ACTION: GREENWICH COMMUNITY GARDEN - 2012 Project Update
GREENWICH TOWNSHIP, CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 08323 ACTION: GREENWICH COMMUNITY GARDEN - 2012 Project Update Site Concept: Sustainable Greenwich and community partners are creating a public Community Garden in a setting that will be in keeping with our rural heritage and local ecology; it will visually enhance the property on the corner of Ye Greate Street and the Bridgeton-Greenwich Road, at the center of the Greenwich Historic District, and reinforce a sense of arriving in the town of Greenwich. The plan and interpretation of the garden is intended to provide educational and social value as a meeting place and site for residents and visitors to appreciate and learn about the Township, its history, its native plants and basic sustainable gardening practice. Garden Location: The Community Garden has been started on public property located at the corner of Ye Greate Street and the Bridgeton-Greenwich Road. The property, also the site of the Cumberland County Prehistoric Museum, is owned by Cumberland County. Permission to create the Garden was obtained from the Cumberland County Board of Chosen Freeholders by the Greenwich Township Committee in the fall of 2010.
Planning for the Garden and basic design elements were chosen with several goals in mind: - to maintain intersection site lines - to maintain views through the lot - to develop a logical and flexible multi-phase program over a 3-year period - to plan for adequate light, access to water and existing trees and site features Scope of Project: The Garden will include: walkways, seating and signage consisting and a Community Announcement Board and donor/sponsor recognition signage. The walkways were created using paving stones. Benches made of recycled lumber, are being added incrementally and are in keeping with the nature of the Greenwich Historic District (and have been approved by the Planning Board). The Announcement Board will include basic information for residents and visitors, including a map and changing notices of events and Township information. The design and construction of the Announcement Board will provide protection from the elements and will also be approved by the Planning Board. Plantings will include trees, shrubs and perennials using native species and hardy plants that will support
low maintenance and water use. The plantings will help interpret the Township’s natural and historic setting, and will be developed to support educational and community activities. Interpretive/Educational Information: Community Garden programs/activities will include: Interpretation of site (identification of trees, shrubs and plants) Ongoing educational programs for students and museum visitors Development of a Garden brochure (2012-13) Continuing development of the Community Garden page on Township website (www.historicgreenwichnj.org) Site for community sustainability projects (rain barrel demo/workshops, etc.)
Example: the Shadbush, Shadblow, Juneberry or Serviceberry tree (Amelanchier) was a fundamental food source for the native Lenni-Lenape people. One version of the Native American food pemmican was flavored by serviceberry fruits in combination with minced dried meat and fat. When the shadbush bloomed in early spring, the Lenape knew it was time to move from upland wintering grounds to the Delaware Bay shores to fish for the shad that were abundant in the coastal bay waters. The name serviceberry derived from colonial times; when the tree bloomed in early spring in New England, it signaled that long-delayed outdoor religious services could take place. The fruit of several species of this hardy tree are excellent to eat raw, tasting somewhat like blueberry, strongly accented by the almond-like flavor of the seeds. Fruit is harvested locally for pies and jams and the saskatoon variety has been harvested commercially. The wood is brown, hard, close-grained and heavy and can be used for tool handles and fishing rods. The Lenape used the wood for arrow shafts. Suggested reading for children: Messinger, Carla and Susan Katz, with illustrations by David Kanietakeron Fadden. When the Shadbush Blooms. Berkeley, CA and Toronto, Canada: Tricycle Press, 2007.
Plantings: Trees and shrubs that were planted in the garden in 2011 include: Aesculus pavia, Red Buckeye, Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance' Magnolia virginiana 'Greenbay', Sweetbay Magnolia Juniperus virginiana 'Emerald Sentinel', Red Cedar
Calycanthus floridus 'Athens', Yellow Carolina Allspice Viburnum nudum 'Winterthur' Ilex opaca, American Holly (between OEM and the Museum to the rear) Ilex verticillata, Winterberry Fothergilla gardenii, Dwarf fothergilla All are native species. All have wildlife/forage/insect value and most have traditional food or medicinal uses. Plants that are being added to the garden in the spring of 2012 include: Agastache 'Blue Fortune' or 'Golden Jubilee', Amsonia 'Blue Ice', Asclepias tuberosa, Aster ericoides 'Snow Flurry', Calamintha nepeta subsp. Nepeta, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, Echinacea purpurea, Eupatorium coelestinum, Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae, Geranium x cantabrigiense 'Biokovo', Monarda 'Raspberry Wine', Salvia greggii 'Ultra Violet', Vernonia letermannii 'Iron Butterfly" (shorter than V. noveboracensis), Veronica spicata 'Goodness grows', Nassella tenuissima (syn Stipa tenuissima), Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' and trilobum, variegated Carex, Lysimachia 'Firecracker', Solidago 'Fireworks', Ostrich fern and assorted Asters. In addition to plant donations from North Creek Nursery, several residents have offered divisions of native plants from their own gardens. This generosity is welcomed and landscape architect C. Hedlund will supervise and coordinate all activity. For plants that are not native or otherwise suitable for the community garden, it has been suggested that the community hold an annual plant swap or garden fundraiser on the grounds. It has also been suggested that the garden site and the adjacent municipal building grounds would be a good site for a seasonal garden market. Community Involvement: Photos of the Greenwich Community Garden 2011-2012
Clearing the site March 2011
Groundbreaking May 2011
Spreading newspaper/mulch after tree planting
Mayor Ted Kiefer
Garden detail August 2011
Shadbush first bloom
Garden – view to Municipal Building
Greenwich/Stow Creek Girl Scout Troop #56414 working on garden clean-up, mulching and planting with Sustainable Greenwich team member Carey Hedlund, May 5, 2012.
