Gardens

The Pantry Garden

Open-pollinated heirloom vegetables like those grown in the 1700s and 1800s are planted in the fenced garden. Vegetables include peas, beans, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, chard, and other greens. These vegetables are donated to the St. Paul's Community Development Corporation Food Pantry in Paterson, NJ. In keeping with our mission to foster environmentally sustainable agricultural practices on the Farm, no chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers are used. Planting is diversified – vegetables, herbs, and flowers grow together. Crops are rotated and cover crops are planted. Compost is used to improve the soil. Weeds are managed through mulching with salt hay. Salt hay has been used on the farm since the 1700s. The Garretson family had cutting rights in the Meadowlands for salt hay.

The Herb Garden

Over 85 different medicinal and culinary herbs grow in the raised beds. Medicinal herbs include valerian, St. John's wort, elecampane, feverfew, and agrimony. Culinary herbs include sage, marjoram, thyme, mint, and chives. In keeping with the colonial period of Bergen County, these herbs were grown in the 1700s and 1800s by Dutch and English settlers.

The Pollinator Garden

Pollinator host and nectar plants, including milkweed, grow in the pollinator garden at the back of the garden area. Monarch butterflies are raised from eggs collected at the Farm and released throughout the season and at the annual Butterfly Festival in September. Garretson Farm was certified as a Monarch Waystation by Monarch Watch in 2005.

The Native Plant Garden

Native plants provide food and shelter for native insects and birds. Native plant beds are planned for the back of the house and around the greenhouse. These beds will contain numerous deer-resistant native plants including monarda, wild geranium, Virginia bluebells, New England aster, and red columbine. In other shady areas trillium, hepatica, wild ginger, and ferns grow.

Master Gardeners at Garretson

Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who have completed the Rutgers Master Gardener program. The Rutgers Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program, initiated in 1984 in Bergen County, utilizes research-based education to increase horticultural skills and environmental awareness and stewardship. In 1998, Garretson became an approved volunteer site where Master Gardener interns and graduates can earn required volunteer hours. Since then, Master Gardeners maintain our gardens and share their knowledge with our members, garden volunteers from the community, and visitors to the Farm.