TRT - Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Marksboro, NJ

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 HRT For Men Marksboro, NJ

What is Testosterone?

Testosterone is a crucial hormone for men and plays an important role throughout the male lifespan. Most of a male's testosterone is produced through the testicles. Also called the male sex hormone, testosterone starts playing its part during puberty.

When a male goes through puberty, testosterone helps males develop:

  • Facial Hair
  • Body Hair
  • Deeper Voice
  • Muscle Strength
  • Increased Libido
  • Muscle Density

As boys turn to men and men grow older, testosterone levels deplete naturally. Sometimes, events like injuries and chronic health conditions like diabetes can lower testosterone levels. Unfortunately, when a man loses too much T, it results in hypogonadism. When this happens, the testosterone must be replaced, or the male will suffer from symptoms like muscle loss, low libido, and even depression.

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How Does TRT Work?

TRT is exactly what it sounds like: a treatment option for men that replaces testosterone so that your body regulates hormones properly and restores balance to your life. Also called androgen replacement therapy, TRT alleviates the symptoms that men experience with low T.

Originally lab-synthesized in 1935, testosterone has grown in popularity since it was produced. Today, TRT and other testosterone treatments are among the most popular prescriptions in the U.S.

Without getting too deep into the science, TRT works by giving your body the essential testosterone it needs to function correctly. As the primary androgen for both males and females, testosterone impacts many of the body's natural processes – especially those needed for overall health. For example, men with low T are more prone to serious problems like cardiovascular disease and even type-2 diabetes.

When your body quits making enough testosterone, it causes your health to suffer until a solution is presented. That's where TRT and anti-aging medicine for men can help. TRT helps balance your hormones and replenish your depleted testosterone. With time, your body will begin to heal, and many symptoms like low libido and irritability begin to diminish.

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What Causes Low T?

For men, aging is the biggest contributor to lower testosterone levels, though there are other causes like obesity, drug abuse, testicular injuries, and certain prescribed medications. Sometimes, long-term health conditions like AIDS, cirrhosis of the liver, and kidney disease can lower testosterone levels.

When a man's testosterone levels drop significantly, it alters his body's ratio of estrogen and testosterone. Lower testosterone levels cause more abdominal fat, which in turn results in increased aromatase, which converts even more testosterone into estrogen.

If you're concerned that you might have low T, you're not alone. Millions of men in the U.S. feel the same way. The best way to find out if your testosterone is low is to get your levels tested.

For sustainable testosterone replacement therapy benefits, you must consult with hormone doctors and experts like those you can find at Global Life Rejuvenation. That way, you can find the root cause of your hormone problems, and our team can craft a personalized HRT plan tailored to your needs.

 Sermorelin Marksboro, NJ

Low Sex Drive

One of the most common reasons that men choose TRT is because they have lost that "spark" with their partner. It's not easy for a man to hear that they're not performing like they used to. Intimacy is a powerful part of any relationship. When a once-healthy sex life dwindles, it can cause serious relationship issues.

The good news is that low libido doesn't have to be a permanent problem. TRT and anti-aging medicines help revert hormone levels back into their normal range. When this happens, many men have a more enjoyable life full of intimacy and sex drive.

 TRT Marksboro, NJ

Inability to Achieve and Maintain an Erection

Weak erections – it's an uncomfortable subject for many men in the U.S. to talk about. It's even worse to experience first-hand. You're in the midst of an intimate moment, and you can't do your part. Despite being perfectly normal, many men put blame and shame upon themselves when they can't achieve an erection. And while the inability to perform sexually can be caused by poor diet, obesity, and chronic health conditions, low testosterone is often a contributing factor.

Fortunately, weak erections are a treatable condition. The best way to regain your confidence and ability in bed is to speak with your doctor. Once any underlying conditions are discovered, options like TRT may be the best course of treatment.

Hair Loss

 Hormone Replacement Marksboro, NJ

Loss of Strength and Muscle Mass

Do you find it harder and harder to work out and lift weights in the gym? Are you having problems lifting heavy items that you once had no problem lifting?