Planning for the Garden and basic design elements were chosen with several goals in mind: - to maintain intersection site lines - to maintain views through the lot - to develop a logical and flexible multi-phase program over a 3-year period - to plan for adequate light, access to water and existing trees and site features Scope of Project: The Garden will include: walkways, seating and signage consisting and a Community Announcement Board and donor/sponsor recognition signage. The walkways were created using paving stones. Benches made of recycled lumber, are being added incrementally and are in keeping with the nature of the Greenwich Historic District (and have been approved by the Planning Board). The Announcement Board will include basic information for residents and visitors, including a map and changing notices of events and Township information. The design and construction of the Announcement Board will provide protection from the elements and will also be approved by the Planning Board. Plantings will include trees, shrubs and perennials using native species and hardy plants that will support
low maintenance and water use. The plantings will help interpret the Township’s natural and historic setting, and will be developed to support educational and community activities. Interpretive/Educational Information: Community Garden programs/activities will include: Interpretation of site (identification of trees, shrubs and plants) Ongoing educational programs for students and museum visitors Development of a Garden brochure (2012-13) Continuing development of the Community Garden page on Township website (www.historicgreenwichnj.org) Site for community sustainability projects (rain barrel demo/workshops, etc.)
Example: the Shadbush, Shadblow, Juneberry or Serviceberry tree (Amelanchier) was a fundamental food source for the native Lenni-Lenape people. One version of the Native American food pemmican was flavored by serviceberry fruits in combination with minced dried meat and fat. When the shadbush bloomed in early spring, the Lenape knew it was time to move from upland wintering grounds to the Delaware Bay shores to fish for the shad that were abundant in the coastal bay waters. The name serviceberry derived from colonial times; when the tree bloomed in early spring in New England, it signaled that long-delayed outdoor religious services could take place. The fruit of several species of this hardy tree are excellent to eat raw, tasting somewhat like blueberry, strongly accented by the almond-like flavor of the seeds. Fruit is harvested locally for pies and jams and the saskatoon variety has been harvested commercially. The wood is brown, hard, close-grained and heavy and can be used for tool handles and fishing rods. The Lenape used the wood for arrow shafts. Suggested reading for children: Messinger, Carla and Susan Katz, with illustrations by David Kanietakeron Fadden. When the Shadbush Blooms. Berkeley, CA and Toronto, Canada: Tricycle Press, 2007.
Plantings: Trees and shrubs that were planted in the garden in 2011 include: Aesculus pavia, Red Buckeye, Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance' Magnolia virginiana 'Greenbay', Sweetbay Magnolia Juniperus virginiana 'Emerald Sentinel', Red Cedar
Calycanthus floridus 'Athens', Yellow Carolina Allspice Viburnum nudum 'Winterthur' Ilex opaca, American Holly (between OEM and the Museum to the rear) Ilex verticillata, Winterberry Fothergilla gardenii, Dwarf fothergilla All are native species. All have wildlife/forage/insect value and most have traditional food or medicinal uses. Plants that are being added to the garden in the spring of 2012 include: Agastache 'Blue Fortune' or 'Golden Jubilee', Amsonia 'Blue Ice', Asclepias tuberosa, Aster ericoides 'Snow Flurry', Calamintha nepeta subsp. Nepeta, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, Echinacea purpurea, Eupatorium coelestinum, Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae, Geranium x cantabrigiense 'Biokovo', Monarda 'Raspberry Wine', Salvia greggii 'Ultra Violet', Vernonia letermannii 'Iron Butterfly" (shorter than V. noveboracensis), Veronica spicata 'Goodness grows', Nassella tenuissima (syn Stipa tenuissima), Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' and trilobum, variegated Carex, Lysimachia 'Firecracker', Solidago 'Fireworks', Ostrich fern and assorted Asters. In addition to plant donations from North Creek Nursery, several residents have offered divisions of native plants from their own gardens. This generosity is welcomed and landscape architect C. Hedlund will supervise and coordinate all activity. For plants that are not native or otherwise suitable for the community garden, it has been suggested that the community hold an annual plant swap or garden fundraiser on the grounds. It has also been suggested that the garden site and the adjacent municipal building grounds would be a good site for a seasonal garden market. Community Involvement: Photos of the Greenwich Community Garden 2011-2012
Clearing the site March 2011
Groundbreaking May 2011
Spreading newspaper/mulch after tree planting
Mayor Ted Kiefer
Garden detail August 2011
Shadbush first bloom
Garden – view to Municipal Building
Greenwich/Stow Creek Girl Scout Troop #56414 working on garden clean-up, mulching and planting with Sustainable Greenwich team member Carey Hedlund, May 5, 2012.
