Come grow with us.



"You don't have a garden just for yourself. You have it to share."



-Augusta Carter



Who We Are


The Howell Organic Community Garden (HOCG) is a non-profit organization established in 2015 by a group of Howell, NJ residents. They envisioned a community coming together to garden using sustainable, earth-friendly methods, so that they may enjoy, benefit from, learn from, and teach about the methods and fruits of organic gardening. In so doing, they hope to foster a strong sense of community starting with their members and their families.

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What We Do


The Howell Organic Community Garden is a wonderful venue of member garden plots containing various local and heirloom vegetables and flowers that provide scrumptious harvest to their owners. In addition, HOCG has specialty garden areas dedicated to address different needs. Find out more about the various projects and endeavors of the HOCG here.

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Our Members



"There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about."

-Margaret J. Wheatley


We are a diverse group of people in the HOCG brought together by our love of gardening as well as the desire to work with and as a community. The opportunity to learn from each other and from our individual experiences enrich our experience, and most importantly, it inspires us to seek ways to help improve not just our garden, but our town as well. In doing so, the HOCG thrives on the volunteer efforts of its members whose valuable time and hard work continuously serve as our organization's strong foundation.



You & the HOCG


Do you see yourself gardening with us? Are you excited to volunteer in one of our committees? We welcome new members every year!


As with any other part of life, the more time you invest in gardening, the better the outcome of your plot will be.

Ready to garden with us?


Please click here to view Membership and Organic Gardening Guidelines.

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ATTENTION MEMBERS!



The Compost Group is looking for three (3) volunteers that receive a daily paper, to save and donate them to the compost.

The volunteers would need to consistently collect newspapers and bring it to the garden instead of putting them in the recycling at home.

No tearing needed, the Compost Group will take care of the tearing. The newspapers can be left in the brown trash bin behind the composter.


If you would like to be one of the volunteers, please let Helen (Compost Group) or any Board member know.



UPCOMING EVENTS



GARDENING & ENVIRONMENT RELATED
COMMUNITY EVENTS







The RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION is offering a FREE Webinar Series!


March 25, 2021

7 PM - 8 PM

GET MORE DIRT ON YOUR SOIL 1:

UNEARTH THE LIFE BENEATH YOUR FEET


SPEAKER: Dr. Jennifer Adams Krumins, Montclair State University

A healthy soil has a healthy community of critters that live in it! Learn about the variety, both big and small, of organisms that call soil home and their role in keeping your soil healthy and happy.

Register here:

https://rutgers.webex.com/rutgers/onstage/g.php?MTID=e4ae173dee6ea25b871e8f6f9690a533e


April 15, 2021

7 PM - 8 PM

GET MORE DIRT IN YOUR SOIL 2:

AN ORGANIC GOLD MINE IN YOUR YARD


SPEAKER: Mr. Fred Schoenagel, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service

Organic matter is an essential component in soil. Learn about the function organic matter plays and how it can improve the health of garden soil. Plant and animal material we think of as dead - old brown leaves, broken and rotting branches, torn-up roots - are an organic matter gold mine, which feeds soil life and keeps soil healthy. Different forms of organic matter that gardeners can add to a soil will be defined and described.

Register here:

https://rutgers.webex.com/rutgers/onstage/g.php?MTID=e93e110c1357f86847764705b661d6ae2


May 5, 2021

7 PM -8 PM

GET MORE DIRT IN YOUR SOIL 3:

BREAKING GROUND ON COMPOSTING


SPEAKER: Ms. Sandra Blain-Snow, Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management Home composting is an easy way to improve your soil and help feed the organisms that live in it. Learn how to turn your yard waste into an excellent source of food and shelter for your living soil.

Register here:

https://rutgers.webex.com/rutgers/onstage/g.php?MTID=e0b28f74970d93e85b2bff018bbbdae1e



PLEASE CALL (732) 505-3671 Rutgers Cooperative Extension if you have any questions regarding the above webinars.




NEWS
HOME

COVID-19 Safety Precautions at the Garden



In strict observance of social distancing

guidelines and to ensure the wellness of

members and their protection from the spread of coronavirus, members are required to wear

gloves and keep a 6 ft. distance from others while

at the HOCG. Kindly wear a mask if you find yourself within 6 ft. of others.


Gardening tools will soon be available for members' use. However, these tools may be used at your own risk. It is every member's responsibility to wear gloves while using them, and to wash your hands thoroughly after using them.


Stay well and see you at the Garden!

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THE HOCG IS NOW AT CAPACITY AND THERE ARE NO PLOTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE 2021 GROWING SEASON.


IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PUT YOUR NAME ON THE WAIT LIST, YOU MAY FILL OUT THE APPLICATION ON THE APPLICATION PAGE.