2011 Holiday Boutique

Transcription

1 Winter 2011 Volume 21, Number 21 news 2011 Holiday Boutique Inside this issue: 2011 Holiday Boutique 1 A Brite Nites Thank You 2 A Holiday Recipe 3 Wagner Farm Arboretum Reveals Vision for Property Giving Garden Donates Community Garden Report A Holiday Greeting 7 A Letter from Suzanne The annual Wagner Farm Arboretum Holiday Boutique opened on Saturday, November 26 (10:00-5:00). The Boutique will offer a wide range of jewelry, art work, including photography on canvas, water color, and pottery. Local honey and honey products as well as homemade candies and baked breads will also be available during each of the four weekends the Boutique is open. Come see our new vendors merchandise as well as items created by our popular, favorite local artists. Candles, stationery, clothing, pocketbooks, ornaments, and other home décor and holiday gift items are available. The Boutique will be open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 to 5:00 and Sundays from 11:00 to 4:00 between November 26 and December 18. The Boutique accepts cash or checks; credit cards cannot be processed. Proceeds from the Holiday Boutique support the Arboretum in its fundraising for a greenhouse. For further information, go to our web site at or contact Carol Senff at

2 Page 2 WAGNER FARM ARBORETUM news Volume 21, Number 21 By Suzanne Smith One thousand carved and lighted pumpkins, hundreds of volunteers, thousands in attendance, and even an uninvited snowstorm made for another successful Brite Nites fund raiser at Wagner Farm Arboretum. In the second year of this major event, we continue to be amazed at the number of people who show their support and offer their time to assure that our fund raiser will continue to support expansion of the Arboretum. Profit from this year s event will be used for the implementation of our new landscape design (available to view on our web site A Brite Nites THANK YOU We would like to thank our generous sponsors of Brite Nites: Wells Fargo-Warren, Wells Fargo Advisors-Warren, Karen Manner, Blue Ridge Sportsman Club, Jonathan Jeans, Turtle and Hughes, Windsong Farm, Federal Fire Protection, Miller s Rentals, Hall s Garden Center, Affinity Federal Credit Union, Realm Design, and Chelsea at Warren. The success of Brite Nites would not have been possible without our incredible volunteers. Whether they carved endless amounts of pumpkins, helped with set up, served in the Black Hat Café or the garden paths, or dressed as zombies and witches in the Haunted Showcase, they were the backbone of success for the six nights the event took place. We would like to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all our incredible volunteers and sponsors. We are always looking for individuals, corporations, and organization members with special skills to help out at our annual events. If anyone would like to join our incredible group of volunteers, please contact Carol Senff at csenff@wfafnj.org or Suzanne Smith at suzannesmith@wfafnj.org. The mission of the Wagner Farm Arboretum is to provide environmental and horticultural education of children and adults through the development of plant life in a beautiful, natural setting. As we continue to grow, we create new and innovative fund raisers to support our goal for additional gardens and education programs and facilities. If you would like to become a member or volunteer of the Arboretum, please view our web site; for additional information. Again, thanks to all for your on-going support.

3 Page 3 WAGNER FARM ARBORETUM news Volume 21, Number 21 A Holiday Recipe Caramel-Pecan Tart Prep: 20 min., Bake: 57 min., Cool: 1 hr., Cook: 5 min. Yield: Makes 12 servings 3 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans 2 cups all-purpose flour 2/3 cup powdered sugar 3/4 cup butter, cubed 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/2 cup honey 2/3 cup butter 3 tablespoons whipping cream 1. Arrange pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly toasted. Cool on a wire rack 15 minutes or until completely cool. 2. Pulse flour, powdered sugar, and 3/4 cup butter in a food processor 5 to 6 times or until mixture resembles coarse meal. Pat mixture evenly on bottom and up sides of a lightly greased 11-inch tart pan with removable bottom. 3. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack 15 minutes or until completely cool. 4. Bring brown sugar, honey, 2/3 cup butter, and whipping cream to a boil in a 3-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in toasted pecans, and spoon hot filling into prepared crust. 5. Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Cool on a wire rack 30 minutes or until completely cool. Caramel-Pecan Bars: Prepare recipe as directed, pressing crumb mixture evenly on bottom and 3/4 inch up sides of a lightly greased heavy-duty aluminum foil-lined 13- x 9-inch pan. When completely cool, using the aluminum foil as handles, carefully lift the tart from the pan, and transfer to a serving tray. Cut into squares. Southern Living, NOVEMBER 2007

