BARNEGAT – In an “organic” twist on collaborating across silos, Communities that Cares (CTC) members recently gathered for a unique learning experience at Cloverdale Farm County Park. There, they not only picked cranberries but also cultivated genuine connections and innovative ideas.
Barnegat CTC unites various community stakeholders who work cohesively to tackle issues affecting local youth. Funded through a grant bestowed upon RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services within the New Jersey Department of Human Services, the coalition includes representatives from a wide range of organizations.
“We wanted to give our community partners time and space to connect,” said Megan Tucker, Barnegat CTC Manager. “What better way to connect than by exploring a beautiful space together, out in nature, while learning about the work of one of our partners.”
Before heading to the bogs, Patti Trasferino, Program Coordinator at Cloverdale, gathered the group to teach them about cranberry harvesting. She explained that, unlike the waders they might expect to need, they would pick cranberries from the vines in dry peat bogs.
Trasferino traditionally gives a similar presentation to children, but she adapted this one for her adult audience. She took the CTC members through the entire cranberry harvesting process, from picking to sorting and packing.
“We put them in the first machine that will pull up the chaff,” Trasferino said. “The chaff is the leaves and debris that can sometimes be mixed in with the cranberries.”
Once the chaff is removed, the cranberries go up a conveyor belt and drop into a sorter and separator. This machine uses the property of the cranberry to bounce to separate the berries by size.
Trasferino explained that in years past, it was traditionally women who would meticulously sort through the berries to pick out those with imperfections.
“They would sit and talk all day as they picked out the bad berries, one by one,” Trasferino shared. “These were the berries that could not be sold in the market.”
As Trasferino led the group to pick cranberries, she pointed to another section of the park where a crew was working to restore the bogs. The process involves removing some maple trees to bring back the cranberry monoculture.
This particular time of year is when the bogs are flooded with water. Cloverdale has a number of sluice gates throughout the park that help control the water levels.
“If you come here in the beginning of November,” Trasferino pointed. “You’re going to see these three bogs are going to be flooded with water. The reason we flood the bogs is the bud is already set for next year. So, by putting that bud underwater, it can’t go below 30 degrees.”
“The bud is protected until we drain down the bogs,” she continued. “Next season, it will bloom.”
Cloverdale was purchased with taxpayer money as part of the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust. Cranberries picked within the park are not sold; instead, they’re available for residents to pick and take home.
CTC members watched as Trasferino reached to demonstrate picking the cranberries from the maroon-colored vines. Then, they split into groups and set to work picking their own berries, filling small bags to take home and sample.
The process appeared to be a lot of fun, with people working together and laughing as they stooped to gather the plump, ruby-red berries. The cranberry bogs were a feast for the senses, with the vibrant colors of the berries and vines contrasting beautifully with the different shades of trees in the park.
“It was great to be here with other CTC members and to learn more about cranberry cultivation,” Barnegat School District Drug-Free Community Coordinator Michele Cucinotta said. “It was also a lot of fun to work together to pick the berries. It was a really rewarding experience.”
When the group was done picking berries, they gathered to have lunch. Members shared upcoming events that could serve as a benefit to the community. Tucker appeared delighted when she noticed communication in action.
“This was a time to take everyone away from emails, cellphones, and work attire,” said Tucker. “Everyone had an opportunity to just be.”
“And from that, conversations, collaborations and ideas were born,” Tucker concluded. “All organically.”
