Oakland Community Garden

The Oakland Community Garden was designed by the Sustainable Oakland Green Team in partnership with the Oakland Senior Center and local community garden contractor, Farmburbia, and funded by a $20,000 grant awarded in 2020 through Sustainable Jersey and the PSE&G Foundation. The design was for the garden to be utilized by residents of all ages and abilities, so that both small children can utilize standard raised garden beds as well as the elderly or disabled who have mobility needs will have beds available custom built for their use and with a level concrete pad to walk or use a wheelchair or walker on.

Oakland Community GardenThis garden incorporates the design for standard 4' x 8' plots, plus custom designed ADA plots that will allow for wheelchairs or seated walkers to be used while gardening, and 2 shared salad tables.  The garden is located on municipal property and is in a centrally located area of town behind the library and municipal building, adjacent to Valley Middle School, the DPW building and in close proximity to the police department, recreation fields, and Senior Center. The garden was constructed with environmentally friendly practices both and donations will be made by the Sustainable Oakland Green Team to the town food bank and provide incentives to garden members who donate food.

An intricate element of the community garden is the creation of a seed bank located at Oakland Public Library. The seed bank will contain heirloom and native seeds available to the plot holder as well as the residents of Oakland.  For more information on the Library Seed Bank, click here.

The Sustainable Oakland Green Team will be reserving one garden plot for garden education programs, and food harvested from this plot will be donated to local food banks.  All garden members are welcome to attend.

Location:

The Oakland Community Garden is located behind the Oakland Borough Hall, One Municipal Plaza, Oakland, N.J. 07436, adjacent to Valley Middle School. The Garden entrance is located in the Borough Hall Lower Level Parking Lot. Please note - no parking is permitted at Valley Middle School for the Oakland Community Garden, and is subject to ticketing. 

Membership Information: 

There is annual fee of $50.00 per plot, ADA or full size. The fees help sustain the garden, and fund any repairs needed to the infrastructure. 

Registration: 

2024 Plot applications are now available.  Residents may either register via Community Pass and pay with a credit card, or submit a paper application and check. If you register via Community Pass, you still need to submit a Paper Application and a Rules and Hold Harmless Agreement. Drop off or mail to Borough of Oakland, Attn: Wendi Seelin, One Municipal Plaza, Oakland, N.J. 07436. Business hours are 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. if you wish to drop off. Download a plot map for reference. 

Benefits: 

The Oakland Community Garden provides many amenities which include: 

  • Full sun all day long for most plots;
  • Garden beds are constructed of cedar for longevity of construction and to keep away bugs.
  • No fertilizers or pesticides will be allowed to be used at the garden.
  • Deer and animal-resistant fencing around the entire garden;
  • Water available on site;
  • Twenty-two 8' x 4'; plots, or five 6' x 3' Senior Citizen friendly ADA accessible raised plots; 
  • ADA Picnic table;
  • Benches for gathering in the shade earned by the Trex plastic film recycling program;
  • Shared use salad tables are available to grow on;
  • ADA accessible entrance; 
  • 100% all-organic gardening methods are required of all garden members;
  • Two on-site composting bins - see below guidelines;
  • Locked storage shed available for garden member use;
  • Community events and gardening classes will be available throughout the season;
  • Facilities that are available to gardeners include nearby restrooms at the Oakland Public Library or the Oakland Recreational Complex; 
  • Gardeners are encouraged to donate food to the food bank for a $10 discount on membership the following year.

As part of the plot agreement, all gardeners must maintain their plots and are encouraged to volunteer at clean-up days held by the Sustainable Oakland Green Team throughout the growing season. 

Composting at the Garden:

Compost is decomposed organic matter which should be added to gardens annually to improve the soil.  Trash and Recycling cans are not available on site, please carry out your trash from the garden, however, disposal of organics in the compost bins is preferred.

Donations: 

Gardeners interested in donating produce during the 2024 season,  may register to do so by clicking here.

Composting Rules: 

Please only deposit organic matter that can be composted:

  • Plants and weeds that have not gone to seed.
  • Root balls that have had the soil shaken loose. 
  • Fruits and vegetables may be added to the compost, however they must be covered with a layer of grass and/or leaves. 

Items that should not be composted include:

  • Diseased plants. 
  • Plastic plant tags, plastic containers, plastic bags or other inorganic material. 
  • Meats, cheeses, animal waste, and other materials not from the garden.

Want more info about composting? Watch the Sustainable Jersey Bergen County Hub’s video “Composting 101”. 

Gardening Resources: 

Questions: 

If you have any questions, reach out to the Sustainable Oakland Green Team at greenteam@oakland-nj.org

Oakland Community Garden Funded By:

 

PSE&G Foundation Logo  Oakland Silver Logo

Staff Contacts

Name Phone
Wendi Seelin, CMR (201) 337-8111 ext. 2001

Board Members

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