E & R Mathez Farm Certified as River-Friendly Farm
The E & R Mathez Farm in Columbia, NJ, owned by Rene Mathez and Michelle St. Andre, has been certified as a River-Friendly Farm, recognized for its best farm-management practices that protect water quality.
Directed by the North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) in partnership with the Foodshed Alliance, the River-Friendly Farm Program is a voluntary certification program designed to recognize farms that protect our shared natural resources through responsible management. River-certified farms have proven they are using best practices on soil loss management, pesticide management, nutrient management, conservation buffers,and irrigation water management.
Nestled along the Paulins Kill, near Hainesburg, NJ, the E & R Mathez Farm is a 50-acre farm that produces vegetables and small fruit on 6 tillable acres. The farm which includes a stone farmhouse built in 1789 and bank-barn dating to the mid-nineteenth century has been in the Mathez Family since 1968.
For more information on River Friendly Farm Certification, please contact Kendrya Close at the Foodshed Alliance, 908-362-7967. The Foodshed Alliance and North Jersey RC&D are seeking more River-Friendly Farm applicants and is available to speak with any interested group or individual about the program.
(Photo) Kara Hasko of the North Jersey RC&D presents the River Friendly Certified Farm sign to Rene Mathez and Michelle St. Andre of E & R Mathez Farm.