For the past year, Brianne, Danny, Joe, Steve, Tim, and TJ from The Arc, Ocean County Chapter’s Journeys and Discovery day program have volunteered with Drop the Beet Farms at Field of Dreams to grow herbs and vegetables in their Aquaponics Gardens. The team has mastered harvesting produce, cleaning the filtration system, and packaging the greens, developing job skills while gaining the confidence to expand upon this initiative.
Now, with your help, The Arc of Ocean County plans to purchase and install a 142 Plant Long Aquaponics System that will bring sustainable, eco-friendly farming to all of the participants at the Adult Training Centers. We have collaborated with Drop the Beet Farms to service the system while offering an interactive education on yielding healthy and nutritious crops.
"First, we had to learn, listen, and follow directions. It was not easy to remember all the new things at first. Now I learned all the tasks and skills needed to maintain the aqua center like how to care for the fish in the tank". - Tim
The Arc’s Aquaponics Garden will provide a unique perspective on living food ecosystems to participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Starting from a seedling, the produce is fertilized by organic matter from the tilapia fish, with the potential to yield 1,702 heads of lettuce yearly, among other produce. The clients will harvest, package, and distribute the vegetables monthly.
Once the organic produce is packaged, the benefits continue with healthy and nutritious meals for The Arc’s residents at home, an abundance of lettuce for The Arc’s healthy cooking classes, and the chance to give back to our devoted community partners where we volunteer like JBJ Soul Kitchen and Seeds of Service.
"It is heartwarming to me to give back to the food pantries. I like helping others and giving food to people who need it". - Brianne
This innovative project proves educational and scientific, boosts confidence and self-esteem, and has the power to be inclusive for multiple abilities of individuals at The Arc. To benefit in so many aspects of what we aim to accomplish here in this initiative is so valuable, and the Aquaponics Garden will be a welcome addition to our programs.
We sincerely appreciate your dedication, compassion, and trust in us to deliver the best programs and services for your loved ones in Ocean County and across the state.
