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Middlesex County EARTH Center

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Earth Center Garden Home to Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County, located in Davidson's Mill Pond Park.

  • Environment
  • Agriculture
  • Research
  • Teaching
  • Health

The E.A.R.T.H. Center in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park at 42 Riva Avenue, South Brunswick, is the headquarters for Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County. The State University’s outreach wing, Rutgers Cooperative Extension offers programs such as the Master Gardeners Environmental Stewardship program, 4-H Youth Development clubs and federally funded nutrition classes for limited resource families. Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County uses the knowledge of university faculty to offer programs and research to serve Middlesex County’s diverse population.

Middlesex County's EARTH Center invites you to learn about local agriculture and the environment. Now your school group, Scout Troop or senior's club, can take a guided tour at the Middlesex County EARTH Center to learn about these topics and more. Please call us for scheduling availability.

The EARTH Center demonstration areas include a 1000-square-foot vegetable garden, a 13-bed herb garden, native plant displays and an arboretum. These demonstrations are used to spark conversation about local agriculture, basics of horticulture, Integrated Pest Management, earth-friendly gardening techniques and many topics that are the focus of the Extension Agriculture and Natural Resource Management Division.

Adult volunteers can find out about donating time to the EARTH Center gardens by calling 732-398-5278.

Compost Demonstration
Extension staff and volunteers conduct composting/recycling demonstrations and educational programs. There are several types of compost bins on display at the EARTH Center which help us to promote composting and the recycling of organic materials. The extension office has received support since 1994 from the Middlesex County's Division of Solid Waste Management in order to conduct solid waste/natural resource programs and activities.

Butterfly House
Our Master Gardeners have built and maintain a butterfly house through the growing season. It is open on weekends from 10 am - noon in June, July and August. Come marvel at the pollinators while learning how you can help support them in your backyard.

Children's Garden
Latched but not locked, the children's garden is open during park hours and provides a whimsical yet educational getaway for families and their little ones. Check out the green roof playhouse.

The EARTH Center can also be a resource for local scout troops, providing a place to work on gardening or agriculture achievement badges. There are plenty of opportunities for scouts to fulfill community volunteer time needs as well. These demonstration gardens can turn a walk in the park into a learning experience for visitors during normal daylight park hours.

For a guided group tour, contact the EARTH Center at 732-398-5262.

Be sure to keep an eye out for our annual Garden and Music Festival usually happening in the second half of August when are garden are at their peak. For more information on this call 732-398-5268.

Rows for the Hungry

ROWS LOGO stacked_ColorRows for the Hungry is a Master Gardener inspired donation garden raising fresh vegetables for local food banks, soup kitchens and training programs seeking to end the cycle of poverty. Our volunteers grow and tend to the crops from seed to harvest while maintaining the plot year-round. Recently, efforts have raised and distributed literally tons of food annually to such groups as REPELNISH - the Middlesex County Foodbank distribution program - Elijah’s Promise - a program that proves “food changes lives”- and other smaller food pantries and kitchens.

Click here to learn more.

Upcoming Programs and Activities

Check out any of our free programs! Unless otherwise noted register for EARTH Center programs by calling 732-398-5262.

Click here to view the 2024 Fall Rack Card for events.

EARTH Center Garden, Arts and Music Festival

  • Date: 08/20/2022 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM  
  • Location: 42 Riva Ave, Davidson’s Mill Pond Park

EARTH Center Garden, Arts, and Music Festival  Offers Fun for the Whole Family

 Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County will host its EARTH Center Garden, Arts and Music Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 20 at the EARTH Center, located in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park at 42 Riva Ave, South Brunswick. (the event is rain or shine)

 

The day will be filled with family-oriented activities, live arts displays, and local musical acts.
Activities for the kids will include a Scavenger Hunt, “The Recycling Magician”, a 4-H Small Animal Club and their furry friends; and “paint a pot” activity.
There will also be a limited supply of garden plants to be given away.

 

Throughout the afternoon, Rutgers Master Gardeners and Environmental Stewards will offer advice on horticulture and stewardship while guiding visitors through various teaching gardens and learning projects. Examples of their work include: a children’s garden, vegetable display garden and the popular butterfly house. Mini lectures on horticultural topics and culinary techniques will also be offered.

Visitors can also get a close look at the Rows for the Hungry Project which in recent years has grown and donated close to 30 tons of fresh, first quality produce to local food banks in Middlesex County. The scale and precision of this operation is sure to inspire community minded residents to join their volunteer efforts.  

Join the “Greatest of the Garden” competition, by bringing the homegrown produce you are most proud of; categories may include: Largest Tomato, Largest Zucchini, Strangest Heirloom, Biggest Sunflower Bloom and Best Likeness to a Celebrity or Historical Figure.

 

The Arts Institute of Middlesex County will also offer a Share Your Foodways kitchen demonstration where Chef Carolina Moratti will prepare delicious dishes with the bounty of the season.  A food truck will be available onsite, but carried in picnic lunches are also welcome.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item as a donation to REPLENISH, Middlesex County’s food bank program.

Davidson’s Mill Pond Park is also one of the County’s most beautiful passive recreation parks with hiking/biking trails and several locations suitable for fishing.

 

This event is a great opportunity for residents to acquaint themselves with the programs Middlesex County’s office of Rutgers Cooperative Extension has to offer.

For more information, please call 732-398-5268 or e-mail  david.smela@co.middlesex.nj.us. 

 

 

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County educational programs are offered to all without regard to race, religion, color, age, national origin, gender.

 

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