About

About the Farm and Farmer Margaret Noon

Located in Morris County, School Lunch Organic farm sits on 68 lush organic acres just northwest of NJIT in Hackettstown, NJ. A historic farm in use since the 1600s, this stretch of local land has been yielding organic produce, flowers, and herbs for the last 10 years under the care of Margaret Noon. In 2012, School Lunch Farm began the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program with the goal to provide healthy, delicious, seasonal and locally sourced foods to the community. 

Farmer Margaret (Noon) started School Lunch Farm in 2011 after working in traditional corporate roles for many years. With a passion for sustainable living and eating, Margaret has been sharing the bounty of School Lunch Farm via the CSA program with many communities and organizations in NJ. 

Achieving Organic Certification

As per the USDA blog, Organic 101: What the USDA Organic Label Means, USDA-certified organic foods are grown and processed according to federal guidelines which require farms follow rigid practices "to control soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control and the use of additives. Organic producers rely on natural substances and physical, mechanical, or biologically based farming methods to the fullest extent possible. Produce can be called organic if it’s certified to have grown in soil that had no prohibited substances applied for three years prior to harvest. Prohibited substances include most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides." Source: USDA.gov

School Lunch Farm does not use GMOs such as genetically modified seeds or synthetic pesticides. Moreoever, as an organic farm, School Lunch Farm relies on plant based pesticides such as pyrethrum, extracts of the Benin tree, neem oil, or an extract of the Japanese knotweed root. Learn more about farming practices at School Lunch Farm here.

Sustainability Practices at the NJIT CSA

To support sustainability with the NJIT CSA, weekly deliveries will be using reusable totes or recyclable brown paper bags during the delivery process.

Covid Safety Protocols 

Our CSA promotes safe and sanitary food handling practices. Unlike at traditional grocery stores where supply chain and distribution practices require multiple points of handling, the produce harvested at School Lunch Farm is handled on a minimum basis,  harvested  and delivered the same day.

As is always the recommendation, even organic produce requires a good wash before enjoying your healthy bounty.

Check out our flyer for examples of the summer harvest delivered weekly.