4 Page 4 WAGNER FARM ARBORETUM news Volume 21, Number 21 Wagner Farm Arboretum Reveals Vision for Property By: Andrew Elwell Wagner Farm Arboretum recently unveiled its longterm vision for the property to the Warren Township Committee on October 27th. Designed by local landscape architect, Don Farnell, this master plan lays out the plan for the arboretum property as the foundation works to enhance its programs and projects through both the group s activities and new construction. The comprehensive vision is planned to be completed over the course of several phases. We wanted to conceptualize the future of the arboretum to see where we could take arboretum s property and programs over the next several years, said arboretum president Suzanne Smith. As a result of structural damage, the property s iconic barn will be torn down. In its place, the plan calls for a multipurpose structure that seamlessly incorporates the preexisting grain silos. The building would include space for a welcome center, meeting rooms and other community use areas. The plan also allows space in the future for a green house, native garden, a restructured parking area, a replica of a cow grazing area and new walkways throughout the garden. The plan features an outdoor event space and pavilion that could potentially be used for public weddings, movie nights and other community events. The arboretum is a place for the entire community to come together, Smith said. The addition of a green house, outdoor walkways and an event space will further emphasize that and make it a community hub for Warren and the surrounding towns. The master plan will give Wagner Farm Arboretum the ability to expand its educational and horticultural programs. For exam- ple, plants and flowers on the grounds and in the gardens would have placards with information to help educate visitors on plants and flowers native to the area. The township will use money from insurance on the current barns, which will be put towards the demolition of the barn and the purchase of the new multipurpose structure. While the township works on securing an architect for the building design and features, the arboretum will be working on fundraising, a design and defining purposes for the greenhouse.

5 Page 5 WAGNER FARM ARBORETUM news Volume 21, Number 21 Giving Gardens Delivers 52,000 Pounds of Fresh Produce to Area Needy By: Ernie Cottrill During the past five years WFA Giving Garden volunteers have supplied a total of 52,000 pounds of fruit and vegetables to area's needy through in place service agencies. Beginning in 2007, The Wagner Farms Arboretum Foundation (WFAF) has sponsored the Giving Gardeners Project (GGP) designed to supply food for the hungry. The foundation, recognizing that there are many people in our area lacking adequate food, designated 12,000 square feet in the Community Garden and established the project. Since produce raised in the Community Gardens area, including GGP gardens, is grown organically, the recipients receive healthy vegetables. The (GGP) vegetables are all dedicated to feed the poor and needy. In the first year, 2007, over 2000 pounds were distributed through the Food Bank Network of Somerset County, Star Fish of Plainfield, and Calvary Chapel Lighthouse food pantry of North Plainfield. During 2008 through 2011 the overall total production from the garden increased to approximately 28,000 pounds In addition, since 2009, volunteers have traveled to Rutgers Experimental Station at Pittstown several times where they were allowed to harvest approximately 24,000 total pounds of fruits and vegetables for donation to the poor. The increased available produce has allowed GGP to distribute to several additional agencies including: Market Street Mission - Morristown, Saint Joseph s Social Service Center - Elizabeth, Father English Community Center - Paterson, Saint John s Soup Kitchen - Newark, FISH Hospitality Program - Piscataway, Interfaith Food Pantry - Morristown, and Salvation Army - Plainfield. Hundreds of volunteers give freely of their time to make this project a success. Individual hours donated varied from 1 to 80 hours each season. The area schools run a Growing to Give program and over 700 school kids plant seeds, raise the plants and them plant them in the garden. Without their commitment this food would not have been possible. To request information about the project ggp@wfafnj.org.

