Richard Skelly

Writer at CommunityNews.org

Featured in: Favicon

communitynews.org Favicon

app.com

princetoninfo.com Favicon

countryfolks.com Favicon

ediblecommunities.com

Articles

On the Record: How Darren Revilla Found His Groove

2 weeks ago | communitynews.org | Richard Skelly

Unlike so many successful small businesses, there was no business plan or clearly articulated vision for Revilla Grooves ‘n’ Gear. But record buyers from around the state, Staten Island and other parts of New York City and eastern Pennsylvania flock to the store.
Boat captains can relate to land farmers in struggle with rising costs

3 weeks ago | americanfarm.com | Richard Skelly

POINT PLEASANT BEACH — Like fruit and vegetable and livestock farmers caring for their land, Gus Lovgren considers himself a “steward of the sea,” as do most of the other 18 boat captains who are part of the Point Pleasant Seafood Cooperative — the nation’s oldest cooperative, according to Brick Wenzel of the Ocean County Board of Agriculture — based on Channel Drive in Point Pleasant Beach.
Schilling lays out ideas to improve N.J. ag viability

3 weeks ago | americanfarm.com | Richard Skelly

ATLANTIC CITY — Dr. Brian Schilling, a specialist in Agricultural Economics who supervises a large team of Rutgers Cooperative Extension agents from the Cook College campus in New Brunswick, led a morning talk about Ag Viability in the Garden State. In spite of the precarious nature of farming as a business in New Jersey, Schilling cautioned attendees the situation is not too dire, as many smaller farms are thriving.
State’s fruit producers urged to use containers

3 weeks ago | americanfarm.com | Richard Skelly

ATLANTIC CITY — Rutgers Cooperative Extension agent Bill Sciarappa, who spent years working with Monmouth County farmers but is now doing research in New Brunswick, updated a small crowd of fruit growers on the progress being made with grant funded research experiments with container grown blueberries, Feb. 5 at the New Jersey State Agricultural Convention.
Tri-County Farmers Cooperative holds annual meeting in Hightstown

3 weeks ago | americanfarm.com | Richard Skelly

HIGHTSTOWN — New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn was among those who spoke in mid-February at the annual meeting of the Tri-County Farmers Cooperative, held here at the Mason Lodge. Randy Weeks, who has orchard and vegetable operations in Mercer and Monmouth counties, introduced Wengryn, who grew up on a dairy farm in Hillsborough. “Let me just say I’ve known Secretary Wengryn for a lot of years.
Volunteers lauded at ‘Gratitude’ gathering

1 month ago | americanfarm.com | Richard Skelly

COLUMBUS — The New Jersey Ag Society and Farmers Against Hunger project held a festive gathering to help all concerned chase away mid-January doldrums when it held “Gratitude at The Grange,” potluck dinner on Jan. 15.
Chapman keynote speaker at NOFA–NJ - American Farm Publications

1 month ago | americanfarm.com | Richard Skelly

ASBURY PARK — Author, farmer and organic farming advocate Dave Chapman shared his story in leading the Real Organic Project in his keynote address at the 35th Annual NOFA–NJ Winter conference, held here on Jan. 25-26. Chapman, based at his Longwood Farm in Vermont, grows hundreds of tons of tomatoes in hoop houses and fields during the short growing season, publishes the Real Organic Project e-newsletter for more than two million subscribers.
Freehold facing uncertain future

1 month ago | americanfarm.com | Richard Skelly

MONROE TOWNSHIP — Harness racing can remain a viable sport and industry in the Garden State, according to Eugene Landy, a man who spent most of his life around horses, yet never really worked as a professional standard bred trainer or driver. Eugene Landy of Rumson, now a spry and alert 91, recalls with fondness days in his youth, helping to park cars at Freehold Raceway. The facility, America’s oldest horse racing track, ceased operations on Dec. 28, but hopefully the closure will be temporary.
Morris, Local 130 determined to live up to business’s name’s identity

1 month ago | americanfarm.com | Richard Skelly

ASBURY PARK — Eric Morris, founder of Local 130 Seafood, is passionate about local food. He had no background in commercial fishing, but jumped into the retail end of selling seafood after college in Colorado. Originally from Tenafly, he said people in Asbury Park and surrounding towns will pay more for seafood that is locally harvested. The store’s name refers to New Jersey’s 130 miles of shoreline.
Ascough cleaning up with small business venture

2 months ago | americanfarm.com | Richard Skelly

FORKED RIVER — Like a lot of small businesses started in the home or small farm, Thomas Ascough’s Savvy Fit Soaps business grew out of his profession. Unlike the mass manufactured soaps one finds in the supermarket — often injected with air and filled with chemicals that may not be the best for individual skin types — Ascough’s Savvy Fit Soaps are natural.