Randolph's Community Garden Thrives: A Hub of Organic Growth and Community Giving

Located in the award-winning Veterans Community Park, Randolph's community garden unites gardeners of all ages and skill levels, contributing to the local food pantries.

Randolph's community garden, a flourishing hub of organic planting, community involvement, and award-winning design, is making waves in New Jersey. The garden, located in Veterans Community Park, features 168 planting beds and has established a strong connection with the community by contributing fresh produce to local food pantries.

Randolph, Morris County, NJ - Established within Veterans Community Park – an award recipient of the 2022 Morris Park Alliance Facility Award and the 2023 NJRPA Excellence in Design Award – the community garden represents a successful culmination of years of volunteer effort and planning.

The community garden committee, formed in 2011, was responsible for evaluating the need and interest for a community garden in Randolph. This initiative resulted in the garden's inclusion in Randolph Township's 2016 Parks and Recreation Master Plan and the selection of the site in Veterans Community Park, opened in 2020.

With 168 organic planting beds, each six feet wide by fourteen feet long, the garden welcomes members of all ages and skill levels. A nominal annual fee of $40 per planting bed covers expenses such as garden tools, mulch, compost, and water. New members are oriented on organic gardening best practices, bug and weed control, and other relevant topics. Periodic meetings and walk-and-talk programs provide an interactive platform for gardeners to exchange experiences and ideas.

The garden has evolved into a multifaceted recreational space, boasting blue bird houses, a pollinator garden, a seed-sharing cabinet, and park benches for enjoying the tranquility of the garden.

Most notably, the gardeners have partnered with the Randolph Food Pantry and the Interfaith Food Pantry, providing hundreds of pounds of fresh produce annually. This act of giving back to the community illustrates the garden's ethos and alignment with broader community values.

Randolph's community garden is more than just a space for cultivating plants; it's a living, breathing symbol of community collaboration, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. The garden's success story stands as a model for how organic growth and community-minded efforts can bloom into something that enriches not just the soil, but the lives of those in the community as well.

For those interested in joining or learning more about the garden, contact the Randolph Township Department of Parks and Recreation at 973-989-7081.