Brick MUA to Present Free ‘Healthy Soil’ Gardening Workshop As Part of Reservoir Series

A heron stands near a garden in the Metedeconk River in Brick Township. (Photo: Shorebeat)

The Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority has announced it will host a free presentation, “Healthy Soil is at the Root of Your Garden,” workshop July 21, 2024.

The workshop is being held at the Brick Reservoir as part of Brick Utilities’ “Weekend at the Reservoir” community education program. Participants will learn how healthy soil is key for a thriving garden.

The workshop will be presented by Becky Laboy of the Ocean County Soil Conservation District, who will explain the importance of soil health for “prolific gardens of flowers and vegetables.” Through hands-on activities, participants will explore the composition of soil, identify different soil textures, and learn how water reacts and responds to different soil types.

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Those who attend can discover how to select appropriate species of plants for their garden based on their own garden soil.

“Explore the benefits of proper fertilizer usage for a flourishing landscape while reducing impacts to the environment and local waterways,” an announcement said. “Learn how a native garden can help reduce stormwater runoff and keep pollutants from reaching our streams, rivers and Barnegat Bay.”

This program runs from 10:00 to 11:30 AM. Class size is limited, so early registration is recommended. Those interested in the program are asked to contact Shari Kondrup via email at skondrup@brickmua.com or call 732-701-4282 to register or obtain more information.

“Weekend at the Reservoir” is a free community education program offered by Brick Utilities. The MUA’s educational programs focus on the importance of the Metedeconk River and the Barnegat Bay to the region, and how to conserve and protect these important water resources.

The Metedeconk River drains into Barnegat Bay and its watershed encompasses 90 square miles in both Monmouth and Ocean counties. Starting at its headwaters in Freehold, Jackson and Millstone, the river flows eastward through Howell, Lakewood, Wall, and Brick Townships before reaching Point Pleasant Borough and Barnegat Bay.

The Metedeconk serves as the primary water supply source for Brick Utilities, which provides drinking water to more than 100,000 area residents in Brick Township, Howell Township, Point Pleasant Borough, and Point Pleasant Beach. The river is a major source of freshwater to the Barnegat Bay, and one of 28 Congressionally-designated estuaries of national significance in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Estuary Program.