Home to Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County, located in Davidson's Mill Pond Park.

• Environment
• Agriculture
• Research
• Teaching
• Health

The E.A.R.T.H. Center in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park at 42 Riva Avenue, South Brunswick, is the headquarters for Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County. The State University’s outreach wing, Rutgers Cooperative Extension offers programs such as the Master Gardeners Environmental Stewardship program, 4-H Youth Development clubs and federally funded nutrition classes for limited resource families. Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County uses the knowledge of university faculty to offer programs and research to serve Middlesex County’s diverse population.

Middlesex County's EARTH Center invites you to learn about local agriculture and the environment. Now your school group, Scout Troop or senior's club, can take a guided tour at the Middlesex County EARTH Center to learn about these topics and more. Please call us for scheduling availability.

The EARTH Center demonstration areas include a 1000-square-foot vegetable garden, a 13-bed herb garden, native plant displays and an arboretum. These demonstrations are used to spark conversation about local agriculture, basics of horticulture, Integrated Pest Management, earth-friendly gardening techniques and many topics that are the focus of the Extension Agriculture and Natural Resource Management Division.

Adult volunteers can find out about donating time to the EARTH Center gardens by calling 732-398-5278.

EARTH Center Points of Interest

Master Gardener-led Tours of all EARTH Center Gardens with activities for kids of all ages. Take home ideas for your personal green space, while planning for the next season.

‘Paint a Pot’ Station by the Small Stage

Children are invited to paint their own flowerpot inspired by the natural colors and textures surrounding them.

Master Gardeners will be on-hand with materials and to guide the explorations.  Supplies are limited and first come first served

Native Plant Garden/Trail

This long-standing project features native plant species that occur historically in local ecosystems. Native plants support habitat for wildlife and are beautiful additions to a home landscape. They require less irrigation and fertilizer because they are adapted to our local soil and climate. This garden is accessible whenever the park is open.

Rutgers Master Gardeners and Rutgers Environmental Stewards help propagate and educate about native species and shared with the community. Classes for the Environmental Stewards program start in January.

For more information about the Environmental Stewards program, click here.

In cooperation with the County’s Solid Waste division, commonly purchased backyard compost bins are arranged and used by Master Gardeners to teach the technique of turning kitchen and backyard waste into a valuable gardening resource. 

Rutgers Master Gardeners are encouraged to conserve and reuse resources.

Classes start in September.

Make a fresh herb bundle to take home. These 13 raised beds have been planted since the EARTH Center was opened in 2005 with whimsical and culinary themes by the current year’s Master Gardeners class.

RCE Master Gardeners learn design and care of herbaceous annuals and perennials in a landscape.

Guests can arrange a mini bouquet. A showcase of best gardening practices aiming to teach the current year’s Master Gardener class while showcasing new plant varieties.

Rutgers Master Gardeners are taught growing techniques aimed at reducing the need for excessive pesticides, fertilizers, and water usage.

Classes start in September. To learn more, click here.

This hoop house is filled with plants that feed and shelter butterflies and larvae native to New Jersey.

It exists thanks to donations and the hard work of volunteers. The butterfly house is open Saturdays and Sundays, June – August, 10am – Noon.

Rutgers Master Gardeners are encouraged to become knowledgeable about pollinators and attracting them to their home gardens.

Pollinators are, after all, an important contributor to our food systems.

Classes start in September.

Learn to transplant seedlings and take home a native specimen. This volunteer project aims to increase biodiversity and habitat of suburban landscapes in central New Jersey. Extension staff teach volunteers how to collect native seeds and grow these plants in this outdoor nursery. Native plants provide food and habitat for birds, butterflies, bees and other wildlife.

The plants are donated to schools, libraries, churches and other organizations who wish to install native plant gardens.

Contact Michele Bakacs at mbakacs@rutgers.edu for donation information.

Classes for the Environmental Stewards program start in January.

For more information about the Environmental Stewards program, click here.

Use flowers and their natural pigments to press colorful designs onto bookmarks you can use all year round! Create a colorful memento for your child’s library.  

A display of whimsical plantings and structures visitors to the Children’s Garden are encouraged to explore, read, and learn.

This garden is accessible whenever the park is open.

Formal activities are planned several times a season. Contact the Helpline for details.

Dedicated Rutgers Master Gardeners are volunteer teachers who share their horticultural knowledge with the local community.

Classes start in September.

Encouraged as an area for meditation, this expansive area is maintained by Master Gardener volunteers commemorating life events, milestones, and people.  The Rutgers Master Gardener program includes training on the basic principles of landscape design.

Classes start in September. To learn more, click here.

This is an opportunity for home gardeners to bring their finest specimens for display, while discussing and cracking wisdom about people’s home gardens and their various methods of growing. Here visitors can learn all about Rutgers Cooperative Extension’s upcoming Master Gardener class.

 Have you ever grown an outstanding specimen in your vegetable garden that was the envy of all your neighbors?

Maybe you missed the entry deadline, or it wasn’t ready for the County Fair?

Well gardeners, you are in luck, because as part of the New Jersey Folk Festival at the EARTH Center in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park on August 23 from 10 am – 4 pm you can show off your prize worthy potato or oversized okra that the Greatest of the Garden Exhibition.

Simply bring your home-grown produce to our Extension event's Master Gardener and you will be both recognized and roasted for your gardening efforts.

Gardeners are welcome to bring their biggest or most outstanding home grown produce for a chance to win. Categories include but are not limited to:

• Biggest tomato
• Biggest cucumber
• Biggest squash
• Biggest watermelon
• Longest gourd
• All vegetables: Best Likeness to a Celebrity or Historical Figure

It's all for fun, so come and submit your entry between 11am and 2 pm at the EARTH Center in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park.

Most outstanding entries will be rewarded with a hearty handshake and a humble prize at 2:30 pm.

For more information contact extensionservices@co.middlesex.nj.us.

Herbs and vegetables aren’t the only thing to grow in a garden. Here you can find some of the more common fruit crops we can grow in central Jersey.

In addition to learning best practices for fruit crops, Rutgers Master Gardeners have an active role in furthering the production of new fruit varieties while working side by side with Rutgers Agriculture Professors, such as the work done in recent years to develop the Rutgers Scarlet strawberry variety.

Classes start in September. To learn more, click here.

Rows for the Hungry

The Rows for Hungry is a 2-acre donation garden which grows fresh, first quality produce directly for the food insecure of Middlesex County. We welcome schools, community volunteers and corporations to join in for days of service. 95,000 pounds of produce has been grown over the years, and we will continue “sharing our harvest and teaching to empower”.

While you tour the Rows take part in a tomato tasting, go on a rubber ducky hunt and take a nutrition quiz.  Meet REPLENISH members and learn about Middlesex County’s food distribution hub.

Click here to learn more.

A place for our Certified Master Gardeners alumnus to display new techniques and show off their mastery of old ones.

The Master Gardener program fosters a sense of community among its classmates and graduates. For many a garden is a place to be among friends. 

Classes start in September. To learn more, click here. 

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Upcoming Programs and Activities

Check out any of our free programs! Unless otherwise noted register for EARTH Center programs by calling 732-398-5262.