Recent studies show that when men are inactive, they lose .5% of muscle strength every year, from ages 25 to 60. After 60, muscle loss doubles every decade. While some muscle loss is common as men age, a significant portion can be tied to low testosterone levels. When a man's T levels drop, so does his muscle mass.

Testosterone is a much-needed component used in gaining and retaining muscle mass. That's why many doctors prescribe TRT Marksboro, NJ, for men having problems with strength. One recent study found that men who increased their testosterone levels using TRT gained as much as 2.5 pounds of muscle mass.

Whether your gym performance is lacking, or you can't lift heavy items like you used to, don't blame it all on age. You could be suffering from hypogonadism.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy Marksboro, NJ

Hair Loss

If you're like millions of other men in their late 20s and 30s, dealing with hair loss is a reality you don't want to face. Closely related to testosterone decline and hormone imbalances, hair loss is distressing for many men. This common symptom is often related to a derivative of testosterone called DHT. Excess amounts of DHT cause hair follicles to halt their production, causing follicles to die.

Because hair located at the front and crown is more sensitive to DHT, it grows slower than other follicles and eventually stops growing permanently. Thankfully, TRT and anti-aging treatments for men in Marksboro, NJ, is now available to address hair loss for good.

While it's true that you can't change your genes, you can change the effects of low testosterone on your body. Whether you're suffering from thinning hair or hair loss across your entire head, TRT and other hormone therapies can stop hair loss and even reverse the process.

 TRT For Men Marksboro, NJ

Gynecomastia

Also called "man boobs," gynecomastia is essentially the enlargement of male breast tissue. This increase in fatty tissue is often caused by hormonal imbalances and an increase in estrogen. For men, estrogen levels are elevated during andropause. Also called male menopause, andropause usually happens because of a lack of testosterone.

If you're a man between the ages of 40 and 55, and you're embarrassed by having large breasts, don't lose hope. TRT is a safe, effective way to eliminate the underlying cause of gynecomastia without invasive surgery. With a custom HRT and fitness program, you can bring your testosterone and estrogen levels back to normal before you know it.

 HRT For Men Marksboro, NJ

Decreased Energy

Decreased energy was once considered a normal part of aging. Today, many doctors know better. Advances in technology and our understanding of testosterone show that low T and lack of energy often go hand-in-hand.

If you're struggling to enjoy activities like playing with your kids or hiking in a park due to lack of energy, it could be a sign of low T. Of course, getting tired is perfectly normal for any man. But if you're suffering from continual fatigue, a lack of enjoyment, or a decrease in energy, it might be time to speak with a doctor.

Whether you're having a tough time getting through your day or can't finish activities you used to love, TRT could help.

 Human Growth Hormone Marksboro, NJ

Lack of Sleep

A study from 2011 showed that men who lose a week's worth of sleep can experience lowered testosterone levels – as much as 15%, according to experts. Additional research into the topic found almost 15% of workers only get five hours of sleep (or less) per night. These findings suggest that sleep loss negatively impacts T levels and wellbeing.

The bottom line is that men who have trouble sleeping often suffer from lower testosterone levels as a result. If you find yourself exhausted at the end of the day but toss and turn all night long, you might have low T.

TRT and anti-aging medicines can restore your T levels back to normal, which can help you sleep better with proper diet and exercise.

 Ipamorelin Marksboro, NJ

Depression

You're feeling down about everything, and there's no solid explanation for why you're in such a crummy mood. Your daily life is great and full of success, but you can't help but feel unexcited and unmotivated. If you're experiencing symptoms like these, you may be depressed – and it may stem from low testosterone.

A research study from Munich found that men with depression also commonly had low testosterone levels. This same study also found that depressed men had cortisol levels that were 67% higher than other men. Because higher cortisol levels lead to lower levels of testosterone, the chances of severe depression increase.

