North Jersey
Greens Do Good
65 Oak Street, Hackensack | Gateway Region
Did you know eating your veggies can help promote neurodiversity in the workplace? This indoor vertical hydroponic farm provides job training and employment opportunities for autistic teens and adults. Check out their website for information on joining their farm club for fresh produce sent directly to you.
Grow It Green Morristown Urban Garden
31 Hazel Street, Morristown | Skylands Region
This one-acre farm is all about sustainability, utilizing growing methods inspired by indigenous peoples. The land is worked almost entirely by hand and toxic chemicals and non-organic fertilizers are nowhere in sight. Stop by their farm stand in season or pick up their produce at the Morris Winter Market (at Convent Train Station, Morris Township). Also watch for events hosted throughout the year.
Jersey City’s Community Vertical Farm Program
400 US-1 Building #8, Jersey City | Gateway Region
This farm offers memberships for Jersey City residents to embark on a healthier lifestyle. Not only do members receive nutrient-rich, locally-grown greens, they gain from valuable educational programming that includes cooking techniques.
Kittatinny Valley State Park Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden
199 Goodale Road, Newton | Skylands Region
While many visit this park for all-season outdoor adventure (think: hiking, snowshoeing, boating, camping and fishing), you can make some fine, fluttering friends! A winner of the Rutgers Cooperative Research and Extension of Sussex County State Award for Excellence, this living interpretive display of native butterflies, ruby-throated hummingbirds and other pollinators feasting on milkweed, asters and bee balm is a sight to behold.
LifeCap Farms
182 Broadway, Jersey City | Gateway Region
While not open to the public, this innovative farm does host special events – keep an eye on their Instagram page for details. You can also sign up for their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program to bring their fresh, gourmet organic mushrooms into your own kitchen. Varieties grown throughout the year include Lions Mane, Shiitake, King Oyster, Enoki, White/Brown Beech and more.
Pohatcong Native Arboretum
54 Mine Hill Road, Washington | Skylands Region
A true celebration of “local roots,” this public arboretum showcases over 150 species of native trees, shrubs and vines. Each is identified with a plaque displaying the common, family, genus and species name. Stroll the grounds to take in the woody plants, forested wetlands and log cabin with an art gallery.
Redifarms
610 North Avenue East, Westfield | Gateway Region
Want to get your fresh produce, easy-peasy? This indoor vertical hydroponic farm allows you to pre-order your leafy greens, herbs, mushrooms, microgreens, pet products and more online, then pick up all the deliciousness at their farm stand (Location: 855 Mountain Avenue, Mountainside).
Central Jersey
AquaSprout Farms
188 Woodfern Road, Branchburg
Talk about smart farming! This company practices aquaponics – where fish and produce grow together in one body of water, just like in nature. This sustainable agricultural approach uses 92% less water and a tiny fraction of the land compared to a conventional farm. You can purchase their greens, herbs and veggies at the Bernardsville Farmers’ Market (Location: Route 202 & Claremont Road) and Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market (111 Mine Street, Flemington) year-round.
Leonard J. Buck Garden
11 Layton Road, Far Hills
Back in the 1930s, Leonard J. Buck worked with Zenon Schreiber, a renowned landscape architect, to design a garden that made use of large rock outcroppings around the property. Now part of the Somerset County Park Commission, the public is welcome to walk the grounds and discover the rare and exotic plants peeking out from the rocks. Spring brings the most stunning show with wildflowers, diminutive alpines and azaleas in full bloom.
Grounds For Sculpture
80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton
Grounds For Sculpture is New Jersey’s largest sculpture park, attracting visitors from near and very, very far. Awe-inspiring all year round, its 42 sprawling acres are ever-changing and art-filled. We recommend purchasing timed tickets online in advance to guarantee entry – and dress for whatever the forecast will bring because this cultural destination is open in all seasons and weather conditions.
Robbinsville Hydroponic Farm
1117 Route 130, Robbinsville
In 2017, Robbinsville became the first municipality to bring a vertical hydroponic farm to the Garden State. No surprise there, as the township has a looooooooong agricultural legacy. Housed in a shipping container, this farm (dubbed the Leafy Green Machine or LGM, for short) can grow the same quantity of produce it would take a traditional farm 1.8 acres to grow while using 90% less water to do it! Interested in a tour? Email hcahill@robbinsville.net.
