The Duke Farms Foundation has formed an alliance with the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey (NOFA-NJ) to bring programs on sustainable agriculture and organic gardening to farmers, landowners and home gardeners.

Organic Gardening Series

Learn to Grow Healthy and Tasty Produce!

Whether you are an organic gardening newbie or an experienced gardener, the Organic Gardening Series will provide you with time-tested production information as well as opportunities to discuss specific issues related to your garden. Each session will provide you with information that will enable you to grow your own vegetables in a way that is safe for you, your family and the environment.

Classes will be held on the second Saturday of the month, April through September, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Duke Farms in Hillsborough, N.J.

• April 10: Prepare your garden! Organic soil health is the most important aspect of your organic garden. Learn more about how to improve your soil vigor, what varieties to plant as seeds or transplants, as well as where and when to plant in order to maximize your garden production. Also applicable for those limited to container gardening.

• May 8: Compost, Mulch, Worms, Garbage, Compost Tea and More. Nature creates compost/humus all the time without human intervention -- but gardeners can step in and speed up the process to improve their soil and garden production, even if you garden on a windowsill.

• June 12: Feeling the Chill? Time to start your Fall Garden! Learn what varieties of the cabbage family are best for your garden. Should you direct seed or start transplants? What sort of bed preparation is necessary and what soil acidity is best for success for your fall production? These are just some of the topics to be covered.

• July 10: Managing your Weeds and Insects. Rotate your crops, purposeful germination, hoeing or pulling weeds, using vinegar sprays, boiling water, or using weeds as mulch are just a few of the approaches you can utilize to keep your weed and insect populations under control.

• August 14: Seed Saving and Seed Exchange. Bring some of your own seeds to exchange with others in the session to increase the number of locally-adapted heirloom varieties. Learn about timing and techniques for gathering and storing seeds over the winter.

• September 11: Fall into Garlic and Season Extenders. Learn more about garlic and how to grow well into the winter. Using locally available eco-friendly materials, learn how to construct cold frames, crop covers and portable mini-green houses.

Fee: The cost is $30 per session or $150 for the series (savings of $30). Discount for NOFA Members: The cost for NOFA members is $20 per session/$100 for the series.

Location: Duke Farms is located at 80 Route 206 South, approximately 1.75 miles south of the Somerville traffic circle in Hillsborough, N.J. Enter via the gate at Dukes Parkway East. Click here for directions.

Registration: To register online for individual classes, click on the class title. To register for the series, have your credit card ready and call (908) 722-3700 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Flyer: Download a flyer for the 2010 Organic Gardening Series. (99 KB PDF)

Grow Biointensive: Sustainable Mini Farming

A Lecture by John Jeavons

Thursday, January 28, doors open at 6:30 p.m., lecture at 7 p.m.
John Jeavons will speak on the topic of biointensive growing and how this technique impacts local food systems. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions. Sponsored by NOFA-NJ and the D&R Greenway Land Trust to benefit the New Jersey Farm to School Network.

Class Information

Location: D&R Greenway Johnson Education Center, 1 Preservation Place, Princeton

Fee: Suggested donation of $35 for adults and $15 for students/children.

Registration: No advance registration is required. For more information about the lecture, contact Michelle Glenn of NOFA-NJ at (908) 371-1111, ext. 2, or email m.glenn@nofanj.org.

NOFA-NJ 20th Annual Winter Conference: Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Food Systems

Saturday, January 30, 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Douglass Campus Center, Rutgers University
New Brunswick, N.J.

Click here for a complete schedule of events and registration information.

Exploring the Small Farm Dream: Is Starting an Agricultural Business Right for You?

A short course developed in cooperation with the New England Small Farm Institute.

Have you ever thought about starting a farm? Whether your vision includes making goat cheese, selling cut flowers, or growing rare tomato varieties, this course will give you the tools to start making that dream come true. Potential participants include people thinking about full-time farming, farming part-time while continuing other employment, changing careers to start a farm, and /or developing an existing but informal farming pastime into a more serious business activity.

Participants will discuss current opportunities in small-scale agriculture, explore objectives, assess personal and financial resources, conduct preliminary market research and develop an action plan for pursuing their interests in food and farming.

All levels of experience are welcome.

For more information about the course, call Michelle Glenn of NOFA-NJ at (908) 371-1111, ext. 2, or email m.glenn@nofanj.org.

Class Information

Schedule: Four consecutive Wednesdays, February 17 and 24, March 3 and 10, 6 to 9 p.m., and one daytime Saturday class yet to be announced.

Location: Classes will be held at Duke Farms, 80 Rt. 206 South, enter at Dukes Parkway East, in Hillsborough, N.J., and at local farm locations.

Fee: Tuition is $300 and includes all course materials. Two people from the same family or working on the same farm business plan may attend for a combined tuition of $450 that includes two copies of all course materials.

Registration: Call Duke Farms registration at (908) 722-3700, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Have your credit card ready. Please note that class size is limited to 20 people.

Tilling the Soil of Opportunity

This course is designed for small, sustainable, organic farmers -- both new and experienced, and focuses on all aspects of developing and implementing a business plan.

Topics that will be covered include taking stock of your resources, research, legal issues, developing marketing strategies, finances, managing growth.

For more information about the course, call David Glenn of NOFA-NJ at (908) 371-1111, or email david.glenn@nofanj.org.

Class Information

Schedule: Saturday (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Tuesday evening (6 to 9 p.m.) sessions on the following dates: February 13, 16, 20, 23, 27 and March 2, 9.

Location: Classes will be held at Duke Farms, 80 Rt. 206 South, enter at Dukes Parkway East, in Hillsborough, N.J.

Fee: Tuition is $600 per person or $750 for a farm partner. As an incentive, each participant/partner who develops a complete business plan will be refunded $200.

Registration: Call Duke Farms registration at (908) 722-3700, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Have your credit card ready. Please note that class size is limited.