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February 25, 2026

16th Annual Community Garden Conference

Keynote Speakers, Christopher Bolden-Newsome and Owen Taylor, Founders of Truelove Seeds, Philadelphia, PA

Saturday, March 7 - 9:00 AM - (Snow Date: Sunday, March 8)

In person at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum

Plan to attend this year's Community Garden Conference, an easy way to earn 5.0 Rutgers Master Gardener CEUs

Keynote speakers Christopher Bolden-Newsome and Owen Taylor, will discussTruelove Seeds, the farm-based seed company they founded, offering culturally important and open pollinated vegetable, herb, and flower seeds. Their seeds are grown by more than 50 small-scale urban and rural farmers committed to community food sovereignty, cultural preservation, and sustainable agriculture. This collaboration is an opportunity for growers to share their own ancestral seeds and stories and to bring in extra financial support for their food sovereignty and agroecological projects.

The keynote presentation will be followed by:

• Morris County Agricultural and Natural Resource Agent, Rutgers Vegetable Expert and Conference Co-sponsor, Peter Nitzsche discussing the findings from the season-long community garden demonstration plot trial on the Cucumber Beetle Trap Study.
• Claudia Urdanivia, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent of Essex and Hudson Counties presents her talk on Honoring Cultural Crops and Traditions in Community Gardens.
• Jennifer Salt Taylor, Family and Community Health Sciences (FCHS) Educator for Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Passaic County will present her talk on Preparing to Preserve: Make the Most of your Harvest.
• The Coordinator's Round Table, moderated by Ned Gardner, Manager of the Ted Largman Community Garden in Morris Township and Mike Dziomba, Manager of the Randolph Community Garden. This is a chance for managers of community gardens to connect with other managers, get answers to questions and share successful and perhaps not so successful endeavors.

Click on the Community Garden logo for more information and to register.

ECO-ACTION SERIES OF PROGRAMS

Friends Member Susan Akers has shared an invitation to register for FREE for the Eco-Action Series of programs.

Some programs are offered in person or virtually and they ask that you indicate your choice on the registration form. Zoom links will be sent out one week prior to the program date.

For more about each presenter and the program, check the Denville Green Sustainability Team Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/denvillegreenteam/

For more information click on the Eco-Action Flyer.

FRIENDS VIDEOS AT THE ARBORETUM

Click here for a brief video by Lisa Bencivengo featuring Bruce Crawford, Manager of Horticulture Division of Cultural and Environmental Resources at the Morris County Park Commission in which he discusses the All American Garden at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum. Be sure to subscribe to our channel.

You can view all our videos in our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe.

WATCH PREVIOUS ZOOM PRESENTATIONS

Several of our previously recorded events are available to watch on-line.

See our Prerecorded Events page for more information and to register.

Retail Partners

When shopping at our fine Retail Partners, please remember to present your Membership card at the beginning of your check out transaction. Our Retail Partners need to enter the discount at the beginning of that process.

If you have not yet used this wonderful Member Benefit, you can view our full list of Retail Partners by clicking here.

You can register and pay on line on our Events page and Membership page and subscribe to this newsletter here: complete directions for subscribing.

CONTACT US HERE

PARK INFORMATION

The Frelinghuysen Arboretum is a facility of
the Morris County Park Commission

• Frelinghuysen, Willowwood and Bamboo Brook Arboreta grounds are open 7 days a week, from 8am to dusk
• The Haggerty Education Center building is open seven days a week from 10 AM to 4 PM, except for Federal holidays. Click here for information and updates.
• HUNTING IN THE PARKS - See the Morris County Park Commission website.

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