Sister Jean’s Garden is Cultivating in AC

By Tammy Thornton

Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, “bloom where you’re planted”? Well, Sister Jean’s Garden is in full bloom and producing quite the harvest for the community. The thriving garden is located on the grounds of the former Saint Monica’s Church on North Pennsylvania Avenue, in Atlantic City, now home of the relocated Sister Jean’s Kitchen. Though it is currently closed, Sister Jean’s Kitchen fed the homeless, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, veterans, and low-income families, including children. At its peak, Sister Jean’s Kitchen served 80,000 to 120,000 meals per year. The kitchen was closed down in February of 2019. While the community and “Friends of Jean Webster” wait for the day when funding, renovations, and city approvals can allow the Kitchen to re-open, nonprofit organizations and volunteers aren’t waiting by with idle hands.

Through a collaboration between the nonprofit organizations C.R.O.P.S., Friends of Jean Webster, and A Work in Progress, Sister Jean’s Garden was started in September of 2019. According to Paige Vaccaro, founder/board president of C.R.O.P.S. and board member of Friends of Jean Webster, the garden was made as a way to “beautify the property, bring the community together, and grow food and flowers for the community until the kitchen can reopen.” When the Kitchen does reopen, produce from Sister Jean’s Garden will be used in meals to feed the hungry. Cookie Till, president of A Work in Progress, (and owner of Steve and Cookie’s by the Bay restaurant) helped, through her nonprofit, to pay for the wood for 12 of the raised beds, shovels, and wheelbarrows, and arranged for the beds to be built and delivered. She also arranged for donations of Eco Topsoil from the ACUA. Vaccaro credits the success of the garden to hard-working fellow volunteers such as Co-President Alicia Newcomb, who utilized her background in nonprofit fundraising to make their C.R.O.P.S. markets eligible to accept SNAP/EBT benefits.

Lena Di, an employee at Atlantic City High School, and Sparkle Prevard, on staff at the Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City, having some fun at Sister Jean’s Garden.

Fourteen raised beds are filled with plants including: green and red leaf lettuce, mint, thyme, basil, Thai basil, parsley, oregano, cilantro, carrots, green beans, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, snow peas, potatoes, sweet potatoes, collard greens, wasabi mustard greens, Swiss chard, kale, watermelon, squash, sunflowers, and pansies. Is anyone else getting hungry? Recently, the way was cleared for sunflowers along the fence – “flowers for peace”. As the group looks ahead to the reopening of Sister Jean’s Kitchen and continuing to expand the garden, they look forward to their big plans for this site growing alongside big, beautiful, and strong sunflowers.

Sister Jean’s Garden involves the community both in enjoying the produce for free as well as working together in the garden through their weekly “Community Day at Sister Jean’s Garden”. The first Community Day of the season was held Sunday, June 14. Volunteers weeded, watered, harvested, and planted – all while laughing and learning. As the produce is harvested, it’s hung on the fence along Pennsylvania Avenue for people to take. A wide variety of people participate, from homeless individuals in the area, to those who see it announced on social media, and people just passing by. Youth from the Garden Club of the Atlantic City Boys and Girls Club also volunteer in the garden as well as members of Rev. John Scotland’s Presbyterian Church in Brigantine (Rev. Scotland is the Executive Director of the Friends of Jean Webster). Vaccaro estimates approximately 25-30 people participated in the latest Community Day. The event is welcome to all and is held on Sundays from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., at the Sister Jean’s Garden at : 108 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Atlantic City. Masks are required!

Andul-Azeem, 9 years old, enjoys some kale after his hard work in the garden.

Sister Jean’s Garden relies on the support of local sponsors and donations, such as a recent sponsorship for $5,000 from offshore wind developer Orsted, and many others who have donated time, money, and resources to the garden. The next Community Day will be held Sunday, June 28. If you would like more information about Sister Jean’s Garden, and how you can donate your time or resources, please contact Paige Vaccaro at pvaccaro@cropsnj.org.

Tammy Thornton is a mom of four, a substitute teacher, and a Sunday school teacher. She is passionate about gardening and cooking, and loves the beach.