GIVE TODAY
Help us Plan for Tomorrow!
On behalf of the Friends of Whittemore (FOW), I am honored to share our deepest gratitude for your generous support, along with an update on our many achievements in 2022. Thanks to your patronage, Whittemore - Community, Culture & Conservation is able to serve all members of our community through programs and activities that inspire and nurture a profound connection with the gardens, woods, and trails that epitomize the very soul of this 180-acre sanctuary.
The steadfast support of our partners and community is the lifeblood of WCCC. As a volunteer-led organization, about 50% of FOW’s time is devoted to fundraising. This year, I invite you to join me in making a Multi-Year Commitment, which will allow FOW to focus more attention on its signature programs – the heart of WCCC – serving the community of Tewksbury and its surrounding neighbors.
This year was exceptionally special with a diverse array of offerings, and it is rewarding to look back at all we have accomplished together! Check out WCCC By The Numbers 2022 and be sure to scroll through the entire message for additional details about this amazing year. Thank you again for being part of the WCCC family and considering your investment in our future.
WCCC By the Numbers 2022
The Arts & Sculpture Gardens
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15 Artists exhibited at Whittemore
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2 permanent installations added to the Sculpture Gardens of Whittemore
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2 ephemeral pieces installed on the Whittemore Property
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1 pop-up piece installed by an unknown Artist
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Fall & Spring Plein Air Painting Classes
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Over 50 Artists have walked the Gardens & Galleries of Whittemore
Garden Concerts
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12 Musical Groups/Musicians played the Gardens of Whittemore
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2 were from Europe!
Wellness & Nature
Over 250 Wellness & Nature Programs offered in a variety of practices
The Community Gardens, Trails & Property
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Donated over 350 pounds of organic produce to local food pantries
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Over 150 people attended Native Plant & Gardening programs
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2 rare Native plants discovered
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Over 400 native shrubs and plugs planted
Educational Programming: After School Clubs, Field Trips & Summer Nature Camps
Educated and enriched the lives of 350 pre- and elementary school children
Food Makes Friends
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29 Chefs roasted, grilled, and cooked over open fire in the Gardens of Whittemore
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Served over 300 people
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Hosted 3 Garden Concerts
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Hosted 2 Fundraising Dinners
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Hosted 1 SquirrelFest
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Building 1 Earthen Oven
Volunteers
168 people gave generously of their time to help with a variety of projects
Raised over $500 for the Tewksbury Family Assistance Program
WCCC was honored to be featured in The Black River Journal, an award-winning quarterly publication that showcases the best of what makes our area of New Jersey the unique and special place that it is.
Over 3000 people walked the grounds of Whittemore in 2022!
What is in the works for 2023 and beyond!
THE ARTS & SCULPTURE GARDENS
In Partnership with The Tewksbury Land Trust "Vertebra", a collaborative work created by David Horowitz and Jeff Mase, will be installed on the Lance Property of the 10-mile trail, sponsored by Friends of Whittemore. “Vertebra” is a gateway destination representing the mission of the Trust: to protect and support life and a way of living.
In partnership with The Hunterdon Art Tour (THAT) – which is moving to a biennial format – WCCC will present “Then & Now” with artists who have exhibited at Whittemore since 2017.
WELLNESS & NATURE
Installation of Labyrinth, designed by Carl Klemme
The Whittemore Labyrinth
We are excited to announce the installation of a walking labyrinth in the center of Blue Bird Field here at the Whittemore Center. Stay tuned for progress updates as we break ground this spring.
We plan to expand our Wellness & Nature offerings with Forest Bathing, Yoga – Bowls, Wand & Walking Stick Workshops.
Leslie Weinman, MS, CNS, LDN, CHC - Functional Nutritionist, Herbalist – Living Well Nutrition will be joining our Team. Leslie will be coordinating monthly wellness salons, including Guest Speakers, working hand in hand with our Director of Wellness and Food Makes Friend Team, as well as be on hand as a Functional Nutritionist for Consultations.
GARDEN CONCERTS
Kicking off our 2023 Garden Concert Series:
Hailing from Boulder, Colorado, Nick Dunbar somehow made his way to Tewksbury where he lives with his family. He is no stranger to the Wild West and the culture that comes with it.
Bringing together some of the best musicians in the area, it is always a treat to see him live. Check out his new video Hanging by a Thread
FOOD MAKES FRIENDS
Expanding of Foraging Program
We are building an Educational Component into all our School Field Trips, which will include eating from our Gardens, hosting Guest Chefs, and providing nutritional snacks from our Gardens and/or Partner Regenerative Farms.
We cannot wait to unveil our Earth Oven! Made with over 600 clay (from the grounds of Whittemore) tiles, it will be used at our Garden Concerts by Guest Chefs creating fresh pizza, grilled vegetables - and whatever they choose to invent - using all locally sourced ingredients.
We are uplifted by the ongoing, steadfast support of our community that has fostered and sustained our efforts since 2016! It is with great pride that Whittemore has reached a point where we can give back to others, and we are doing so by providing assistance to Tewksbury Family Assistance, Clinton Open Cupboard Food Pantry and Flemington Area Food Pantry.
