The River Friendly Farm Program is a free, voluntary and self-paced program promotes environmentally friendly farming practices through the recognition of farmers that, through good management, help to protect water resources.
River-Friendly Certified Farms in NW NJ
Cattail Hollow Farm, Lafayette
CedarCroft Farm, Hardwick
Community Supported Garden at Genesis Farm, Frelinghuysen
E & R Mathez Farm, Columbia
Lazy K Farm, Frelinghuysen
Ruthie’s Farm, Frelinghuysen
Woodsedge Tree Farm, White Township
The Foodshed Alliance, through our Paulins Kill Watershed initiative, is partnering with North Jersey RC&D to bring the River Friendly Farm program to northern New Jersey. To participate, farms voluntarily apply for certification. Once an application has been received, a conservation planner schedules a site visit with the land owner or producer. The farm is then evaluated in 5 main areas which are:
- Soil Loss Management
- Nutrient Management
- Pest Management
- Riparian Buffers
- Irrigation Water Management
Program Goals
- To publicly recognize and reward farmers who do an outstanding job of managing their farms in an economically and environmentally sound way that protects and improves water resources
- Publicize and promote agricultural best management practices that help improve water quality while maintaining and improving agricultural viability of New Jersey farms
- Increase public awareness of farmers’ voluntary contributions to resource protection
- Create new partnerships to begin future regional implementation of the River-Friendly Farm Program
Benefits of becoming a River Friendly Farm
- Provides public recognition for implementing and maintaining stewardship practices
- Creates an avenue for increased marketing strategies with River-Friendly Farm Label
- Improve water quality in streams while maintaining productive farmland
- Promotes more efficient use of fertilizers and pesticides
- Provides a healthier soil structure
For more information on River Friendly Farm Certification, please contact Christine Dunbar at the Foodshed Alliance, 908-798-0697.