Three Meadows Farm
1130 Burnt Mills Road, Bedminster
This little gem isn’t just a hydroponic farm. It’s also a social enterprise providing services, education and career training for individuals with autism. You can visit their farm stand to buy fresh produce and eggs. They even sell farm-raised turkeys in time for Thanksgiving. Every purchase supports the farm’s worthy mission.
Wolgast Tree Farm & Apiary
176 Bennetts Lane, Somerset
What do beekeeping, mushroom cultivation and Christmas trees have in common? This farm! The owners proudly use sustainable agricultural practices to protect the local watershed, which has created a wildlife wonderland. Here’s a sweet idea – plan a visit to purchase honey and beeswax products produced by their apiary’s hardworking honeybees.
South Jersey
Boukakuan Japanese Tea House and Garden
1832 Jacksonville Jobstown Road, Bordentown | Delaware River Region
Tea is more than just a hot beverage here. It’s a ceremony. You can arrange a private tea demonstration to immerse yourself in Japanese culture. Arrive early to stroll the breathtaking gardens and feed the resident koi.
Cattus Island County Park Butterfly Garden
1170 Cattus Island Blvd. Toms River | Shore Region
Nestled along Barnegat Bay, this 530-acre natural area is home to seven miles of trails, an environmental center and a thriving butterfly garden where native plants lure pretty pollinators for your viewing pleasure. Bring your camera to capture the serene scene!
Gibbsboro Community Garden
1000 Pole Hill Park Drive, Gibbsboro | Delaware River Region
This is one-third of an acre that loves the Earth. Situated next to the Blueberry Hill Conservation Area, the site offers a Pollinator Pathway, a charming perennial garden, a bio-swale and stone bridge tucked into a rain garden and an herb and meditation garden. And that’s just the flora! The garden is also a certified habitat for wildlife and monarch butterflies.
Glassboro Town Square Art Garden
1 West High Street, Glassboro | Delaware River Region
The public is invited to enhance their lives through the visual arts presented within these outdoor “walls” and spaces. This innovative initiative is a true win-win – providing a platform for local creators to display their works and a cultural destination where visitors can meet up and appreciate their artistry.
Mike Shouvlin Water Conservation Garden
Madison & Cape May Avenues, Cape May | Southern Shore Region
With the state looking at a possible 10-inch rain deficit in 2024, there’s no better time to appreciate a garden designed specifically around plants built to solely survive on the watering Mother Nature provides. Walk along the paths to spy yucca, Montauk daisy, chaste tree and crepe myrtle.
Red Bank Battlefield Park Historic Gardens
100 Hessian Avenue, National Park | Delaware River Region
You wouldn’t ordinarily think of a battlefield as a place to peacefully promenade amongst plants, but here you can! Volunteers from Gloucester County Certified Gardeners maintain the same varieties of vegetables, culinary and medicinal herbs and dyeing and cutting flowers that grew here in the 18th century.
The Sperlak Gallery and Sculpture Gardens
521 Rt 47 N, Goshen | Southern Shore Region
No need to choose between nature and culture. This destination celebrates both! Explore the working farm, studio, nature sanctuary and sculpture garden of artist, teacher and retired landscape architect Stan Sperlak in this 37-acre preserved paradise.
Whitesbog Historic Farm & Village
120 W. Whites Bogs Road #34, Browns Mills | Delaware River Region
History buffs and nature lovers are sure to have a berry good time here. In 1857, the first 100 acres were farmed for cranberries, eventually expanding to 3,000 acres and becoming the birthplace of blueberry cultivation in 1911. Today, the 5th generation of the White family are caretakers of the land. Trails are open for public exploration every day – be sure to watch their Facebook page for special events and tours as well.
Of course, this is just a taste of our unique agritourism offerings. You can find other green pastures in our countless gardens and arboretums, farms and orchards and wineries and vineyards. And be sure to collect a bumper crop of trip inspiration by downloading our free travel guide and subscribing to our e-newsletter.