We are beyond grateful to our Founding Sponsors: Black River Roasters, Evening Shade Landscaping,and Kelly Gordon, Sotheby’s International Realty (formerly Leaf Realtors) for their continued support.
In closing, I cannot thank you enough for your support and generosity. As always, we thank those of you who have already given. For your convenience, we are pleased to offer a new Multi-Year Commitment option: simply choose your level of annual support and pledge to renew at (or above) that level for FIVE years. This will better ensure stable funding for the quality signature programs and activities WCCC has become known for since 2016. Click HERE to confirm your investment in WCCC’s future now!
I look forward to seeing you at Whittemore.
Giving has never been easier - no donation is too small!
ONLINE: by clicking on the donate button below.
PHONE: 908-439-1201
BY MAIL:
Friends of Whittemore
PO Box 26, Oldwick 08858
Warmly,
Carolyn Thow
President - Friends of Whittemore
Whittemore - Community Culture & Conservation
To Make a 5-year Pledge, please click HERE!
Snapshot 2022!
WCCC By the Numbers 2022 – a deeper dive!
THE ART & THE SCULPTURE GARDEN
The Hunterdon Art Tour (THAT) – nine artists exhibited in the galleries, on the trails and in the sculpture garden: Hunterdon Watercolor Society members Eleanor Eick, Pamela LaFevre, Lana Pagano and Norma Walaka; Ahni Kruger, Elie Porter Trubert, David Horowitz & Jeff Mase, and Alison Scherr.
Quietude – Kathleen Thompson
Permanent Installations:
“No Borders” – David Tompkins
“Life in the Balance” – Jeff Mase
Ephemeral Installations (2):
Spring & Water – Elie Porter Trubert
Le Salon des Artistes – a new initiative in partnership with The Hunterdon Art Tour (THAT) - attended by over 50 local and area artists
GARDEN CONCERTS
Led by Jasmine Bloch-Krempels, Music Director & Garden Concert Coordinator
9 Concerts: Catmoondaddy, Mama D & the Vexations, Joe Grillo, Kristen Ouest & Kevin Dayton, Rainbow Fresh Trio, ALBO (A Little Bit Off), Dan Crisci & Ginny Johnston
Special Performances: Metropolitan Sax Quartet, Dario Chiazzolini, Orsola Fezzi and The Foragers
Wellness & Nature
Led by Dr. Ellen Ganek, MD, Director of Wellness & Nature, and Carl Klemme, Director of Mindfulness
Over 225 Wellness Classes - Pilates, Yoga, Tai Chi, Meditation
Over 25 Nature & Wellness Programs, including Health lectures, Monthly Mindfulness Walking Meditations, Ducks & Drakes, Tree Identification, Bird Watching, and Foraging
Unveiled three of five Meditation Benches, a collaboration between Carl Klemme, who selected unique locations on the Whittemore property, and David Horowitz, who hand-carved these one-of-a-kind sculptures for sitting. Each bench connects visitors to a location-specific Guided Meditation led by Carl, which can be found on our website. Special thanks to Evening Shade Landscaping, Restaurant Village Hospitality Group & Rustic Artistry for their generous sponsorship of this initiative.
THE COMMUNITY GARDENS, TRAILS & PROPERTY
Sold Out Community Garden Plots and donated over 125 pounds of organic fruits and vegetables to Open Cupboard Food Pantry in Clinton and the Flemington Area Food Pantry.
Installed a state-of-the-art irrigation system, generously donated by Storr Tractor, designed and installed by Joe Berthold with the help of Master Gardener Rob Hochenberger.
The Native Plant Society hosted two events, Spring Sticks & Twigs and a Fall Plant Sale, which drew more than 120 visitors.
Discovered TWO rare plants and continued with pulling of invasive plants, which in turn encourages the return of native plants. We also sowed over 400 native plugs and plants.
Working with Raritan Headwaters regarding our trails and waterways – with the objective of creating a long-term plan for continued conservation and stewardship.
Educational Programming: After School Clubs, Field Trips & Summer Nature Camps
Provided After School Clubs at Tewkesbury Elementary & Old Turnpike School; Pack Walks, Photography, Food Makes Friends
Custom Field Trips for Local area Pre- and Elementary Schools
3 weeks of Sold-Out Summer Nature Camps
Educated and enriched the lives of over 300 school children
FOOD MAKES FRIENDS
3 Pop-Up Chefs hosted 3 Garden Dinners, tailoring their menu to the musical act
2 Sold-Out Fundraising dinners, each featuring an exquisite 5-course Foraged, Locally Sourced Seasonal meal cooked on our Fire Rig
Hosted SquirrelFest – 60 guests attended and more than 22 chefs participated, creating classic dishes with their own spin and inventing new dishes with inspiration from the available proteins, vegetables, herbs and on-hand ingredients.
VOLUNTEERS
CHUBB - Corporate Green Initiative; over 100 volunteers over three days throughout our Spring and Summer Season
Approximately 30 Boy Scouts
35 students from 3 area private schools
8 weekly volunteers working in the Gardens, Cottage Gardens and the Trails
NEW PARTNERSHIPS
Howling Basset Books
Hunterdon County Economic Development & Tourism
Sweet Cheeks Farm & Apiary
The Peasant Wife
The Tewksbury Land Trust