CRI has awarded Grow It Green Morristown several grants for this project through its Franklin Parker Small Grants program: $5000 in 2009, $3500 in 2010, and $5000 in 2011.

Grow it Green Morristown facilitates the construction and management of community gardens in Morristown. They are responsible for the Early Street Garden, and the Urban Farm at Lafayette. Currently, they are working on a third: the Gran Fondo Community Garden.

The Urban Farm at Lafayette serves as a living classroom for the children of the Morris School District, as well as the local community.  One recent summer the Farm donated over 1,500 pounds of fresh vegetables to the Interfaith Food Pantry, and Market Street Mission. This educational Urban Farm is located at the Lafayette Learning Center on Hazel Street, in one of Morristown’s most diverse neighborhoods and one of the most economically challenged areas of Morris County.  When Grow it Green Morristown acquired the site, it was in ill-repair, with defunct play equipment and broken bleachers. The play structures were given new life, as they were re-purposed into trellises and arbors;  an old baseball backstop became a shade house where students work at potting benches.  The entire garden was fenced with a very attractive 7.5 foot fence via a generous grant from CRI’s Franklin Parker Small Grant Program. Grow it Green Morristown provides educational opportunities to the District, as well as to the general public.

Grow It Green Morristown is working to expand community gardens in economically challenged neighborhoods throughout Morristown. This organization is a leader in the national school and community garden movement as it follows a unique approach, creating a private/public partnership to accomplish mutual goals of education, outreach and environmental stewardship.

Ecosystem Services Provided:

Agricultural production: Local food systems- urban gardens & farms

Recreation and Aesthetics: Environmental education- agricultural education

Total Project Cost: $44,000

If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.

]]> http://www.njconservationexchange.org/morristown-community-gardens/feed 0 http://www.njconservationexchange.org/njisst http://www.njconservationexchange.org/njisst#comments Mon, 18 May 2009 17:40:40 +0000 admin http://theconservationexchange.org/?p=256 CRI has provided continued funding  for this project through its Franklin Parker Small Grants program:

2007- $4,000

2008- $5,000

2009- $6,000

2010- $5000

2011- $5000

The New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team (CJISST) was initiated in 2008 by the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS) and the Upper Raritan Watershed Association (URWA), whose goal it was to create New Jersey’s first private/public partnership based upon a cooperative approach to prevent the spread of newly emerging invasive species though early detection & rapid response (ED/RR).  ED/RR is an innovative, cost-effective and efficient approach to invasive species.  Partners and volunteers involved in CJISST are all committed to a common goal — preventing the torrent of new invasions that will further degrade New Jersey’s natural resources.

Strike Team partners use early detection/rapid response (ED/RR) methodology to map the locations and densities of newly emerging populations of invasive species and to remove them before they spread further. Eradications are prioritized based on the frequency, range and density of the species, as well as the conservation value of specific sites. Engaging a wide range of partnerships with state, county, and municipal agencies, conservation and community organizations, private landowners, and an extensive network of volunteers ensures the success of this project.

Ecosystem Services Provided:

Biological Diversity: Habitat- federal threatened species habitat protection; Ecosystem resilience and pest control- invasive plant removal

Outreach & Education: volunteer training, public education on invasive species

Total Project Cost: $250,000

Status: In 2011, the New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team became an independent non-profit organization. CRI’s grant funds have helped leverage nearly $250,000 in additional grants from other funders.

NJISST now includes over 55 project partners from multiple sectors including government (federal, state, county, and municipal), non-profit, corporate and private.  Stewardship and education/outreach activities occur throughout the project area which covers 1.6 million acres across 9 counties (Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union).  Key project accomplishments include: searching over 50,000 acres, detecting nearly 2,000 populations, eradicating over 600 populations, providing over 50 educational presentations with over 800 total participants, and providing outreach and training to over 1300 partners and volunteers.  The project has also established a Steering Committee to guide its progress moving forward and a website to provide technical materials including a project map depicting detections and eradications (www.njisst.org).

If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.