Long Valley Patch's Person Of The Year Brings Community Together

The kids, all four of them, had set off for college or began their careers.

With that, Long Valley’s Diane Muenzen was done with shuffling off to this sport and that extracurricular activity as a mom, leaving her with a few extra minutes each day.

So in June of 2011, Muenzen, who moved to the area with her husband in 1990, approached the recreation committee with an idea – one that would hopefully bring an opportunity to the community.

“I always wanted to garden,” Muenzen said. “And when we would take trips to Europe, you’d see lots of community gardens on the outskirts of the towns. It was just a great idea.”

Less than two years later the Washington Township Community Garden was born, with 71 plots – currently sold out – on a piece of land at Palmer Park on Bartley Road. Plots will be up for renewal in 2015 with many available.

Muenzen’s brainchild not only led to a completed vision, but has garnered her Long Valley Patch’s Person of the Year award, as voted on by her neighbors. Muenzen is the publication’s third honoree, following Mary Cowap-Eichler, who gave a kidney to a neighbor in need, and Glenn Lightner, the 14-year-old Long Valley boy who courageously battled brain cancer before losing his fight in December 2012.

Muenzen received the most tallies over the course of a week of online voting when Long Valley Patch asked readers who the town’s person of the year should be.

“I’m very flattered,” she told Patch. “And I have a mutual appreciation for all the volunteers who help at the garden. The entire operation makes life a little more fun, and it keeps us connected, especially those who don’t have kids in the school district any longer.”

While the idea was well-received, took some cajoling and a lot of organizing, but eventually Department of Public Works Superintendent Scott Frech told Muenzen there was a nice-sized plot of land at Palmer Park that could accommodate what she was looking for, and the gears were set in motion.

In a single day in March 2013, all 71 raised beds of the plot were constructed thanks to the services of Keving Fleming of Fleming Construction and John Harrington of Harrington Construction, Muenzen said.

Since then the community garden has been just that, a new setting for families old and young to come and congregate.

“People loving being here,” Muenzen said. “So many of us have made new friends, including myself. All the work… That’s what makes this worthwhile.”

The garden technically belongs to the Recreation Committee, and Muenzen serves as its primary caretaker, but admits she can’t do it without the constant and steadfast help of many other volunteers in the community.

The garden has become such a hit, the Recreation Committee is eyeing a second one in the township somewhere. Muenzen thinks it’s a great idea, but believes the township should let 2015 end before starting another project of that size.

For now, the community can continue to gather – people and their produce – at Palmer Park. And in doing so, they can thank Long Valley Patch’s Person of the Year 2014, Diane Muenzen.

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