Depression is a very real disorder and should always be diagnosed and treated by your doctor. One treatment option gaining in popularity is TRT for depression. Studies show that when TRT is used to restore hormone levels, men enjoy a lighter, more improved mood. That's great news for men who are depressed and have not had success with other treatments like anti-depression medicines, which alter the brain's chemistry.

 Sermorelin Marksboro, NJ

Inability to Concentrate

Ask anyone over the age of 50 how their memory is, and they'll tell you it wasn't what it used to be. Memory loss and lack of concentration occur naturally as we age – these aren't always signs of dementia or Alzheimer's.

However, what many men consider a symptom of age may be caused by low testosterone. A 2006 study found that males with low T levels performed poorly on cognitive skill tests. These results suggest that low testosterone may play a part in reducing cognitive ability. If you're having trouble staying on task or remembering what your schedule is for the day, it might not be due to your age. It might be because your testosterone levels are too low. If you're having trouble concentrating or remembering daily tasks, it could be time to talk to your doctor.

Why? The aforementioned study found that participating men experienced improved cognitive skills when using TRT.

 TRT Marksboro, NJ

Weight Gain

Even though today's society is more inclusive of large people, few adults enjoy gaining weight as they age. Despite their best efforts, many men just can't shed the extra pounds around their midsections, increasing their risk of heart disease and cancer.

Often, male weight gain is caused by hormone imbalances that slow the metabolism and cause weight to pile on. This phase of life is called andropause and happens when there is a lack of testosterone in the body. Couple that with high cortisol levels, and you've got a recipe for flabby guts and double chins.

Fortunately, TRT treatments and physician-led weight loss programs can correct hormone imbalances and lead to healthy weight loss for men.

 TRT For Men Marksboro, NJ

What is Sermorelin?

Sermorelin is a synthetic hormone peptide, like GHRH, which triggers the release of growth hormones. When used under the care of a qualified physician, Sermorelin can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and help you feel much younger.

 HRT For Men Marksboro, NJ

Benefits of Sermorelin

Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy has been used for years to treat hormone deficiencies. Unlike HGH, which directly replaces declining human growth hormone levels, Sermorelin addresses the underlying cause of decreased HGH, stimulating the pituitary gland naturally. This approach keeps the mechanisms of growth hormone production active.

Benefits of Sermorelin include:

  • Better Immune Function
  • Improved Physical Performance
  • More Growth Hormone Production
  • Less Body Fat
  • Build More Lean Muscle
  • Better Sleep
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What is Ipamorelin?

Ipamorelin helps to release growth hormones in a person's body by mimicking a peptide called ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of three hormones which work together to regulate the growth hormone levels released by the pituitary gland. Because Ipamorelin stimulates the body to produce growth hormone, your body won't stop its natural growth hormone production, which occurs with synthetic HGH.

Ipamorelin causes growth hormone secretion that resembles natural release patterns rather than being constantly elevated from HGH. Because ipamorelin stimulates the natural production of growth hormone, our patients can use this treatment long-term with fewer health risks.

 Ipamorelin Marksboro, NJ

Benefits of Ipamorelin

One of the biggest benefits of Ipamorelin is that it is suitable for both men and women. It provides significant short and long-term benefits in age management therapies, boosting patients' overall health, wellbeing, and outlook on life. When growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland using Ipamorelin, clients report amazing benefits.

Some of those benefits include:

  • Powerful Anti-Aging Properties
  • More Muscle Mass
  • Less Unsightly Body Fat
  • Deep, Restful Sleep
  • Increased Athletic Performance
  • More Energy
  • Less Recovery Time for Training Sessions and Injuries
  • Enhanced Overall Wellness and Health
  • No Significant Increase in Cortisol

Your New, Youthful Lease on Life Starts Here

Whether you are considering our TRT services, HRT for women, or our growth hormone peptide services, we are here to help. The first step to turning back the hand of time starts by contacting Global Life Rejuvenation.

Our friendly, knowledgeable TRT and HRT experts can help answer your questions and walk you through our procedures. From there, we'll figure out which treatments are right for you. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to looking and feeling better than you have in years!

