New Jersey isn’t called the Garden State for nothing! Many libraries are using the warmer months as an opportunity to engage all ages with gardening.
The Springfield Public Library is home to the Lettuce Read and Grow Garden, run by Children’s Librarian Brie Mintz. This community garden is cared for by children and teen volunteers; but since this is a community garden, community leaders are also invited to work alongside the kids. “This will help [the kids] not only identify and understand the community they live in, but feel like they belong to their community as well,” says Mintz. This summer the garden is growing okra, tomatoes, eggplants, and other veggies and herbs. Volunteers do take home some of the food once it’s harvested, and the rest is donated to the Food Bank of New Jersey. Springfield Public Library would like to thank the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and Groundworks Elizabeth for the Union County Means Green Grant, which helps fund the Lettuce Read and Grow Garden. “It’s been a joy watching the kids take an active role,” Mintz says.
Piscataway Public Library has a garden without living flowers or produce. Their Kennedy Branch is home to a Kindness Rocks Garden, inspired by the Kindness Rocks Project. Now in its second year, the garden uses existing landscaping to plant rocks near the entrance to the library. Teens can attend rock painting programs, where they are asked to paint rocks with kind messages and other works of art: such as strawberries, pickles, faces, Pride flags, and planets. Teens use programs such as this one to “relax” and “get away from stress” and “do something nice for the community,” according to feedback forms. Patrons are invited to take a rock or leave their own, and the garden sees lots of community engagement. The Kindness Rocks Garden in Piscataway is maintained by the teen patrons and Teen Services Librarian Kate-Lynn Brown.
Boonton-Holmes Public Library director Lotte Newlin says the library garden is “very dear to her heart.” The garden came with the library when it was given to the town in 1894. The community responds enthusiastically to the garden, and several groups work to maintain it. Newlin works on the garden, as well as the Rockaway Valley Garden Club and a new Junior Garden Club. A local Eagle Scout has also pledged to build a deck and picnic area. Other events, such as “Music in the Garden” on Sunday afternoons, encourage community members to enjoy the space. Newlin hopes to increase the visibility of the garden so the library can offer even more programming and opportunities to grow. Special thanks to the Rockaway Valley Garden Club for maintaining the garden for over 50 years, and Eagle Scout Sean Tucker for his upcoming deck project, in cooperation with Boonton Boy Scout Troop 1.
East Orange Public Library Children’s Librarian Lisa O’Shaughnessy assists in running the library’s garden, which is a part of the Rutgers 4H Youth Gardening Program. There is a Green Teens and Tweens gardening club, as well as some Master Gardeners, experienced volunteers, who help grow crops such as basil, lettuce, string beans, squash, and corn. The harvested veggies and herbs are sent home with the patrons who care for the garden
As a part of this project, Lisa O’Shaughnessy presented at the National Children and Youth Garden Symposium, a national conference presented annually by the American Horticultural Society. In her presentation, O’ Shaughnessy shared how East Orange’s urban garden has helped grow future leaders in the community.
Does your library have an amazing garden, or another unique initiative you love? Tell us about it!
Twitter: @njlibraries
Instagram: @ilovenjlibraries
Facebook: I Love NJ Libraries