Why is New Jersey Called the Garden State?

Why is New Jersey called the Garden State? In 1926,New Jersey is extensively covered in parks and tress
Alfred Heston published an historical account of Newwith more than 50% of the state still wooded. In
Jersey citing a moment in 1876 when Abrahamfact, New Jersey strongly pushes for land
Browning compared New Jersey to "an immenseconservation and protection of its natural trees,
barrel, filled with good things to eat and open at bothresources, and wildlife. The push for modern
ends, with Pennsylvanians grabbing from one end and"greenways" by many of the local organizations is
the New Yorkers from the other. He called Newone example of the modern way the New Jersey
Jersey the Garden State, and the name has clung tocitizens define themselves by their state nickname.
it ever since." Although, New Jersey has historicalThe New Jersey greenway vision is a push for
roots tied to gardening, its modern ties to its"interconnecting systems of parks, trails, and
nickname might be even more extensive. This isprotected natural areas, farmland, and historical
despite the famous 1954 incident where theplaces" according to Ed McMahon, director of the
Governor refused to sign a bill that would add thisAmerican Greenways Program. With a future vision
nickname to the state license plates. Although trueof keeping in touch with its traditional roots its clear
that New Jersey is also strong in many other areasthat many modern citizens continue to identify with
of manufacturing, mining, and construction itsthe state nickname.
historical and modern ties are very extensive.Gardening is an extremely popular hobby in New
New Jersey has nearly a dozen garden clubs andJersey. New Jersey is also famous for its master
several state associations with two large communitygardener programs at Rutgers where from 1984 to
gardens, Denville Community Garden and the Greater2008 the program has accumulated over 1.2 million
Newark Conservancy. Look around and you will findvolunteer hours by the locals willing to learn and help
bird sanctuaries, garden museums, arboretums, andout, according to a report by the university. This
many historical garden sites. In addition, New Jerseyprogram has been extremely beneficial for getting
has almost 10.000 individual farms spanning nearlypeople more excited and interested in gardening and
800,000 acres of farmland and among those leadinglandscaping in the area. The push for gardening even
the nation in many forms of agricultural production.extends into the Northern New Jersey suburban
New Jersey is a large supplier of tomatoes, corn,housing where container gardening and window box
blueberries, cranberries, spinach, bell peppers,gardening have become increasingly popular trends.
peaches, lettuce, apples, strawberries, potatoes, hay,The nickname not only defines New Jersey from a
and soybeans. Additionally, New Jersey is also famoushistorical point of view it remains today an important
for their wines and fruit wines with nearly threesymbol that represents what the average person
dozen wineries spanning the state.from New Jersey relates to as well.