Incredible Edible Merchantville marks its 5th anniversary this year as it continues on its mission to advance individual land stewardship actions that support food security, promote good health, foster sustainable living and harness the power and potential of residents. It all began in February 2019, when a core group of “green-friendly” residents
developed a ten-year plan, modeled after Incredible Edible UK, aimed at curbing the environmental and socioeconomic factors that pose long-term risks to community wellness and sustainability. Several local organizations and businesses supported the effort, including Merchantville’s Green Team, Garden Club, Shade Tree Commission, Merchantville School’s Garden and Naturalist’s Clubs, Eclipse Brewing, The Station Coffee, Tri-County Sustainability Alliance, SJ Seed Circle Library and Master Gardeners of Camden County. With the Borough’s blessing, this experiment in food activism and community resilience took off.
Over the past five years, Incredible Edible Merchantville has had a long list of accomplishments, some of which include the establishment and care of pollinator, sunflower, vegetable, and herb gardens throughout town, understory pawpaw plantings in Wellwood Park, seed and plant exchanges, clean-up days, produce sharing at monthly farmers’ markets, and collecting and distributing produce donations to community food pantries and restaurants.
Most recently, the organization held a Knit-a-Thon at Eclipse Brewing, where on a Saturday in March, a team of Merchantville knitters and crocheters pored over yarns for 10 hours to raise funds for Feeding America, World Central Kitchen, No Kid Hungry, and Meals on Wheels.
Upcoming plans and events in 2024 include:
• Building an interactive walk-along story and student presentation to engage, educate and train our youth about food security.
• Completing a digital site map to plot the Borough’s sustainable landscapes. This will also include all of the Borough’s past and current sustainable partner actions and projects in a digital format for the municipality to share with community and use for future planning.
• Seeking grant funds to obtain monies for the Stockton Maple Project and the Healing Garden at Wellwood Park.
• Collaborating with the Green Team and Shade Tree Commission on plans for a “tiny forest.”
• Co-hosting a plant/seed/sapling sharing day in April, Wellwood Park clean-up in May, and a Sustainability Social in June.
Incredible Edible Merchantville holds monthly meetings and can be found on Facebook for those wishing to follow and participate in its activities. New members are welcomed! Contact Joan Brennan at 609-221-2365 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..