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Latest News in Marksboro, NJ

Staying Alert for Traffickers

Mandy R. Bristol-Leverett, the co-founder of (CAN) posed a simple question: “Who is reaching the enslaved in your community?”That inquiry prompted Matt P. Jones to ask Bristol-Leverett, 47, to present her accredited regional human trafficking awareness summit at in Hackettstown, New Jersey. After 100 students, community members, and professional law enforcement personnel learned about the indicators of trafficking and responses, they were invited to enlist.Soon after this, the pastor of the Assemblies of ...

Mandy R. Bristol-Leverett, the co-founder of (CAN) posed a simple question: “Who is reaching the enslaved in your community?”

That inquiry prompted Matt P. Jones to ask Bristol-Leverett, 47, to present her accredited regional human trafficking awareness summit at in Hackettstown, New Jersey. After 100 students, community members, and professional law enforcement personnel learned about the indicators of trafficking and responses, they were invited to enlist.

Soon after this, the pastor of the Assemblies of God congregation saw a woman at a coffee shop in a suburban shopping mall who appeared nervous while answering brief cellphone calls and texts. When the woman appeared to faint, Jones and the manager helped her to a table.

As they talked, the woman mentioned being ashamed of what she had done after coming to the U.S. from another country for a job that hadn’t worked out the way she expected.

“That’s when I suspected she had been trafficked,” says Jones, 56.

Not long after the woman’s comment, two men appeared, asked what had happened, and said they would handle the situation. After the woman indicated she didn’t want to go with the men, they fled. Jones secured help from CAN and the FBI victim specialist the pastor met at the summit.

Jones says the experience helped him appreciate how CAN helps average citizens to identify trafficking victims and rescue them.

“If you don’t think it’s going on in your neighborhood, you are sadly mistaken,” Jones says.

Since that time, Mountaintop has joined the growing number of churches that have started a local CAN ministry.

While every church’s response is unique, CAN offers comprehensive resources — everything from prevention to survivor reentry — built from more than 30 years of experience serving survivors. Bristol-Leverett is CAN’s co-founder and a U.S. missionary endorsed by AG .

Mountaintop’s adherents added their missing children’s outreach to the church’s vacation Bible school and assessment tools to its food pantry. Congregants have served in the county jail, public schools, and at a survivor home for victims (a CAN collaboration). Mountaintop’s CAN ministry leads annual missing children search and rescues, including the nation’s first statewide hotel outreach.

In 2019, the AG’s asked Bristol-Leverett to adapt the regional outreach model she had used for 10 years to reach the entire state. Mountaintop was one of five district host churches for a simultaneous outreach, where hundreds of volunteers distributed materials to every hotel and motel in New Jersey. When COVID-19 closed most hotels in 2020, CAN pivoted and launched a missing children’s outreach that located more than 1,100 young people in 2021.

CAN has enlisted members of nearly 30 churches in eight states and three other nations as abolition advocates. CAN trains and coaches these specialists, many of whom serve and advise state and federal leaders, assist task forces, and help with the federal Trafficking in Persons .

Rachel A. Stoltzfus is the advocate for in Blairstown, New Jersey. The rural AG church’s anti-trafficking response includes community trainings, foster families, trauma-informed children’s drama camps, providing staff for a survivor home, plus strip club, street, and jail outreaches.

The veteran of two short-term trips to Vietnam with an AG missionary couple to do anti-trafficking work, Stoltzfus says Bristol-Leverett’s passion made her want to also help reach the enslaved in America.

“Being involved with CAN is so rewarding because it is a ministry that is about the Father’s business,” says Stoltzfus, 30.

Bristol-Leverett has been dedicated to this work since soon after her Christian conversion at an AG youth retreat in Spokane, Washington. She encountered the first victim she served through leading a weekly prayer meeting. In every church she and her husband of 22 years Dwayne have pastored, she continued to develop a church-based anti-trafficking response. Now she is appointed by AG to equip churches nationwide to do the same.

