For most families, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without turkey. Or cranberries… Cranberry cultivation soon caught on in New Jersey, since cranberries grow wild on long-running vines in South Jersey’s sandy bogs and marshes. The Pine Barrens …
Rutgers Cheerleader Coaches at Mt. Olive After Baffling Injury
Morgan Lowrey describes the ordeal as her “55-week headache.”… “It felt like a knife started at the base of my neck and went out my forehead,” said Lowrey, 21, of Mount Olive. “When I went to doctors they would ask me about my headaches, but it wasn’t headaches. It was one constant headache.”… The pain started about six months after she suffered a broken nose and whiplash during a “pyramid routine gone bad” more than three years ago, when Lowrey was a freshman on the cheerleading squad at Rutgers University… Nausea, light sensitivity, involuntary arm flails and a general searing pain caused her to miss time at work and school, spending many days lying in a dark bedroom with her head pressed against a pillow… One year removed from surgery, Lowrey is successfully balancing her college course load and her coaching duties, while being able to enjoy her life outside the sport and school… Lowrey is now in her senior year of college, commuting to Rutgers three days per week from Mount Olive. She’s studying ecology, evolution, and natural resources and next year will enter graduate school for education.
How to Create a Rain Garden at Home
Whether you’re a gardener, an environmentalist or simply a homeowner who wants to make more productive use and add value to your property, rain gardens are a great option to consider… “First and foremost, rain gardens are gardens,” said Michele Bakacs, environmental agent for Rutgers Cooperative Extension in Middlesex and Union counties… They can also reduce flooding, help conserve water in drought conditions, and have wonderful water quality improvement properties in that they act like sponges and can help reduce and filter pollutants from hard-water surfaces,” said Bakacs. “Rain gardens are also fantastic habitat promoters because they often use native plants, which are uniquely able to tolerate the specific and often harsh water conditions associated with this garden’s unique design.”… With a focus on helping New Jersey’s diverse population improve their quality of life through an educational process that uses science-based knowledge, “the Rutgers Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension and its county agents have been supporting the development of rain gardens for many years, both in school and municipal settings as well as in residential applications statewide,” Bakacs said.
Something’s Always Brewing on NJ Farms
This article was written by Nicholas Polanin, associate professor, agricultural agent II, Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension of Somerset County… Late last month, New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher toured Screamin’ Hill Brewery in Cream Ridge, the state’s first on-farm brewery… “We have a thriving farm-winery industry and we hope to see more craft breweries connected to farms and using local farm products,” Fisher said. “Being the first on-farm brewery in New Jersey, Screamin’ Hill is the example of how our state’s agriculture and craft brewery industries can work together to create unique products consumers can enjoy.”… Doyle, who owns Readington River Buffalo Company in Readington, manages a herd of bison ranging from 90 to 150 head on 110 acres of pasture. He oversees breeding, nutrition, vaccination, and transportation. He manages an on-site retail operation with the meat raised on the farm and locally-sourced agricultural products. He also produces 200 acres of hay per year to feed the herd and to supplement neighboring farmers. Doyle also hosts Rutgers University students in an annual practicum to teach proper handling methods of large animals. He is currently second vice-president of the Hunterdon County Board of Agriculture, a 2009 graduate of the New Jersey Agricultural Leadership Development Program, a Sunday school instructor and an Eagle Scout.
Vote For The Next N.J. Hero — Fighting Hunger
Honoring their work in fighting hunger, first lady Mary Pat Christie and the New Jersey Heroes Foundation have designated three deserving individuals as nominees for the August online New Jersey Hero poll… Kristina Guttadora leads the “Farmers Against Hunger” effort as program director and executive director of the New Jersey Agricultural Society. As just one of two full-time employees, Guttadora relies on an amazing support team of part-time seasonal staff, volunteers, partners and board members to operate the Garden State’s first and broadest farm gleaning program. Learn more at http://www.njagsociety.org/farmers-against-hunger.html… New Jersey Heroes is an initiative first lady Mary Pat Christie began in 2010 to showcase the positive and unique ways people and organizations are impacting New Jersey and their communities.
Rutgers Gardens Features Jersey Culinary Experience at Inaugural ‘Gardens Party’
Imagine sitting in front of the historic Log Cabin, at white linen-covered tables with the sun setting as the backdrop. It’s here on Thursday, Sept. 10, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. that friends of the Rutgers Gardens will share a culinary experience at the inaugural Gardens Party… The best food and wine offerings from the Rutgers Gardens Farm Market vendors will be featured. A true foodie event, guests and attendees will be joined by Rachel Weston, award-winning journalist and chef, who will share her passion for making seasonally inspired meals from food grown locally. Just published in May, her new book, “New Jersey Fresh: Four Seasons of Farm to Table,” features five of the Rutgers Gardens Farm Market vendors… The 2015 Hamilton Award for Dedication and Outstanding Commitment will be presented to Dr. Robert Goodman, executive dean of the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University. Since taking on the role of executive dean in 2005, Bob has been a true supporter and friend of the Rutgers Gardens. Over the past 10 years he has provided funding, guidance, and support on a number of key projects, such as the development of the Advisory Board, the completion of the Feasibility Study, and the start of the Master Plan.
Spiders in N.J.: Entomological Consultant at Rutgers Explains Arachnids
Curious about those eight-legged, eight-eyed wonders quietly living in nooks and crannies of your home or weaving expansive webs outdoors?… The Daily Record met with Eugene Fuzy, entomological consultant for Rutgers University in New Brunswick, to learn more about the spiders most prevalent in New Jersey, the ones considered most dangerous based on their venomous bite, and superstitions and misperceptions about these magical and beneficial creatures… “I’ve been fascinated with spiders since I was three years old. I was asthmatic as a kid and couldn’t have furry pets, so a Colorado potato beetle was my first pet and then I moved on to spiders. As a naturalist, I love spiders because they’re so unique, visually active and create such amazing webs,” said Fuzy.
OPINION: It’s the Garden State, So Why Not Garden?
After a long winter of garden dreams fueled by seed catalogs, this is the moment Garden State gardeners have been waiting for: The weather is finally warm enough to plunge hands in dirt and do some serious planting. If you’ve never gardened but have always wanted to grow your own healthy food, there’s no better time than now to dig in… Gardening is also an economical way to get bountiful produce all summer for just pennies per pound. Think back to the “Victory Gardens” of the World War II era, when families grew most of their own vegetables and fruits to save money. It’s estimated that a single 10×16-foot plot can grow enough to feed a family of four for the summer, with enough left over for canning or freezing… Need gardening advice? One great resource is the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University, online at http://njaes.rutgers.edu/garden.
Rutgers Master Gardener: Planning is Important
Planning a successful garden is a lot like launching a new business or making a wise real estate purchase, according to Stan Nathanson, Rutgers Master Gardener who said, “A successful garden depends largely on location, location, location”… Nathanson earned his garden ‘cred’ through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program offered through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, New Jersey Agriculture Experiment Station, and Rutgers University. The program is managed cooperatively with individual county governments… “Generally the time to begin planting is when the temperatures reach about 70 degrees during the day and 65 degrees at night,” Nathanson said… He said the Rutgers Cooperative of Morris County can run a soil test for $20 and when the test is ordered, you will need to state what you intend to grow in the soil because the pH requirements can be different.
Temps in Morris May Hit the ’60s on Thursday
Spring will make a brief appearance on Thursday, with temperatures expected to rise into the low ’60s in Morris County. The welcome warmth will be a mixed blessing however, as it will bring with it showers and possibly even thunderstorms… And the reprieve will be short-lived, as another cold front moves in on Friday when daytime temperatures are expected to drop to about 49 during the day and 30 degrees at night, according to the National Weather Service… “Thursday temperatures will be a bit of an aberration,” says David A. Robinson, the New Jersey state climatologist at Rutgers University. “The outlook for the next two weeks is for below-average temperatures.” At this time of year, he says, temperatures are usually in the low ’50s.