Disabled Adults Enjoy Homegrown Farm-To-Table Dining In Barnegat

BARNEGAT, NJ — Some were verbal, some non-verbal. Some needed no assistance, while others did. But they all had one thing in common: they're members of Barnegat's Meadowedge Social Club, and they were ready to enjoy a delicious, fresh dinner made from produce that they grew and harvested themselves.

Meadowedge Social Club, part of Barnegat Recreation, is a community of developmentally disabled adults in Barnegat that's been around since 2008 (and some of its members have been there since day one). It's a group where adults, many between the ages of 30 and 50, can get together and socialize with others who also have disabilities.

The group goes on trips, has game nights and other fun experiences. But this past spring, the group decided to try something new - taking care of their own garden.

Under the leadership of certified Master Gardener Barbara Barbagallo and Program Coordinator Meredith Jackstadt, the club of 20 individuals grew lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, basil and onions. It was an ambitious goal, but an overwhelmingly successful one. They planted donated seedlings and carefully nurtured them from May to September until they grew into a large garden.

And what better way to enjoy your hard work than to eat it?

With the help of the club's organizers, a dinner party was prepared. Club members prepped veggies and cooked sauce for all the enjoy.

The Meadowedge Social Club gathered outside of their meeting house (550 E Bay Ave.) to celebrate. Jackstadt made a brief speech before dinner was served, telling the club to give themselves a hand for everything they accomplished.

"You guys did this work," she said. "You guys are the ones who put in the work."

The meal opened with a fresh salad chock-full of veggies, tomato confit crostini (your choice of fresh pesto or ricotta) and breadsticks.

The main course was a pasta dinner, topped with homemade red sauce using the garden's many tomatoes.

A wide array of desserts were served after, from carrot cake to pies to brownies. Hot apple cider topped the evening off.

With firepits crackling and the chatter of happy club members enjoying the fruits of their labor, the sun set over the field during a perfect evening in Barnegat.

Though this was the club's first farm-to-table dinner, it certainly will not be its last. In fact, so much was produced by the garden that during dinner, a pizza party was discussed as they had so much leftover tomato sauce.

The group also pickled cucumbers (of course), carrots and tomatoes due to their bumper crop.

It was more successful - and delicious - than any one of them could have dreamed.