“Every time God used someone to prevent slavery, God used what was in their hand,” Mandy says. “Moses had a shepherd’s staff. When we go in, we don’t create new clinics, we just retrofit what’s already there. We’re creating pathways to not just identify victims, but help victims heal.”

Photo: Mandy Bristol-Everett, and her husband, Dwayne, have been in ministry together for more than 20 years.

Ruthie's BBQ and Pizza is Closing, Owners Announce New Venture

MONTCLAIR, NJ - A chapter in Montclair history is coming to a close. Ruthie's BBQ is closing its doors, owners announce.Located at 64 Chestnut Street, Ruthie's BBQ and Pizza has been a community staple. To the surprise of many loyal patrons, the owners Ruth Perretti and Eric Kaplan took to social media to announce their decision.“For over 16 years this corner has been not only our business, but our home. It has been our greatest joy to share all that we love with you," the duo wrote. “Yes, we are closing Ruthie...

MONTCLAIR, NJ - A chapter in Montclair history is coming to a close. Ruthie's BBQ is closing its doors, owners announce.

Located at 64 Chestnut Street, Ruthie's BBQ and Pizza has been a community staple. To the surprise of many loyal patrons, the owners Ruth Perretti and Eric Kaplan took to social media to announce their decision.

“For over 16 years this corner has been not only our business, but our home. It has been our greatest joy to share all that we love with you," the duo wrote. “Yes, we are closing Ruthie’s in Montclair, but our journey as creators continues. We might not be running a daily restaurant, but we are on a new mission to give back to our community.”

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The statement reads as follows:

"For over 16 years this corner has been not only our business, but our home. It has been our greatest joy to share all that we love with you; Slow Smoked BBQ, thin crust Pizza and Hot Jammin’Blues. Yes, we are closing Ruthie’s in Montclair, but our journey as creators continues. We might not be running a daily restaurant, but we are on a new mission to give back to our community. In recent years we have been cultivating naturally grown regional grains at Ruthie’s Farm and established Marksboro Mills in conjunction with River Valley Community Grains to create a market for other growers in NJ. Our vision goes beyond simply feeding you; we aim to restore a healthy local grain economy and that nourish both people and the earth. And we will invite you, when we are ready, to come see us as there is no way we will stop supporting live music! We plan on having events with the roots music we love and locally sourced food. It has been very difficult to make the final call on when to close our business here in Montclair, but the night we finally did, July 29th, 2023, it was a typical scene, outdoor music about to start, rain moving in, are we inside – are we outside? We scrambled a bit, and when the rain moved out, a vibrant rainbow emerged above our beloved building. It seemed to confirm that our commitment to creating meaningful experiences goes beyond our restaurant’s walls. We’re sorry to have made this decision without a heads up to all of you, but it was the only way that felt right to us. We will be offering our place back to the universe for the next person to create a new story, just as we did when we purchased this magical corner building those many years ago."

Eric, Chef/Owner also wrote a personal message, “This is a personnel decision that I’ve been thinking about for some time. I’m saddened, and sorry that Ruthies is closing after 16 years. Ruth and I are proud of what we accomplished, and love what we created. To all our community and all the great musicians, I wish we could keep going, but the time has come to move on. I feel guilty for stopping and letting people down and I am embarrassed to stop. Ruth and I are ready for the next chapter in our lives and look forward to creating something out in western NJ with Marksboro Mills."

Last Dance: Montclair’s Beloved Ruthie’s BBQ & Pizza Closes

Montclair is reeling from the news that Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q & Pizza had its last night on Saturday. An announcement on the restaurant’s social media came as a shock to many, but it’s something owners Eric Kaplan and Ruth Perretti had been planning for some time.“There’s no easy way to do this,” said Perretti on Sunday, adding that the couple had decided to ...

Montclair is reeling from the news that Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q & Pizza had its last night on Saturday. An announcement on the restaurant’s social media came as a shock to many, but it’s something owners Eric Kaplan and Ruth Perretti had been planning for some time.

