The newest S.T.A.R. Neighborhood, The Alice Community Gardens, in the Alice Apartments, received a S.T.A.R. mini-grant to fund the costs of materials for an event series that would serve to introduce their newly formed S.T.A.R. Neighborhood to the Alice community.
The neighborhood leaders organized a three-part workshop with the overall goals of increasing resident engagement, strengthening community connections, promoting sustainability education, and introducing residents to resources available through Sustainable Princeton and their new community garden group.
The first event, “Spring Cycle: Oh, Scraps! Swap & Shop” was a great success. Residents and Management from The Alice—Princeton engaged enthusiastically with their sustainability initiatives. Over 30 were in attendance. Residents learned proper recycling, composting, and sustainable gardening practices for apartments, patios, and rooftops. Overall, the event successfully introduced The Alice as a S.T.A.R. Neighborhood initiative and laid the foundation for a resident-led sustainability group, which will continue to grow through follow-up communications and ongoing engagement.
The second event “Flower Shower” included a flower giveaway for mothers and mother figures in attendance. Residents received information about the community rooftop garden space and empowerd residents to garden across balconies, patios, and indoor spaces.
The final event of the series, “Sip & Savor Social”, was designed as a community-building event that brought residents together around food, sustainability, gardening, education, and neighborhood connection. The event continued the momentum established through previous community initiatives, including the Flower Shower and Spring Cycle—Scraps Swap & Shop events. Residents gathered on the rooftop for an evening of music, food, sustainability education, gardening conversations, plant giveaways, children’s activities, and opportunities to build relationships with neighbors.
Project Accomplishments:
- Establishment of 2 rooftop raised garden beds
- Engagement of 11 households and 22 total residents in hands-on gardening
- Expansion of gardening participation into balconies, patios, and indoor growing spaces
- Ongoing planting of herbs, flowers, and pollinator-friendly plants
- Development of shared responsibility for garden care and maintenance
- Strengthened social networks through shared gardening roles and leadership participation
- Created a weekly rotating volunteer system for rooftop garden care
- Fostered intergenerational engagement between adults and children in sustainability practices
- Built a replicable community gardening model across apartment-based living spaces
The Alice Community Gardens project successfully achieved and exceeded all originally proposed objectives. Through a combination of composting education, rooftop and balcony gardening implementation, and sustained community engagement, the project has strengthened sustainability awareness, increased participation in municipal environmental programs, and created an active, connected network of 11 households engaged in ongoing environmental stewardship.
This initiative has demonstrated a scalable and replicable model for apartment-based sustainability programming that aligns with Sustainable Princeton’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening climate resilience through community action.
About S.T.A.R. Neighborhoods
The S.T.A.R. Neighborhoods program gives Princeton residents the opportunity to actively participate in building a more sustainable, together and resilient community. S.T.A.R. neighborhoods select activities that will strengthen their community, reduce its carbon footprint, and inspire others to follow suit. Learn more about S.T.A.R. Neighborhoods on the Sustainable Princeton website.
Funding for the S.T.A.R. Neighborhood Mini-Grants has been provided by NRG Energy Inc.
