Socially Distant Fashion Show Benefits Morristown's Grow It Green

MORRISTOWN, NJ—When you think farms, you typically don't think fashion (unless jeans and muddy boots are your thing). But that hasn't stopped Grow It Green, the organization that runs Morristown's urban farm, from teaming with the Morris Muses for an upcoming fashion show fundraiser.

"The Muses was organized about 2 and a half years ago," said Jacqueline Cicala, one of the group's founders. "It's a group of creative women and visionaries who get together and help local charities."

This year's show, Fashion for Hope, will take place at the Fig & Lilly Garden in Morristown on Oct. 7 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be held outside and within department of health guidelines. Masks and social distancing, as well as other measures, will be required.

Cicala said this year's event was a bit more difficult to plan with all the safety factors that needed to be addressed, but that the Muses were determined to hold the event to help Grow it Green.

Grow it Green manages the urban farm on Morristown's Hazel Street, the Early Street Community Garden, and a greenhouse at nearby Saint Elizabeth's University.

"It used to be a junk yard," said Lisa Alexander, Grow it Green's Executive Director, about the community garden. "And three women who are our founders were determined that that was not land was not going to be used for development. And so they drummed up all the support they could find, and we're able to get that designated as a green space. And then that's when they built the garden."

Alexander said residents can rent one of 100 plots in the garden for the season for a small fee.

"And then for the whole season," she said, "you can grow whatever you want. It's always great. But this year in particular, it's even more important."

Alexander said the farm's Winter Market will begin in November, after its farm market closes on Nov. 7. Alexander said the Winter Market will have a slightly different feel than summer's farm market.

"We like people to have choices," Alexander said, "our whole thing is inspiring people to eat differently by just the joy of being at a farm."

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