6 WAGNER FARM ARBORETUM news Volume 21, Number 21 Page 6 The 2001 Community Garden Report By: Jonathan Jeans 2011 was a challenging year for gardeners and that goes for us at the Arboretum. We had over 100 rental plots plus the large giving garden. Things started somewhat quietly with a fairly normal Spring. Then came the rains, then the dry spell and then finally the deluge. It is now November 26 th and I just came in from my plot. I have been clearing out the last set of weeds and preparing it for next year. I have also been picking veggies for the table beets, carrots, Swiss chard, parsley, cilantro, lettuce and such. I happened to be away from the area when Irene hit I returned a week after and saw that the summer part of the garden was now history. But I had planted lots of Fall veggies on August 15 th just before I left many have done extremely well. Many gardeners seem to stop gardening when September hits but I can assure you that the garden can be very productive for months after school starts! Starting in March I ran a Saturday morning garden seminar where we spoke about what we should be doing that day in the garden. Of course in March it was preparing the garden for the Spring, planting some seeds and getting ready for planting peas. In April we were planting carrots, beets, lettuce, radishes etc., by May we were planting tomatoes, peppers, okra, squash and beans, by June we were picking things to eat and haven t stopped yet. We live in a beautiful area of the country generally good for gardening and I believe it lives up to its name The Garden State. July and August we spoke about how to deal with our produce and how to plant for the Fall. In October we had a cooking class, given by Meera Rao, using some of our produce. We will be doing the monthly seminars again next year. We all learned as we went along that is one of the super joys of gardening. We, of course, have an organic community garden raising our produce without use of nonorganic methods trying to live within nature and not outside of it. So of course, nature is the ruler. Every year brings us new challenges every year is different. This year s hurricanes was just one of those challenges. I saw that we will certainly break the all time record for rain in NJ. What did that mean to us in the garden? Things that like water did very well things that really like the sun struggled. In my garden Garden Club of Watchung Hills The Gardeners of Watchung Hills, NJ is a non-profit gardening club which holds meetings every 4th Tuesday of the month, January through June, and September & October. The January program will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 7:30. Roman Osadca will present a program about the Health Benefits of Honey and Garlic. For more information contact Thelma Jarnagin at: tjarnagin@verizon.net or visit the Gardeners of Watchung Hills Website. tomatoes were OK until about August 29 th! Peppers were slow but they weathered the rain and came on in September with the cooler nights. Lettuce, herbs, carrots, beets, beans, peas did well for me. Now as we start to get ready for next year we have some changes in our leadership. Holly Hall who has been the Garden Administrator since the start is stepping down to focus on the Children s Garden and Joe Sagarese has stepped up to be the new Administrator. Pam Farina is moving on to the membership post and will be replaced by a team of three. Anna Murphy, John and Mary DeLello will be taking the role of Garden Manager. I am hoping that by having three people we can be much more helpful in the garden. We know that occasionally we each have some problems with our plot and we hope that this team can be proactive in helping people. We are looking forward to 2012! Soon we will be letting you know that it is time to send in your dues and sign up for your plot. Jonathan Jeans

7 WAGNER FARM ARBORETUM news Volume 21, Number 21 Page 7 "This is my wish for you: peace of mind, prosperity through the year, happiness that multiplies, health for you and yours, fun around every corner, energy to chase your dreams, joy to fill your holidays!" --D.M. Dellinger

8 Wagner Farm Arboretum Volunteer Opportunities If you d like to get involved we have many volunteer opportunities available. Meet new people and have a direct impact in creating a beautiful natural environment for all generations to enjoy. Whether you d like to pick up a shovel and dig or use your expertise in another area there is a position for you! Buildings and Grounds, Community Garden, Giving Gardeners Project, Education and Community Programs, Fundraising, Grants, Membership and Volunteers, Public Relations Please visit us at our Website: Officers and Trustees: Suzanne M. Smith, President Carol Senff, Vice President Karen Manner, Secretary William Apgar, Treasurer Julie Gnoy, Trustee Holly Hall, Trustee Jonathan Jeans, Trustee Meera Rao, Trustee Barbara Sullivan, Trustee I started out the fall newsletter with comments about how the crazy weather has been in 2011 and since that time it has only continued to amaze me. The Halloween storm is something many of us are still dealing with and unlikely to forget. As I write this I can hear my husband s chain saw as he helps an elderly neighbor by cutting up branches and getting them to the curb for the township to remove. After perfect weather for last year s Brite Nites this year provided us with the opposite end of the spectrum. Trying to grasp the concept of Brite Nites being cancelled due to a snow storm was not something that I Dear Members and Friends had anticipated in my wildest dreams. At the beginning of the storm I kept thinking that it would snow, melt and the show would go on. The realization was that it would snow, melt, the show would be cancelled and resurrected a week later. In between we all experienced power outages, trees down and roads closed. They say nature s way of trimming the trees is during these types of storms. If my yard is any example Mother Nature s tree trimming should be good for the next 10 years. Reopening Brite Nites the following weekend was quite a feat. As people were dealing with the results of the storm, luckily my power was only out for 12 hours, I was asking for About the Arboretum: The mission of the Arboretum is to provide environmental and horticultural education of children and adults through the development of plant life in a beautiful, natural setting. All of the programs offered throughout the year as well as the maintenance of the gardens would not be possible without a volunteer staff that is dedicated to the continuing growth of the Arboretum. As we continue to grow, we create new and innovative fundraisers to support our goal for additional gardens and educational programs and facilities. volunteers to man one more evening of Brite Nites. The wonderful response I got was unbelievable. I had people responding to me on their smart phones saying they would be available although they had no power and had no other way of communicating. We have the most wonderful group of volunteers and I am so lucky to know them all. Thank you all so much! As everyone is getting ready for the holidays all of the WFA committee elves are setting the wheels in motion to have another successful year in Before you know it you will be contacted to renew your membership and sign up for your community garden plots. We will start to plan for Brite Nites in December and into next year. All of the committees can use new faces and new ideas, if you aren t already a member of a committee please consider joining one. Thank you again for your continued support of the Wagner Farm Arboretum. I look forward to seeing you at the Holiday Boutique. Happy Holidays!! Suzanne Smith President, WFA