Eco
Bronze Certification Achieved
On Tuesday, December 15th, the Borough of Merchantville was pleased to announce that Merchantville has been awarded Bronze level certification from Sustainable Jersey. They extended thanks to community volunteers from the Green Team, Incredible Edible and the Garden Club: Dorothy Foley, Joan Brennan and Cindy Hertneck and, Borough Community Development Director, Mara Wuebker for their contributions towards this achievement.
Dear Merchantville Boro:
Congratulations! We are pleased to announce that Merchantville Boro has been awarded Bronze Level certification! Your application was approved for 13 actions in 9 categories for a total of 155 points. Your achievement will be recognized during a virtual awards ceremony to be held at the end of February/early March in 2021. An email about this achievement, the virtual event, and promotional materials (including a customizable press release, and customized certified logo) will be sent to the mayor, clerk, and all account users in January 2021. In the meantime if you have any questions regarding your Sustainable Jersey certification feel free to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 609-771-2938. Please note that our offices will be closed from December 21 through January 1.
Congratulations again on this outstanding achievement!
Sustainable Jersey
Support Our Seasonal Markets
Hello "Market Off Centre" family and friends! We hope many of you will join us again this Friday evening from 5:00-8:00 p.m. to experience Monsterville's seasonal spirit. This week on October 23rd, in addition to our regular offering of local, handmade, and homemade goods and services, we will feature Halloween Crafts for kids and a Jack O'Lantern Walk along the Rails-to-Trails path. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own carved pumpkin to display on the walkway and we'll supply the candle! Pumpkins may be dropped off any time after 3:30 p.m. On October 30th - our final market of the 2020 season - we will host a Halloween Costume strut and offer plenty of kid-friendly crafts. If you are interested in being a vendor at our last tow markets please contact market coordinator, Eric Goonan, at 856-571-1421 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Bee, Wasp or What?
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Faculty and Staff in the ANR Department work in diverse areas of Agriculture, Horticulture, and Natural Resources. The Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources serves the residents of New Jersey through the development and dissemination of research-based information. Our goal is to teach people new skills and information so they can make better informed decisions and changes in themselves, their businesses, and personal lives. Broadly defined, our programs assist commercial businesses, governmental agencies, and residents through personal or group requests for assistance, information and consultation on issues related to agriculture, the environment, and natural resources management. Trying to ID some flying insects? Here's a helpful article.
Landscape Registry is Growing
During the month of July Incredible Edible Merchantville added two gardens to our Sustainable Landscape Registry. We welcomed the Bouvier Family's garden on July 16th. They have a plot at the Community Center and are growing a variety of tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, peppers, and some flowers for pollinators. At home they also grow herbs, green onions, and flowers, including milkweed for monarchs. On July 27th, Mary-Noelle at sent pictures of her garden at 48 Volan Street. She and her neighbor, Sam, at 54 Volan Street share their gardens. Mare is full sun and she’s part shade, so she does things like lettuces and leafy greens and I do peppers, tomatoes and eggplant. Sharing the garden is a lot of fun since we get to plan, shop, dig and plant together and the kids get into it too, plus there’s always someone to water if you’re away! Sustainable landscaping is a goal of our program. Send pictures and a description of your garden to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to join!
Volunteer for Shade Tree
It's the perfect time to become a member of the Shade Tree Commission! A Street tree inventory will soon be underway by a Tree Professional (pursuant to a DEP grant) to assess tree conditions, risks, and tree/sidewalk conflicts. The tree inventory will serve as the foundation for developing a plan for future tree maintenance, planting, and removal. Great way to begin your time on the Commission! Our Shade Tree volunteers plant and maintain all curbside trees in the Borough. Other responsibilities include: removal and/or trimming of curbside and public trees, reporting tree related problems to other Borough agencies, maintaining Tree City USA status, conducting Arbor Day ceremonies, providing tips to the public on general tree maintenance, providing guidelines for dealing with tree damaged sidewalks and, managing the Affiliated memorial tree and plaque program. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to volunteer to help this effort today.
IE Registry Update
Alongside the driveway at the Chestnut Station Senior Complex is a hidden gem of an Incredible Edible Garden and the perfect example of a a creative way to transform an unused hardscape into a sustainable landscape. This garden is carefully nurtured by resident volunteer, Francis Mcgarry, and produces annual seasonal vegetables that support food security and nutrition for many seniors living in the complex. Incredible Edible Merchantville, maintains more than a dozen small action garden/pollinator projects in town and has added 17 residential and business gardens to their Sustainable Landscape Registry this year. We applaud every small action in the Borough that promotes land stewardship, food justice and sustainability. Register your garden by sending pics & info to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
IE Learning Plate
Lynn Geddes’ gorgeous garden was the site of this month’s IE meeting. It was a learning experience where members, Lynn Geddes, Kerry Mentzer and Cindy Hertneck, shared gardening know-how, food and foul stories and, discussed ways to engage our community in this sustainable living effort. We have become dependent on food that is prepared for us, quick and easy but costly to ourselves and our environment. Many of us have lost the skills we need to nurture ourselves and our families with healthy locally produced food and we want that to change – to give people the skills and information they need to take control of their lives, feed themselves well and prepare our younger generations for the future. Since June Incredible Edible Merchantville has provided more than 150 bags of community grown produce to the Grace Episcopal Church food pantry. Join this effort. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.!
Virtual Growing Events
The Incredible Edible Facebook "events" page posts an assortment of virtual learning opportunities for group members and page followers. Master gardeners, farmers, educators and online retailers are offering a variety of courses about starting and nurturing home vegetable gardens then, preserving or cooking your bounty. Join Gardening TV Online for the Victory Kitchen Series: Leafy Green Vegetables live webinar at noon today to enter the new world of leafy green vegetables and how to include these nutrient-packed veggies into a healthy eating plan. On Tuesday, June 30th and Thursday, July 1st enjoy a Free Virtual Nutrition and Cooking Class hosted by the Food Bank of South Jersey. Check out lots of online food security events here.
Sustainability Forges Ahead
Partnering With Pantries
At Incredible Edible Merchantville food security is part of our mission and one of our top priorities. To that end, we are hoping to partner with local food banks to share our excess harvest during this growing season. On Monday, June 1st, the Dolores F. Clark Food Pantry at Grace Church accepted our offer of surplus produce. Their pantry takes place on Wednesdays from 12-2PM. If you have fresh greens and vegetables to donate please drop them off at the church (side door) to Peggy Stephens between 9-11AM this Wednesday, June 3rd. All harvested items should be washed and bagged before donating. IE Merchantville will be creating some packaging labels and distribute bags/labels to participating members by next week. We are very excited to have an opportunity to support food justice, nurture environmental stewardship and promote a healthy culture and sustainable future.
Chronicled Inspiration!
This backyard garden, at 23 East Chestnut Avenue in Merchantville, featuring an overhead irrigation system, is an inspiration to Incredible Edible and everyone who values sustainable land practices and food justice - especially during times like these. Taken on June 15th, 1937, it shows (left to right) B. Smith, William Hurg, Mr. and Mrs. Gustav Hahn, Mr. Hahn Sr., J. Hannigan, and J.D. Campbell, standing under a high-tech, state of art, overhead irrigation system. The photo was shared by the Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission on their Facebook timeline. 1925-31 Courier Post ads for pure bred Barred Rock Cockerels and hatching eggs.