Hopatcong’s Businesses Help Champion Good Nature Programs

Most of the summer season saw Hopatcong’s Farmer’s Market showing less produce and food vendors from the previous year. One reason is many of Hopatcong’s neighboring communities have organized their own Farmer’s Market Sundays and that has added competition in luring in local area grocery-produce vendors. James Puccio, honeybee farmer and the owner of Queen of the Hill Farm is a prominent vendor at the Farmers Market with his bee and honey products. Puccio took notice of this situation and expedited the assistance from the Mayor and Borough Council for the necessary approvals to expand into other products under his own tent.

Puccio -has become a Hopatcong Farmer’s Market champion. He is procuring premium fruits and vegetables covering every seasonal product so market attendees find what they are looking for in Spring, Summer, and Fall. Puccio says “If we don’t grow it on our farm, we’ll use our network of local farms to make sure it’s at the Farmers Market every week.”

Puccio started Queen-of-the Hill Farm located at 233 Stanhope Sparta Road Andover after a successful career on Wall Street. He has facilitated turning the Hopatcong Farmer’s Market back into a bountiful market of fresh produce before the summer’s end.

The farmer’s market will conclude in mid-October. Check out Queen of the Hill Farm’s products by visiting their website https://www.queenofthehillfarm.com/

Since 2012, the Hopatcong Community Garden -HCG (501c nonprofit org) has been dedicated in supporting environmentally friendly gardening. They operate recreational community gardens for Hopatcong Borough residents. It is an organization that promotes sustainable, ornamental and edible plant culture to its members. HCG provides Borough property space to garden organically, which fosters an improved quality of life that inspires nature loving interaction among Hopatcong residents. The leased-out garden plots produce food, preserve green space and lend opportunities to form multicultural and intergenerational bonds among members. HCG has also designed two raised garden beds that allow gardeners to garden without kneeling and bending. This enables the elderly and those with mobility issues to participate as members. Visit their Facebook page for membership info https://www.facebook.com/HopatcongCommunityGarden/

HCG operates on the organic method of gardening. The use of inorganic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, inorganic seeds or plants, or inorganic herbicide are not permitted. Only biological pesticides, beneficial insects, and organic cultural practices are used to control garden pests. Gardeners use approved organic gardening, watering and soil conservation methods. Use of non-organic materials can result in termination of gardening privileges. HCG was an invited community group to participate in the first "Fall for Our Town" September 21st organized by the Hopatcong Environmental Commission - HEC. Both youngsters and adults received valuable info on bulb planting and good insects we need in our gardens. Conducting these demos was certified garden master Jen Barone. Barone has been a leading member of HCG since its inception. She is also on the board of the HEC.

A token bag with one spring planting bulb was given to "Fall for our Town" exhibit participants along with a planting demo. Their sponsor Pesto Flowers provided the free bulbs. Samantha Presto and her daughter Ashley own and operate Presto Flowers, LLC located at 14 Lakeside Blvd, Hopatcong. Their staff has over 40 years of experience in the floral industry and owner Samantha continues to attend classes and seminars yearly for floral design and new gardening innovations. Presto has supported many Hopatcong school fundraising events with their welcoming outdoor grounds that creatively celebrates the seasons with plants, flowers and winter evergreens. Presto is also there to provide practical advice even on plant selections for individual rain gardens. They are also Hopatcong's local garden center. Environmental experts agree adding rain gardens can make a difference in improving the water quality of neighboring Lake Hopatcong. Visit Presto's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Presto-Flowers-LLC-466470916818774