Best: Community gardens help Passaic County
By To the Editor
Published: April 12, 2016
I am proud of the partnership between the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders and City Green. The “Dig In” Community Garden program, administered by City Green helps local non-profits and towns create community gardens that grow fresh and organic produce and beautifies our communities.
The Freeholders and I support this initiative, and over three years we have awarded them $500,000. City Green, a local non-profit in Clifton administers these funds in increments to various organizations in Passaic County that apply to build a community garden.
15 new gardens will be built, bringing the total number to 48 gardens in Passaic County. These gardens will be built and maintained by churches and environmental groups that City Green believes shares their goals, and has the qualifications to complete the project.
To me, this project is especially important because the City of Paterson, a municipality with limitations on the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, has established 5 new community gardens that promote healthy eating with our children and families.
This program is only going into its third year, but the impact is already noticeable.
As we move into spring and the fresh food starts to grow it will become even more noticeable. You can visit our website passaiccountynj.org to see if there is a Community Garden in your neighborhood. Also, these gardens are just being built now and these groups are looking for volunteers.
Theodore “TJ” Best
Passaic County Freeholder Director