Jennifer and her team at City Green are truly inspiring. What they do in education and execution of community/school gardens not only beautifies our communities but also takes our children a step closer to farm to table living. In addition, City Green works with similar minded businesses to support them in their garden efforts and has built incredible ongoing partnerships with their work.
Our foundation first heard of City Green a little over a year ago and we were so delighted to learn more about this amazing initiative in the city of Paterson. We are always looking for ways to support organizations reaching out to youth in urban areas of NJ in math and science education. We were impressed with the extent of research and materials created by City Green and how accessible they make their information to school leaders for utilization. They have done all the hard work and preperations needed for curricula and seem so eager to share their love of the environment, science, nutrition, gardening, and healthy lifestyles in any way they can. We have seen the children in action and enjoying getting down in the dirt to produce an outside community garden they can be proud of. Keep up the great work CityGreen! We are happy to be a partner in your efforts for the children of Paterson!
I became involved with City Green as a volunteer during Viacommunity Day - which is a community service initiative sponsored by my company. I was so impressed with the enthusiasm and dedication City Green applies to its projects - bringing the community together in a fun way... we got a little dirty, a little sweaty, a little mulch-y -- all for the good of the garden. I'm currently turning to City Green for advice on how to bring a Learning Garden to my daughter's elementary school in Bloomfield, NJ. They've offered positive advice and great ideas on how to create a greener environment that's educational for students, and beneficial to the whole neighborhood. It's the kind of encouragement that makes the unthinkable seem doable.
City Green is providing a series of Learning Gardens for local schools within our City.
It is a truly wonderful experience working with City Green. They are extremely professional and knowledgeable on what they do. They are always open to new and creative applications of their service.
We hope to expand our dealings with them in the future.
As a long term resident of paterson nj I was thoroughly delighted to come across a small garden in my neighborhood park 3 years ago. As I learned more about the garden I was excited to hear it was an effort to introduce inner city children to gardening. So many kids do not understand where their foods come from and how it impacts their health. I have been a supporter of City Green since I first learned of it. It is under awesome leadership and serves a much needed cause in the city of paterson.
City Green continues to provide tremendous opportunities for the youth of the city of Paterson. Their City Sprouts program provides in depth project based learning activities with a cross curricular approach. Their lessons range from learning about the carbon and nitrogen cycles to developing a strong awareness of sustainable practices. What's different about this organization is it truly lends a helping hand to a community and the individual educator.
Before we even began work for the day, the representatives for City Green took the time to explain the organization and the value that it gives local communities. As a resident of New Jersey, I see firsthand the need that City Green provides. We have soooooo many communities that would benefit from City Green programs! Not only do they help to beautify blighted areas, but they help install a sense of pride in the members of those communities. The educational resources geared towards kids goes a long way in helping to them to build self esteem. Not to mention the health benefits of working outside and eating hearty vegetables grow locally!
For my day of volunteering, we had a few tasks at hand but I chose to focus on helping paint a new barn. I'm freakishly tall and was quick to realize that I was the only one who could reach the upper ends of things. It was a beautiful Spring day and I was happy to oblige. The barn was to be used for storing gardening equipment and such for the kids. By the end of the day, we turned an ordinary unpainted structure into one of character. We all felt a sense of accomplishment and were happy to help. Looking forward to doing it again.
As the Executive Director of the Andrew Goodman Foundation, part of my job is to identify people who are taking "creative and effective action to solve today's problems." That's why Jennifer Papa, Founder of City Green, received a "Hidden Hero Award" in 2010. Her program addressees the unequal access inner city residents have to nature and to fresh, local produce. Through programs that educate through experience, City Green is connecting residents of Patterson with farm fresh produce and providing an opportunity to combine social justice with environmental preservation and access to good nutrition.
City Green is one of the most established urban agriculture non profits in New Jersey that brings hands on solutions to creating educational oportunities around nutrition, gardening, farming and food. We think they're the best!
City Green is an essential partner for Jersey City's Urban Agriculture Initiaive. Their commitment has been a wonderful resource to the City and various schools throughout the City. They provide learning gardens at our schools, educational workshops for our community gardeners, environmental clubs, and guidance to residents who are starting farmers markets - just to name a few. They have also recently become a member of the Jersey City Buy Fresh Buy Local committee, and will be instrumental in helping Jersey City become a more food secure city and increase access to local healthy foods. I cannot say more honestly how vital the partnership with City Green and Jersey City to the City and its residents.
City Green does an incredible job connecting young people with gardening, healthy eating and the great outdoors. This group's passion is tangible and it's accomplishments are an inspiration to the rest of us. I operate a youth gardening website and come across many, many organizations, but few do it as well as City Green.
City Green provides hands on education and activities for children and other community members, empowering the community to create greener urban environments and advance sustainable community objectives while creating more beautiful and productive spaces.
City Geen is an amazing organization that helps people help themselves.
I was so honored to meet a teacher in Paterson, NJ who, with the help of City Green, has created a school garden in an abandoned lot. The students plant, nurture, and harvest vegetales, and the donate it to local shelters.
The local farmer's market in Paterson is quite remarkable. In a place where it is extremely rare to come upon fresh produce, these markets offer frreshly grown local produce to community members, grown and harvested by community members.
I can't say enough good things about City Green!
