised bed. It costs $10 for each additional plot. 

For more information, call (732) 608-3028.