Plots are still available and the Duke Farms Community Garden lottery has been extended to January 31, 2012.
400 plots available to people who live or work in the area
Hillsborough, N.J. (October 20, 2011) - Duke Farms has announced that its Community Garden will be expanding in 2012 – doubling in size from 210 to 420 garden plots. Located in Hillsborough, this organic garden provides people with the opportunity to grow produce that is healthy for their families in a way that is friendly to the environment.
“2011 was the inaugural year for our Community Garden and, based on results of our initial growing season, we made the decision to increase the number of plots to allow more people to participate,” said Timothy M. Taylor, executive director of Duke Farms. “The mission of Duke Farms is to educate people to become good stewards of the land. The Community Garden does just that – enabling people to grow healthy produce while learning good stewardship practices, such as organic growing techniques and composting to improve the soil.”
The Community Garden is located at 1112 Dukes Parkway West, between Route 206 and Roycefield Road, at the site of the future orientation center for Duke Farms scheduled to open in early 2012.
Garden Lottery
Garden plots will be awarded by a lottery system; there is a limit of one plot per household.
To be eligible to participate, you must live or work in Hillsborough, Manville, Somerville, Raritan; also included for the first time are Branchburg or Bridgewater.
Interested parties must register prior to January 31, 2012 at www.dukefarms.org. To receive their plot, lottery winners must attend an orientation meeting and training session in March. They also must sign an agreement with Duke Farms to follow the rules and regulations of the Community Garden, volunteer four hours of their time during the garden season, and to pay a small annual fee for their plot.
Garden plots are available in three sizes: 10 x 10 feet for an annual fee of $10; 15 x 15 feet for $20, and 15 x 30 feet for $30. Annual fees may be waived if they are prohibitive for those facing financial hardship.
Gardeners are required to care for their plot throughout the growing season from April to November, and must use organic practices – no chemical fertilizers or pesticides will be allowed. Gardeners also will be responsible for providing their own seeds or plants and must use their own garden tools to tend their plots. Duke Farms will provide compost and water will be available on site.
Register for the Duke Farms Community Garden Lottery
Additional information on the Community Garden is available on the Duke Farms' Website.
About Duke Farms
For nearly 100 years, Duke Farms, a 2,700-acre property in Hillsborough, N.J., has been a destination for the residents of The Garden State and beyond. As one of the largest privately-owned parcels of undeveloped land in the state, it is rich in agricultural, horticultural and ecological resources. The mission of Duke Farms is to be a model of environmental stewardship in the 21st Century and inspire visitors to become informed stewards of the land. With the opening of a new orientation center in 2012, Duke Farms will offer increased public access to miles of trails on the property along with a wide variety of educational programs and recreational opportunities.
2011 Press Releases
Community Garden Volunteer Day
(October 5, 2011)
Wetlands Restoration Demonstration for Professionals
(October 5, 2011)
2011 Duke Farms BioBlitz
(June 1, 2011)
Duke Farms Offers an Opportunity for Farmers
(June 1, 2011)
Participants Needed for Annual Bird Survey
(February 1, 2011)
2010 Press Releases
Duke Farms Announces New Community Garden
(October 28, 2010)
Duke Farms Looks to Solar Power for Future Needs
(August 3, 2010)
Duke Farms to Hold First BioBlitz
(June 10, 2010)
Duke Farms and NRCS Announce Agreement to Preserve Wetlands
(April 22, 2010)
What's New at the Nest: Duke Farms Eagle Cam is Back on the Air(March 17, 2010)
Transformation of Landscapes at Duke Farms (January 21, 2010)
Removal of trees is the first step in an ambitious habitat regeneration project
Press Release Archives
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