I have worked with City Green in serving the children in the community for three years and hope this summer will be my fourth! I love how the organization is really geared in serving the immediate community both young and old. I have had the opportunity to help run the summer programs which center around educating the children in the community on healthy eating habits and fun ways to at and prepare the fresh produce that the children grow through out the summer.
I have been working with City Green for the past 3 years. they have provided us with the greatest opportunity to encourage our students to Go Green. With our environmental club we have undertaken several recycling projects in our 1200+ school. We have participated in 2 Harmony Day conventions. In our own school we hold a recycling convention for the 4th graders every year after testing. I hope to be able to take advantage of creating a garden next year at our school
City Green offered me the opportunity to learn about grassroots organizations as an intern. During my time with City Green I was able to be part of the awesome work helping bring kids healthier options and knowledge about gardening and the benefits of sustainable living. I met kids that had never tasted fresh broccoli before CG brought workshops to their school! City Green sees a great need for healthier options in cities, and works to meet that need- I hope to see it grow and touch more and more lives. Go City Green!
City Green worked with the teachers and students at my school to help us develop an Environmental Club and a School Garden. They supported us through the entire process; providing us with teacher environmental/ garden manuals filled with creative enriching lessons. In addition, they conducted professional development for our teachers to show how the garden manual is used in each content area. They also, contucted model garden lesson for our student. With a matching grant City Green supplied us with valuable materials. City Green has been a great asset to our school as they were able to fill a void that was much needed for our school. Providing us with valuable extended hands-on learning opportunties.
kids in an inner city like Paterson, NJ do not get many opportunities to learn about gardening. They are consumed with the dangers of the streets or passing standarized tests. Our partnership with City Green has helped many of our kids experience the beauty of gardening. Thanks to City Green, our kids have created an amazing outdoor garden where they collect vegetables each season. Our kids look forward to this program and really enjoy what they have learned. Recently, a tragedy struck our Club as one of our young members was killed. We decided to dedicate our garden to this young man and with City Green's help, we will now have a cherry blossom tree that will bllom each year in his memory. They are aamazing and we love our partnership with them.
I am continuously amazed at the amount of work that City Green has been able to accomplish and the positive impact that it has on everyone that gets involved.
City Green has been working at the Main Library in Paterson for several years. I was somewhat skeptical when Jennifer Papa approached me, but we had two plots of dirt in our parking lot and I wanted these areas improved. Raised bed vegetable gardens have delighted and motivated the children in the neighborhood, as they plant, weed, water and harvest. And, on square plot of dirt was turned into a Story Garden, with flowering trees and sunflowers - and was the site of a series of summer storytimes, also coordinated by City Green. This organization - and their volunteers - have made a marvelous difference in our environment.
During my time with City Green, I volunteered at a number of youth organizations such as YMCA's and public schools, and also helped to build community gardens in public places such as parks, churches, and other community centers. i also performed (and continue to perform) music for City Green's theater in the garden program. City green has provided me with an amazing opportunity to create beautiful gardens and pubic spaces for communities, and to provide families with fresh organic produce. what city green has done is both beautiful and astounding and i am sure they will continue to make a positive impact in the lives of those communities they serve for years to come.
My experience with City Green was absolutly amazing. They designed a rooftop garden for a terrace at my school, provided all the materials and worked very hard with my students to build 12 raised bed on a terrace at our school. It is the first rooftop garden in Jersey City Public Schools history. Most importantly, they provided my students with a real-life experience I would not have been able to. They are truly an inspirational team!
City Green is absolutely amazing. It is passionate about empowering the community to revitalize their city through community gardens, urban farming, and a variety of education programs. Rooted in Paterson, NJ, City Green has chosen to anchor itself in a city that is in desperate need of revitalization. What is best about City Green's approach, is that it is dedicated to showing people that change is possible. They set an inspiring example of what is possible and then give the community the tools and guidance needed to help make it happen for themselves. Jennifer Papa, the Executive Director of City Green, is the tireless inspiration behind this group's work. She is passionate, yet incredibly practical; and every effort is guided by the sustainability and community support for the project. City Green is celebrating the beginning of it's 6th year, and it's continued success is dependent on our support and recognition. Please consider voting for City Green -- but even more importantly, check out what we are all about at citygreenonline.org and consider helping in whatever way you can. Thank you.
City Greene has provided various network opportunities for me as a teacher in an inner city. Through their suggestions I was able to purchase recycling bins for every class. They also come and help with environmental projcets with the kids. The kids love em!
This non-profit has changed the curriculum of the Paterson School System to include environmental and nutritional education. Not only have they written curriculum but have exposed children in Paterson's neighborhood to hands on experience in working with the soil and teaching them to grow healthy food. In working with the organization for 5 years I have seen tremendous changes.
Wow! I've been building school gardens with City Green during the 2009-2010 School Year. The teachers and their amazing students give me hope and inspiration. What a dynamic group of educators!
City Green is a wonderful organization that actively promotes environmental awareness and education, nutritional programming, and garden/farm related projects for the urban youth. Their spring/summer green markets, which provide deeply discounted locally grown fresh organic produce to city residents, is supported by their numerous raised bed vegetable gardens, greenhouse and urban farm. All their food is grown by the city's residents and students participating in the diverse programming offered by City Green. City Green does a wonderful job at us all that learning doesn't only take place in the classroom. I couldn't be happier at the decision to roll up my sleeves and get dirty with City Green. -- Mike Moriarty