Seasonal Newsletter, Agricultural Month Recognized In Basking Ridge

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Bernards Township Agricultural Advisory Committee is recognizing March as National Agricultural Month by launching a seasonal newsletter that will showcase the existing agritourism activities in town.

The Advisory Committee, established in 2005 by the Township Committee, is charged with promoting and preserving agriculture as a viable economic activity within Bernards and to connect Township residents with local farms.

Hoping to encourage more local engagement and appreciation for local farmers, the Advisory Committee is asking residents and interested parties to join its email listserv to receive periodic updates on local produce and other activities.

To be added to the newsletter email list, email the township clerk at “ckieffer@bernards.org.”

"For those interested, we will be sharing information on the local produce, farming activities, and family fun in our town," said Tyler Seville, chair of the Agricultural Advisory Committee. "We are building on the success we had last year to increase awareness of agritourism in Bernards Township."

Last year, the Advisory Committee developed an online map that provides links to retail farms offering on-site markets, pick-your-own products and seasonal events. The map also includes historic farms open to the public and some operating farms that are currently closed to the public.

"Our town has a proud history of farming. Supporting our farmers today to protect our farmland for tomorrow is critical to the make-up of our town," said Seville. "As such, it is worth exploring other less traditional agricultural opportunities that provide a secure financial future for our local farmers. This is where agritourism can play a meaningful role in our town."

Agritourism combines aspects of tourism and agriculture to provide a number of financial, educational, and social benefits to farmers and the community. It provides an opportunity to generate additional farm income while educating the public about agriculture and inviting the public to participate in harvesting activities and attractions related to farming.

"Agritourism can help protect farmlands and Bernards Township farmers by providing recreational and educational activities, such as pick-your-own produce, hayrides and farm tours," said Carol English, vice chair of the Advisory Committee and a local grower. "The first step is to connect our residents to the farms in town that are open to the community. We believe creating seasonal updates coupled with the online map is a major step in this direction."

The Agricultural Advisory Committee will also be joining Somerset County’s own celebration on March 24 with a Gallery Reception showcasing its "Farm to Frame" art exhibit. This initiative will feature both farms as well as artists from Bernards Township and the event will be commemorating the 40th anniversary of Somerset County’s farmland preservation program.

The Somerset Agricultural Development Board and Cultural & Heritage Commission, along with the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners, are sponsoring the event, highlighting the beauty of the county’s preserved farms. The event will be at 6 p.m. in the Cultural & Heritage Gallery at the Somerset County Administration Building at 20 Grove Street in Somerville.

In a resolution presented to the Bernards Township Committee and pending review for its March 28 meeting, the Township Committee applauds the Advisory Committee for its work while recognizing March as National Agricultural Month: "[The Township] Committee applauds the continued work of the Agricultural Advisory Board for supporting our farmers, protecting our open space, and for developing an interactive map of the commercial farms to encourage residents and the broader community to visit and support our farmers."

There are presently 52 farm assessed properties in Bernards Township with 1,087 acres of operating as well as preserved farmland.

To learn more about the Advisory Committee and how it helps its local farms, visit:
bernards.org/boards/agricultural-advisory-board.

To learn more about the online Bernards Township Local Farm, visit:
https://www.bernards.org/government/documents/department-documents/agricultural-advisory-board/2557-bernards-township-local-farms/file

To learn more about the "Farm to Frame" event on March 24 and to RSVP, contact the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission at 908-231-7021 or CulturalHeritage@co.somerset.nj.us.

— Submitted by Bernards Township Agricultural Advisory Committee