Deptford Township preserves historic farmland, opens community garden for all

The purchase of Andaloro Farm in Deptford Township last year will allow 40 plots of community gardens for the first time this spring

Deptford Township Mayor Paul Medany has high hopes and ambitions for the newly developed community garden located at Andaloro Farm, recently purchased by the township last year.

“The purpose of the community garden is to get the community together,” Medany said.

The 38-acre farm has been around for more than 100 years, Medany said, and is known to many residents as a place of work when they were growing up. The land will offer 40 plots at the size of 30 feet by 30 feet, with the ability to cut a plot in half if needed. Anybody is welcome to reserve a plot, and once the application is processed, the gardeners are welcome to get started.

“We are really unique because we are one of the only municipalities that actually own the farm that hosts the community garden,” Medany said. “We’re still working on getting water out to the plots, but there is a well on site for a water source.”

The fee for reserving a plot is $20 for Deptford residents and $40 for non-residents, however half of the initial fee is returned after the garden space is cleaned and maintained at the end of the season. According to Medany, the money raised through application fees goes right back into the farm, referring to it as a “token fee.”

“We’re hoping to get families and children involved to teach them about gardening and farming,” Medany said. “We want to make it a family garden community; teach kids how to plant something, take care of it, watch it grow, nurture it and see it land on your table as really healthy food. We’re teaching life processes of eating healthy.”

Medany said by purchasing the farm land, the township prevented close to 78 homes from being built on the property, preserving the land that has existed within the community for so long.

Medany said a goal of the community garden is to have volunteers, such as farmers or those who used to be farmers, help guide and teach gardeners how to successfully grow their own vegetables, herbs and fruit. He aims to form a committee for those interested in staying involved with the community garden to help with planning events to give guidance for the farm-to-table experience.

With the farmland also came the farmhouse located on site, a two-story property with a full basement and attic. Medany said the house would now be home to the South Jersey History Museum, which was located in Glassboro prior to it closing in the fall.

Although the community garden will have plots run by individual gardeners, Medany looks forward to setting up a fruit stand at the edge of the farm for excess grown food available for community members to bring home to their own table.

“The garden is 100 percent beneficial for education and healthy living,” Medany said. “Come out and enjoy the farm, the house, the setting, the waterfront of Timber Creek and hopefully some upcoming events.”

For more information about the community gardens at Andaloro Farm, located at 138 Andaloro Way in Deptford Township, email deptfordparksandrec@deptford-nj.org, or call the township manager’s office at (856) 686–2220.