Wagner Farm Project to Receive $200K From Town

Plan to replace now-demolished barn moves forward, despite resident's objection.

The Warren Township Committee has approved an architect's conceptual proposal for a new structure at Wagner Farm Arboretum, and on Sept. 13, introduced an ordinance allocating $200,000 for the construction of the new facility. The additional funds will be used in conjunction with a remainder of a $336,000 insurance settlement not spent on the demolition of the old barn, to construct a new facility. The committee OK'd an architect's proposal in August, with an expected total cost of $400,000. But Horseshoe Drive resident Joe Lakatos wasn't happy about the committee's decision to use funds from the open space fund. "I remember when this was talked about, the insurance was all it was going to be," Lakatos said. "And now we have $200,000 from …

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FRED DEALAMAN

8:16 am on Friday, September 21, 2012

HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT .   more ›

Whole Foods Donates $8,500 to Wagner Farm

Proceeds from recent fundraisers to help build greenhouses.

One thing Wagner Farm Arboretum and Whole Foods share is a thorough appreciation of organic foods—Wagner Farm's Giving Garden grows a lot of organic food for area food banks, while Whole Foods sells a lot of it to customers. Perhaps its was the strength of that connection that led to two very successful fundraising events at the Madison and Millburn Whole Food stores, which raised a total of $8,584 for the arboretum's greenhouse project. Friday, Whole Foods' Lauren Swern and Kevin Gick came to Warren to present the fundraising proceeds.  

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Wagner Farm Arboretum 'Spring Blooms' Kicks Off Friday

Upcoming events include Spring Boutique, plant sale and Warren Green Fair.

Submitted by Elaine Tanimura “Spring Blooms” at Wagner Farm Arboretum begins on April 27. The Spring Boutique will open on the 27th and remain open each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through May 13th. Items offered for sale are created by local artisans and crafters. They include a variety of jewelry, paintings, photography, candies, blown glass art, doll clothing, pottery, local honey, stationery, baskets, and a wide selection of home decor items. The Boutique will be open each Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday-10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday-11 a.m.-4 p.m. On Mother’s Day, the boutique will be open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.  Plan to join the April 27th Arbor Day event, featuring arborist Jeff Calvert from SavATree from 9 to 11 a.m.  Other events …

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Can You Spare an Hour for the Giving Garden?

If so, come help students plant this year's crops.

A last-minute call for volunteers has gone out: the Giving Garden at Wagner Farm Arboretum is expecting students from the Newmark School in Plainfield at 10 a.m. tomorrow to kick off this year's spring planting. The young gardeners can always use a little extra help, so Wagner Farm is hoping volunteers will stop by for about an hour to help—if you can pitch in, send an email to Garden Director Ernie Cottrill or call him at 732-560-8765 to let him know you're available.  Students from area schools will be coming to plant their seedlings and perform other chores at the garden, which provides fresh produce to area soup kitchens and food banks through the growing season. Volunteers will also be needed on Thursday, as well as April 26 (rain …

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Wagner Farms' Long-term Plans Shaping Up

Architect presents proposals as Township Committee mulls barn replacement.

Landscape architect Don Farnell, of Gillete, said he had been working with the members of the Wagner Farms Arboretum on plans for the grounds there, when the discussions began to change a little. "What started as discussions about a native garden morphed into discussions about, 'Maybe we'd like to do this,' 'the parking doesn't work right on Brite Nites,' and maybe we could do this and maybe we could that," Farnell said at the Oct. 27 Township Committee meeting. "So I suggested maybe the way to go here was to develop a master plan that looked at a long-range vision for the property." The long-range plan Farnell developed takes advantage of some of the sites' existing features—including building around the "magnificent shag bark hickory" …

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Noteworthy Neighbors

Warren Woman's Commitment to Gardening Grows Into Arboretum

A lifetime love of gardening makes Wagner Farm Arboretum's president well-suited to the job.

Suzanne Smith loves the oasis that is her yard.  Her 2-acre property in Warren is abloom in warmer months with zinnias, honeysuckle, bee balm and other fragrant foliage that regularly attract butterflies and hummingbirds. There are elephant ears, potted herbs, a garden of native plants and lots of hanging baskets with flowering plants. "I've gardened for years and years," said Smith, a 25-year resident of Warren who lives with her husband, Lee Hansen, and her 91-year-old father, Emerson Smith.  "My whole family gardens. My father gardens, my grandfather gardens, my brothers garden. I think it's in the blood." It is this passion for greenery Smith brings to her role as president of the Wagner Farm Aboretum, Gardens and Learning Center on …

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Arboretum Art Show Collects Views of Famed Barn

Show opens today and runs through the weekend.

It won't be too far into the future before the decaying barn at Wagner Farm is torn down. But thanks to the efforts of local artists, images of the barn and signature siloes will live forever, framed and hanging on walls in homes throughout the area. A special show this weekend features nearly two dozen views of the farm buildings. The Wagner Farm Arboretum’s "A Place to Grow Art Exhibit and Sale" opens at 6 p.m. tonight at the Arboretum. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.  "Basically, people were told to interpret the grounds," show organizer Beth Murphy said. Those interpretations include ceramics, photographs and a photo collage, oil paintings and pencil drawings. Murphy added that many area residents have a connection to the farm …

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Arboretum to Host 'A Place to Grow' Art Show

Grounds' signature barn and silos featured in works slated for show.

On Sept. 16th works from local artists depicting their unique interpretation of the grounds of the Wagner Farm Arboretum will be on display in “A Place to Grow.” The exhibit will include watercolor, oil painting, collage, drawings, mixed media, and photography by children and adults. “The show will offer a range of submissions from area residents who responded to the opportunity to capture the grounds in a work of art,” said Beth Murphy, event chair. Wagner Farm has been a part of the landscape of Warren since it operated as a dairy farm from 1917 to 1987. Since then, Warren Township purchased the land for use by the public and the Wagner Farm Arboretum was established. What makes "A Place to Grow" even more interesting is that the …

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Great Escape

Warren's Wagner Farms to Host Honey of an Event

For a really sweet getaway, head to Saturday's Honey Harvest.

Each week, we’ll tell you about one great idea to give you a much deserved break, and make your life a little easier, maybe a whole lot easier. Wagner Farms Arboretum, at 197 Mountain Avenue in Warren, will host a Honey Harvest Day with the Morris/Somerset Beekeeping Association from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 16. Visitors can watch the local beekeepers extract the honey from beehives at Wagner Farms. It's an ancient art that fascinates everyone, and admission is free and open to all. Plus, visitors can taste the spring honey as it comes right off the frames, and learn how important bees are to farming efforts. The delicious local honey—which can be helpful for allergy sufferers—can be purchased at the event, with the proceeds going to help …

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