Overview

Early in the nineteenth century, an army colonel stood before a crowd at the Salem County Courthouse and ate buckets of tomatoes to prove that they were not poisonous. Ever since, the red vegetable of summer has played a starring role in New Jersey's history. Although today visitors to the state are more likely to see smoke-spewing factories than acres of farmland or grazing cattle, the state's legacy of agriculture and farming continues, and extends far beyond the popular Jersey tomato. In Tending the Garden State, Charles Harrison tells the story of the state's rich agricultural history from the time when Leni-Lenape Indians scratched the earth with primitive tools up through today. He recalls New Jersey's rural past, traces the evolution of farming over the course of the twentieth century, and explains innovative approaches to protecting the industry. Drawing on interviews with farmers, as well as researchers, professional planners, designers, and architects, Harrison discovers that despite the discouraging spread of suburban sprawl, the Garden State's farming legacy is not as endangered as it may seem. Many residents care deeply about preserving New Jersey's agricultural industry and are making great strides to keep the tradition alive for future generations. Some of these protective measures include new laws that encourage the conservation of land and research devoted to helping farmers make the most of their limited acreage. Innovative techniques such as high-tunnel farming, together with the growth of some very profitable farm specializations, such as turf grass, aquaculture, horticulture, and wine making, will enable farmers to remain active and successful in the state's oldest industry. Anyone interested in New Jersey's history or, more broadly, in the history of American agriculture, will be delighted by Harrison's engaging and readable account of farming in the Garden State.

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9780813539065

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Reviews

Charles Harrison eloquently explores the rich agricultural history of the Garden State, spotlighting the innovative efforts and dedicated work of generations of farmers and other leaders who shaped and continued to transform our farming and food processing industries.--Charles M. Kuperus Secretary of Agriculture New Jersey Department of Agriculture Harrison has written an informative book on the agriculture of New Jersey, an industry with a long, distinguished history and an intriguing future.--Peter Furey Executive Director, NJ Farm Bureau This is a highly engaging account of New Jersey's agricultural history. From community-based farms to industrial agriculture, Harrison brings fresh insight and perspective to agricultural preservation initiatives in New Jersey.--Robert Mason Director of Environmental Studies, Temple University

Harrison has written an informative book on the agriculture of New Jersey, an industry with a long, distinguished history and an intriguing future.--Peter Furey Executive Director, NJ Farm Bureau

Author Information

Charles H. Harrison is a journalist and author of Salem County: A Story of People and Growing a Global Village: Making History at Seabrook Farms .

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