The Asbury Park Community Farm is producing a bumper crop of tomatoes, peppers, okra, and eggplant this year and the Environmental Shade Tree Commission couldn’t be happier to share the wealth. Anyone who would like freshly grown vegetables is welcome to stop by Saturdays at 9 a.m to pick up some free produce at the stand on Bangs Avenue near the railroad tracks.
In an attempt to be less wasteful, everyone is encouraged to bring their own bag or a reusable bag will be supplied.
Thanks to the volunteers, the city, and a donation from the owner of Watermark and commissioner Russell Lewis, the 24-bed farm, which is an outgrowth of the ESTC for the past 10 years, has been thriving under the guidance of Nancy Fasano.
“I have a number of dedicated volunteers who diligently tend to the garden all season; this year’s yield has been spectacular,” she said.
So far this season about 1000 pounds of vegetables have been harvested and donated Saturday at the stand near the railroad tracks and adjacent to the municipal building. At the fenced-in farm, all plants grew from seed in the 2-year-old greenhouse and are grown pesticide-free. Volunteers at times receive unsolicited monetary donations from those who frequent the farm allowing them to supply fruits and vegetables from local farms and orchards for variety.
The stand opens at 9 a.m. every Saturday and closes when the day’s harvest is all distributed. The farm stand will be open through the early fall.
The Environment and Shade Tree Commission, under the hands-on leadership of its longtime commissioner, Tom Piviniski, also keep the 23 planted perennial floral gardens around the city weeded, watered, and pruned throughout the year. “
Our many volunteers are a hard-working but fun-loving group, the city is as fortunate as I am to be rewarded with their passion,” he said.
Anyone can help out, if you would like to garden at the farm or in the city gardens, contact Tom Pivinski at iksnivap@aol.com.
