More gardens will be sprouting up around Jersey City this spring thanks to a new initiative that will expand urban agriculture and also make healthier foods from farmers' markets more accessible.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and the Department of Health and Human Services are joining up with the Partnership for a Healthier JC to increase resources for "Earth Box" gardens at several sites around the city and Adopt-A-Lot programs, which allows residents to transform unused city-owned lots into gardens by leasing out the site for a dollar.
"As we enter the spring gardening and farmers' market season, we have implemented several programs that will support local urban agriculture and increase access to healthy food for residents," said Fulop in a statement. "We are committed to expanding our Adopt-A-Lot and gardening programs further, and are grateful for the volunteers who are working with the city to accomplish these goals."
Jersey City has collaborated with farmers' market managers to streamline the permitting process for markets over the past year. New legislation was passed by the City Council that requires all Jersey City farmers' markets to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP).
The legislation also calls for more locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, aligning the city more closely with federal standards.
"I'm very pleased that the city has passed an ordinance clarifying what constitutes a farmers' market, and at the same time simplifies the permitting process," said Marc Wesson, manager of Van Vorst Farmers' Market.
Jersey City is currently home to eight farmers' markets and nine Adopt-A-Lot programs, and has expanded its efforts with the organization by providing sheds and tools to all Adopt-A-Lots, along with mulch and other supplies in an effort to sustain their efforts to beautify Jersey City.
Jersey City has also launched its first Earth Box Farms, an initiative in which 125 Earth Boxes were donated by Garden State Urban Farms (GSUF). The Earth Boxes, or self-contained gardening systems, were distributed to the Maureen Collier Senior Center, the Jersey City Health and Human Services building and the Berry Gardens Public Housing complex. Earth Boxes make it possible to garden anywhere, including paved parking lots and patios.
GSUF collaborates with schools, nonprofit organizations and government groups to provide employment opportunities and educational programming, as well as low-cost, healthy food in urban areas throughout New Jersey. GSUF also provided training for the gardeners, along with the guidance of master gardeners from the Jersey City Parks Coalition.