POLLINATOR AND INTERFAITH PEACE GARDEN IN NEW JERSEY.

Are you looking for a way to make a positive impact on the environment and your community? Look no further than the Interfaith Peace Garden and our youth caretaker groups. Our community is dedicated to promoting social and environmental consciousness, and we have already been recognized as an International Peace Pole site and an International City of Peace. But we’re not stopping there – in 2023, we launched a walking meditation program to promote mindfulness and mental health awareness through horticultural practices. Join us and be a part of something bigger than yourself.

The NJ Peace Garden was started in 2018 as a concept of brining diverse community of somerset county by the Somerset County Cultural Diversity Coalition in cooperation with Rotary District 7510, Interfaith community leaders and various community organizations. The committee was inspired by Rotary’s theme “Peace Through Service”.

As youth group was looking for a way to make a positive impact on the environment n their community. They started working along with Rotary, Rotaract and Friends of Nepal. Central New Jeersey has become a microcosm of 21st century. In Franklin township along, there are more than 75 houses of worships. The Interfaith Peace Garden at the NJ Buddhist Vihara in Princeton, was outcome from the 2020 covid pandemic. Many community groups were looking for outdoor activities and at the same time people were also started to get interested in Pollinator garden as well. So our youth group serched around for any possible grants from other organizations.

Our first native plant donation came from the Rutgers University Coop program and we planted variety of native plants. Then we approached the MonachWatch group and they provided us variety of Milkweeds for us. Next came the Xerces society, with their help we planted more than 600 native and pollinator plants in our Interfaith Peace Garden. We also received several Rotary district grants as well as grants from ChangeX and Nickelodeon. Our Youth group as a lead for the grants from Nickelodeon we planted more than 20 Orchards plants and created Interfaith Peace Mural to promote world peace and understanding.

We have weekly youth volunteers who help to clean, plant as well as learn variety of leaderships skills through our Youth Leadership programs and earn US Presidential volunteer service awards for their volunteer work. If you like to have your children involved you can register at https://www.fonnj.com/join-us/

We have also started Legacy Memorial tree planting projects, where we plant trees to remember our loved ones. If you are interested in planting trees contact us at Contact

Youth group get to learn about Interfaith Peace through games, painting and caretaking. Our community is dedicated to promoting social and environmental consciousness, and we have already been recognized as an International Peace Pole site and an International City of Peace. But we’re not stopping there – in 2023, we launched a walking meditation program to promote mindfulness and mental health awareness through horticultural practices. Join us today and be a part of something bigger than yourself.

After World War II and the dropping of the atomic bomb, Masahisa’s life took on new meaning and he began to share his philosophy for a better world. He created the peace pole as standing prayer for peace with the words, “May Peace Prevail on Earth.” His philosophy became popular and grew in Japan. When he died in 1983, his adopted daughter took the initiative internationally, and it became The Global Peace Pole Project.

The Somerset County Cultural Diversity Coalition in cooperation with Interfaith communities, Lions and Rotary International has been holding an Annual International Day of Peace celebration in September and a celebration of messenger of peace on Buddha’s birthday in middle of May at the NJ Buddhist Vihara, 4299 Rt 27 in Princeton. The NJ Peace Garden has been visited by Tibetan and Nepalese monks, Interfaith Community leaders, Native American leaders, community leaders and elected officials.

A newly updated NJ Peace Garden with the 13 different Interfaith symbols and golden rules from 13 different faith groups was dedicated on October 8th at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara, 4299 Rt 27, Princeton during our Annual International Day of Peace Celebration.

May the new Interfaith Peace Garden bring the peace to our community and around world. Please join us for our New Jersey Nepalese American heritage festival on May 11, 2024, at 11:30 am as we grow a better World and learn to become caretakers of Earth and keepers of Peace together. Free International lunch and refreshments will be provided.