A monarch butterfly makes a stop on the marigolds growing in the Jones Avenue hoop house.
The Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a time to celebrate and remember loved ones who have passed. It’s also a time when bright orange marigolds, or cempzuchilt, an Aztec term, are in high demand for the annual holiday. New Brunswick has a growing community of migrants from the Mexican state of Oaxaca, a largely indigenous state in southern Mexico. Although Día de los Muertos is recognized all over Mexico, Oaxaca is known for its colorful celebrations honoring the return of deceased loved ones on November 1st and 2nd.
A community gardener from el Jardín de Esperanza grows his own marigolds for the Día de los Muertos holiday.
The New Brunswick Community Farmers Market (NBCFM) and community gardeners from el Jardín de Esperanza (Garden of Hope), located next to the NBCFM’ Jones Avenue location, host an annual marigold sale for Día de los Muertos. Marigolds are grown in two hoop houses at 178 Jones Avenue next to the farmer’s market pavilion. Profits from marigold sales support the community garden, allowing the gardeners low cost access to space to grow vegetables, herbs and fruits.
Flowers will be cut to order and sold by the bunch from October 25-27. For more information, visit the NBCFM website.
