Grow It Green Morristown Inc

GROW IT GREEN MORRISTOWN'S MISSION IS TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE FARMS AND GARDENS THAT PROVIDE EQUAL ACCESS TO FRESH, LOCAL FOOD AND EDUCATE COMMUNITIES THROUGH PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON HEALTHY EATING AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.

GROW IT GREEN DEVELOPS COMMUNITY LEVEL SOLUTIONS TO CREATE HEALTHIER MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITIES CELEBRATING THE JOY OF FRESH FOOD AT OUR SITES: THE URBAN FARM, EARLY STREET COMMUNITY GARDEN, THE GREENHOUSE AT ST. ELIZABETH UNIVERSITY AND THE MORRIS WINTER FARMERS MARKET. THE ACTIVITIES AT EACH LOCATION WEAVE TOGETHER TO CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM. FOCUSING PROGRAMS ON THE RESOURCES UNIQUE TO US IDENTIFIED DURING COVID-19, WE BUILT ON NEW PROGRAMS AND BROUGHT BACK PROGRAMS SUSPENDED THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THOUGH WE BEGAN THE YEAR WITH MOSTLY VIRTUAL EDUCATIONS PROGRAMS, IN THE FALL IN-PERSON IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING WAS POSSIBLE AGAIN WITH INCREASED DEMAND AS WE RETURNED TO SCHOOLS FOR LESSONS, SCIENCE DAYS AND WELLNESS FAIRS. STUDENTS BEGAN TO COME BACK TO THE FARM WITH TEACHERS UTILIZING THE OUTDOOR GREEN SPACES AS AN ENRICHMENT FOR LESSONS AS CHILDREN FIGURED OUT HOW TO BE BACK IN SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS AFTER NEARLY 2 GAP YEARS. URBAN FARM PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: O 1283 STUDENTS ENGAGED IN IN-PERSON FARM BASED EDUCATIONO 724 IN PERSON VOLUNTEERS AT THE FARM/ GARDEN HELPING SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND LEARN NEW SKILLS WHILE SAFELY RECONNECTING WITH OTHERSO 30% INCREASE IN FRESH FOOD DONATIONS OF 11,500 POUNDS FOR LOCAL FOOD BANKS, FOR FARM TO TABLE SHARES IN NEWARK IN A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH NEWARK SAS AND THROUGH A VOUCHER PROGRAM FOR FREE PRODUCE SELECTED AT THE FARM FOR 39 FAMILIES IN LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS WHO ATTENDED 7 WELLNESS PROGRAMS TAILORED TO THEIR NEEDS-84 WEEKLY CSA PRODUCE SHARES PROVIDED AND PICKED UP IN PERSON AT THE FARM-80,00 POUNDS OF PRODUCE SOLD AT OUR FARM STAND AND THE WINTER FARMERS MARKET WE MANAGE-OVER 30,000 POUNDS OF PRODUCE GROWN (22% INCREASE)-DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOL PAID INTERNS-BEGAN A PILOT FARM APPRENTICE PROGRAM FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN AGRICULTURE CAREER PATHWAYS-MULTIPLE NEW SUSTAINABLE FARM PRACTICES IMPLEMENTED TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT, REDUCE WATER USAGE AND FIND NEW INNOVATIVE WAYS TO INCREASE PRODUCTION-ALFRESCO COMMUNITY EVENT RETURNED WELCOMING OVER 400 COMMUNITY MEMBERSTHE GARDEN AND SURROUNDING PARKLET WAS A VITAL RESPITE WITH OVER 90 GARDEN BEDS AND WELCOMING GREEN SPACES WHILE ALSO SERVING AS A MODEL OF SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC SPACES ENCOURAGING POLLINATORS AND PREVENTING STORM WATER DAMAGE.

EARLY STREET COMMUNITY GARDEN PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:-GARDEN WAS FULLY OPEN AND OPERATIONAL-INCREASED BEDS AVAILABLE FOR NEIGHBORS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LOOKING FOR OUTDOOR, THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES AND TO GROW FOOD AND SELF-SUSTAINING SKILLS WELCOMING PARISHIONERS FROM ST. MARGARET'S, MORRIS COUNTY HISPANIC AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HOMELESS SOLUTIONS, NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE AND THE HIGH SCHOOL TRANSITIONAL SKILLS PROGRAM, COLONIAL L.I.F.E-HELD IN PERSON SOCIAL EVENTS FOR GARDENERS-WEEKLY PUBLIC WELLNESS EVENTS HELD IN PUBLIC PARKLET ADJACENT TO GARDEN

GREENHOUSE OPERATIONS AND WINTER FARMERS MARKET -GREENHOUSE REOPENED TO STUDENTS FOR EDUCATIONAL CLASSES, INTERNSHIPS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES-STARTED SEEDLINGS FOR THE URBAN FARM AND FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND GARDENERS ENCOURAGING PLANTING OF FRESH FOOD, FLOWERS AND HERBS WHEN IT WAS CHALLENGING TO GET SUPPLIES OF SEEDLINGS AND SEEDS.-MOVED THE WINTER MARKET TO A LARGER SPACE PARTNERING WITH TOWNSHIP OF MORRIS ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WITH SAFER AND EASIER ACCESS FOR PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT ABILITIES-INCREASED SPACE PROVIDING OVER 40 FARMERS, RANCHERS AND CREATORS A PLAY TO SELL INCREASING OUTREACH TO MINORITY AND WOMAN OWNED VENDORS AND NONPROFITS TRYING TO CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS-PROVIDED A SAFE COMMUNITY SPACE TO CONNECT AND SHOP OUTDOORS FOR OVER 12,000 PEOPLE AT THE MARKET AND INCORPORATED MORE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES