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Rutgers Helps Grow Community Apple Orchard in New Brunswick

May 16, 2013 By

L-R, volunteers Anthony Capece, Elijah’s Promise coordinator; Geoffrey Slifer, head soils and plant technician, Rutgers Snyder Research Farm; John Milano, Elijah’s Promise; Win Cowgill; Yvette Molina, Elijah’s Promise, Keith Jones, New Brunswick Community Food Alliance; Shahnaz Hameed and Areebah Alam, Shiloh community gardeners; Lisanne Finston; and Paul Helms, New Brunswick Community Farmers Market.

A new community apple orchard at the Shiloh Community Garden in New Brunswick, NJ, practically sprouted overnight in late April. A group of volunteers from Elijah’s Promise, New Brunswick Community Food Alliance and local residents as well as staff and faculty from various departments at Rutgers, planted an orchard of 40 apple trees in one day and installed 90 feet of trellis to support the trees. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Community, Extension, Faculty, Food/Nutrition/Health, NJAES, SEBS

Rachael Winfree Earns Rutgers Board of Trustees Research Fellowship

May 16, 2013 By

Rachael Winfree

On May 8, several Rutgers faculty were recognized for their outstanding efforts. Rachael Winfree, associate professor in Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and an extension specialist in the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, was among those honored. Read more about the awards.

Filed Under: Environment/Natural Resources, Faculty, NJAES, SEBS

Two More Tools For Your Garden

May 10, 2013 By

Our Plant Diagnostic and Soil Testing Labs Are Here to Help

examining turf samples

At the Plant Diagnostic Lab Sabrina Tirpak examines a turf sample for disease symptoms.

Spring is here, and with it, “green” dreams! Whether you tend to your yard to showcase the vitality and energy of vigorous plants and nature, to attract compliments as well as the seemingly inevitable wildlife, or to become more self-sustainable with a productive vegetable garden, it pays to know how your plants are doing and what your soil consists of. The Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) provides two important tools for Garden State residents looking to improve the quality of their soil and help their gardens flourish.

The Rutgers Plant Diagnostic Lab and the Soil Testing Lab, both located on the George H. Cook Campus, cater to commercial farmers, small businesses, and individual residents. The labs diagnose and mitigate existing problems related to plants and diagnose soil needs to assure optimal growth. With the knowledge and expertise of these two Rutgers-based labs, farmers and recreational gardeners have everything at their fingertips to make their farms, gardens, lawns, and groves thrive, at a minimal cost.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Extension, Home/Lawn/Garden, NJAES

Edible gardens: Buy now, plant later

May 10, 2013 By

It’s Mother’s Day – the traditional time of year in New Jersey to plant tomatoes. Before you run to your local garden center, grab your trowel and start digging, stop. With cooler than usual night temperatures this spring, experts say you’d be wiser to wait another week or two…While waiting, prepare the tomato bed, and make sure the soil’s pH is 6.5, said Bruce Crawford, director of Rutgers Gardens, 112 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick. The Rutgers Cooperative Extension office in your county analyzes soil: $20 for a fertility test, $50 for a soil/plant suitability test.

Read the entire article at DailyRecord.com »

Filed Under: Extension, Home/Lawn/Garden, In the News, NJAES

Rutgers Professor Returns to South America to Train Small-Scale Shadehouse Farmers

May 9, 2013 By

Robin Brumfield takes notes from Region 4 shadehouse producer Shiromanie Isaacs. At left is Ryan Nedd, field officer with the Farmer to Farmer project.

One year ago, Rutgers specialist in farm management Robin Brumfield found herself enjoying the cooling spray of the brackish brown water as she sped along in a 15-seater speedboat on the Essequibo River. The “Mighty Essequibo” as it’s called, is the third largest river on the continent of South America and the largest in Guyana, the only English-speaking country on the continent.

Winding its way north for over 600 miles through some of the more remote areas of Guyana, the Essequibo River flows around more than 365 distinct islands. At the time, Brumfield and several Guyanese field staff from an internationally funded farming project were skirting the largest of the three  biggest islands located in the 20-mile wide mouth of the Essequibo River, just before it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Commercial Agriculture, Economic Development, Faculty, International, NJAES, Spotlight
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