I used to live there and asked that question. Was told it refers to the Victory Gardens folks planted during one of the World Wars.

Anyone else have more info? Too lazy to google it..

 

Well, here you go:
The Garden State

This nickname seems to have originated at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia on Jersey Day, August 24, 1876. Alfred M. Heston states in his 1926 work, Jersey Waggon Jaunts, that "The Garden State" was used by Abraham Browning, of Camden. "In his address Mr. Browning compared New Jersey to an immense barrel, filled with good things to eat and open at both ends, with Pennsylvanians grabbing from one end and the New Yorkers from the other. He called New Jersey the Garden State, and the name has clung to it ever since."

In later years, the explanation has evolved to reference New Jersey truck farms that provide floral and agricultural produce to cities in the area instead of an "immense barrel." These farms have catered, particularly, to the New York and Philadelphia metropolitan areas. Some support the nickname with stories of the Revolutionary War and the food provided to soldiers by the small farms of New Jersey.

Probably the most intense promotion of this nickname for New Jersey began when the legislature voted to add the legend "Garden State" to New Jersey license plates in 1954, in spite of the Governor's refusal to sign the bill, in part because "New Jersey is noted for its great strides in manufacturing, mining, commerce, construction, power, transportation, shipping, merchandising, fishing and recreation, as well as in agriculture. I do not believe that the average citizen of New Jersey regards his state as more peculiarly identifiable with gardening for farming than any of its other industries or occupations."

Much of our state is still very pastoral and agricultural especially to the south and east of I-195/ I-295.

 

Hey, thanks amancuso! Great story which makes perfect sense when you think about it. Most people, sadly, associate Jersey with either Atlantic City/the Shore or I-95. There’s really a lot more to Jersey than that!

 

Washed it, only to get it just as dirty an hour later.

 

Installed Invidia exhaust. Love it.

 

You're welcome and yes there is. I'm originally from the Empire State, but love my adoptive state even more.

 

Yup. South Jersey's almost like a separate state.

One of the last poultry farmers in southern NJ lived right around the corner from me when I grew up. Nice old German fellow and his wife. They retired and sold their property to a plants/flowers nursery. Down at the end of our street, on the corner of 571 and Alligator Rd. north of Lakehurst, there was an old abandoned farm with a run-down house and chicken coops. Last time I went past there, it was all overgrown with cedar trees. Next time I'm there, I'm going to hike in the old driveway (which was almost overgrown last time I saw it) and see if any of that's still standing.

I'm also going to see if Brick will make a Van Zile Rd. sign for me to take/ship home as a souvenir. I think it'd look good in my garage on the back wall....

C ya,
Dutch

 

I bought a new rubber center console tray. I know, pretty lame . . . but gotta start somewhere, still trying to talk the wife into roof black jack flag and stripes. Guess, I should have thought of that before I said "I do"

 

Didn't you know the "I don'ts come after the I do's". Ha ha.

 

TAP Plastics. My local one (they're a chain) had a whole bunch of remnants from various plastic sheets that they were selling for a couple of bucks each. I picked one, and the guy who helped me said it was more trouble ringing it up than it was worth, so I could just have it for free. :D

That assumes that a flat sheet will work for your design. You may be able to glue the sheet to make simple corners, but I don't know how strong those glue joints would be.

 

Are you going to be hooking in to your OBDII port and use your iPad as gauges?

-Clint

 

i very very carefully cleaned off the 2+ feet of snow we got last night. wish i had a garage

 

The fantastic plastics place?!? They're still in business?! I went to osh and tried to see if I could fab something real cheap and I came across a piece of lexan, good idea you had! Maybe I can get a piece at tap, and heat it up enough to bend a little shelf at the bottom...?

YES!! Maybe. I'm just getting into NCS though so not sure about buying 2 USB/OBD cables. Amazon has an iPad obd cable for $85 though...

You're both local! Any suggestions for a cool active mini club nearby?

 

Replaced the DRL bulbs with PIAA GT-X Super Plasma bulbs, followed by the fog lights bulbs receiving the new H8 PIAA Xtreme White bulbs... Cheap and easy way to improve frontal lighting.

 

The one in downtown Mountain View is still there. I'd bet there are ones in San Jo as well.


Haven't found one yet, but I haven't really looked...

 

If bending doesn't go well you could try elastic string to keep the ipad from tipping or sliding. Just drill some small holes in the mount at the corners, thread the elastic through and knot. Might also put one of those sticky pads on the mount to prevent sliding and rattles.

 

The Krautenkuper got the adjustable lumbar support installed in the passenger seat. 35 minutes with 15 of those spent looking for appropriate screws to attach the adjuster to the seat frame (for some reason these kits did not come with the screws).

I couldn't find the passenger side kits in stock at any of the usual online suppliers, so the ones I got came from Romania. It was not any more expensive than what I paid for the driver's side kits I got from a US supplier, even including the shipping.

The ball-and-chain's Cooper ("Frau Blau") gets its passenger side done when she gets home in the AM.

 

Ok gds194...I'm gonna' teach ya' an old saying we have here on NAM..."Pics. or it didn't happen??!!"...so where are they??

 

Put new stripes on.

 

Installed my Kuda Mount. A little easier than expected. Removed three of the six screws to loosen the speedo ring, then just wiggled it in. Life is good. Wow, upside-down. This is a new NAM feature....

 

Your car changes more than any other that I know of. It always looks great though, SUPER clean look this time. Like factory but way better.

 

LOL I hear ya man. I'm incredibly indecisive. I really wanted to go back to what attracted me to MINI's to begin with this time. At least for now... I'm sure spring will be a different story.

 

Looks sweet!

 

Nice! I haven't reinstalled the stripes on my R53 ever since I had the bonnet resprayed. I just couldn't get over how much the dealership wanted for just one stripe! Still looks naked to me and it has been a couple of years. If you don't mind me asking - where did you get your stripes?

 

Sent you a PM.