Washington Borough has a new garden, and it is “wild.”

The Washington Borough Green Team celebrated the opening of a new Community Wildlife Garden at the Washington Public Library (WPL) with an official ribbon-cutting celebration on Sept. 27.

The library property is a certified National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Wildlife Habitat, which people can visit to see how they can turn their properties into wildlife habitats which provide the four basic elements that all wildlife need to thrive: food, water, cover, and places to raise young, while integrating sustainable gardening and landscaping practices. Members of the Washington Borough Green Team will also be providing ongoing educational programs at the library to teach people how to turn their properties into wildlife habitats.

This Community Wildlife Habitat was made possible through a $2,000 grant from Sustainable Jersey funded by the PSEG Foundation. The Washington Borough Green Team, members of the Warren Garden Club, and other community volunteers planted perennials based on the designs created by David Hyde, owner of Well-Sweep Herb Farm, and Tomas Gonzales, Master Gardener for the Karen Nash Memorial Butterfly Garden at Memorial School.

Plants and materials were purchased from Peacefield Gardens, Donaldson’s Farm and Well-Sweep Herb Farm. The Washington Borough DPW assisted with preparing the planting beds and maintaining the grassy areas bordering the garden.

The Green Team is hoping that this is the start of something even bigger in the Borough.  

In 2023, the Washington Borough Green Team registered Washington Borough to become a National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Community Wildlife Habitat with the support of the mayor and council. You can help Washington Borough become certified as a National Wildlife Federation Community Wildlife Habitat™. 

In a statement the Green Team notes that “We need 150 people to certify their properties to achieve our goal. Go to NWF.org/Certify to learn how you can create a healthier, greener and more wildlife-friendly community one property at a time. Residential and commercial properties as well as non-profits can participate.”

The Washington Borough Green Team is always looking for volunteers. The Team meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Washington Borough Municipal Building, 100 Belvidere Avenue. The group organizes the Washington Borough Farmers’ Market and Green Festival, stream and downtown cleanups, trail development, and Community Wildlife Habitat Certification. To join the Green Team and for more information contact Gary Pohorely at (908) 283-4027 or email garypohorely@gmail.com.