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Montclair Community Farms
MCF is a thriving urban agricultural initiative located in the heart of Montclair, New Jersey. Committed to promoting sustainable farming practices and food accessibility, the Farm serves as a vital educational resource and community gathering place. Through a variety of programs and partnerships, Montclair Community Farms cultivates a deep connection between residents and the local food system, fostering a culture of health and wellness. Essex County 4-H and the Rutgers Master Gardeners program have been a partner of MCF since 2012, incorporating an extensive educational and service learning aspect, as well as bolstering their food production and farming capacity.
*Visit their website to view all adult/youth educational programs and volunteer opportunities!
The core of the urban agriculture movement involves providing communities with access to fresh food, a better understanding of where food comes from and providing education in communities to enable community members to grow and care for their own natural landscape. Encouraging communities to understand and utilize sustainable practices helps preserve our land, and helps to garner a greater respect for the natural environment. Teaching youth trough hands-on service learning projects helps develop more competent caring citizens of the world. Our programs empower youth to become change agents in their communities. The program model integrates researched best practices of urban gardening for community development and 4‑H Youth Development curriculum, with the expertise and resources of our County Extension Service and Rutgers University faculty and staff. All programs are managed through the cooperation of 4‑H and community partners.
YOUTH URBAN FARM CLUB 2025
Youth Urban Farm Club is a summer program serving youth in Essex County ages 12-18 at community garden and small urban farm sites led by adult volunteers from the community. The goal of this program is for youth to develop new skills in horticulture, urban agriculture, or animal husbandry; serve their community by supporting the maintenance of these sites; and forge relationships with their peers and adult volunteers. Youth gain hands-on experience while also learning about food systems, the local environment, and learning by doing.
REGISTER TODAY!
Application available in English & Spanish
Current Sites:
- Essex County: Montclair Community Farms, Jannah on Grafton & Eden’s Farm, East Orange Library Garden
- Hudson County: 11 Sites (view here)
- Passaic County: Green Acre Community Garden
Careers in Modern Ag Webinar
On May 31st, 2025 we hosted a virtual ‘Careers in Modern Ag Webinar’ with support from Rutgers 4-H in Bergen, Hudson, Passaic and Essex counties! This webinar was aimed for youth in 4th-12th grade to expand their knowledge of opportunities in environmental science careers.
Click Here to View the 1 Hour Webinar!