“There’s no easy way to do this,” said Perretti on Sunday, adding that the couple had decided to sell the mixed-use commercial building that houses Ruthie’s and wanted to go out on their own terms. Both Kaplan and Perretti hope to have some kind of final event before it changes hands.

Perretti and Kaplan said the spirit of Ruthie’s, beloved not only for its thin crust pizza and BBQ, but as a live music destination, is something they want to bring west to Warren County. There, they have another labor of love, as the owners of Marksboro Mills. Perretti and Kaplan have become part of the regional grains movement, teaming up with River Valley Community Grains.

An interest in sustainable food movement stemmed from Perretti’s family. She grew up in Montclair, but her family owned property — a house and farm — in Warren County. Her father had a vision of the farm growing food for restaurants in New York City. In 2016, when Perretti left a career in fashion, she turned her focus to the farm and started growing vegetables incorporated by Kaplan into the menu at Ruthie’s.

Kaplan, seeing a farmer growing rye, had the idea that the couple should start growing grains and make their own flour from wheat. They ultimately purchased a warehouse and converted it into a grain mill, now Marksboro Mills. The bigger location allows for events, including live music, something Kaplan, a musician, is passionate about, as well as offering additional space for craftsman and creatives.

As excited as they are about their next chapter in Marksboro, Kaplan said he is sad and emotionally exhausted, adding it will be hard to cancel musicians he had booked through August. However, both say it was time.

The threat of a storm ruining their final night of alfresco food and music didn’t happen. Instead, Ruthie’s was rewarded with a rainbow, something Perretti took as a sign they were leaving on a good note.

The corner of Chestnut and Forest has a long history as a food destination. Growing up in Montclair, Perretti remembers when it was a deli run by the Calabrese family. People would come in and remember their meatballs, says Perretti. She and Kaplan were thankful they had a chance to continue in that tradition and create something memorable in the community.

“Ruthie’s lives on in hearts and minds. We are very hopeful the next owners and caretakers of this corner do it justice,” she said.

These ‘Farmpreneurs’ are Revolutionizing Agriculture in New Jersey

Ruth Perretti of Marksboro Mills with Larry Mahmarian, Len Bussanich and Mike Hozer of River Valley Community Grains. Photo: John BesslerOne day in 2016, Ruth Perretti was out in Marksboro—a tiny hamlet in Warren County’s Frelinghuysen Township, where she lives with her husband Eric Kaplan—when she met the founders of a new business called River Valley Community Grains (RVCG). They knew...

Ruth Perretti of Marksboro Mills with Larry Mahmarian, Len Bussanich and Mike Hozer of River Valley Community Grains. Photo: John Bessler

One day in 2016, Ruth Perretti was out in Marksboro—a tiny hamlet in Warren County’s Frelinghuysen Township, where she lives with her husband Eric Kaplan—when she met the founders of a new business called River Valley Community Grains (RVCG). They knew Perretti had hired a farmer to grow crops on some of her land and asked if she would be interested in trying organic grains. They would advise her on the growing process and find buyers for the end product.

The founders of RVCG—Mike Hozer, Len Bussanich and Larry Mahmarian, childhood friends from Bergen and Hudson counties who had fallen in love with the area’s natural beauty—began their business out of concern about the decades of heavy pesticide use by farmers growing corn and soy for livestock feed for big agricultural corporations. Growing heirloom grains naturally, without the use of chemicals, they explained to Perretti, would reduce the amount of toxins in the soil and watershed, and provide a crop increasingly in demand by small artisan bakers.

Perretti was all in. The Montclair native had spent idyllic childhood summers in Marksboro riding horses and swimming in the Paulinskill River bordering her family’s property (now hers), which spills into the Musconetcong and then into the Delaware. She later inherited the family home. “The water in northwestern New Jersey is some of the purest anywhere,” she says.

In 2017, she planted her first acre of wheat, joining other local farmers switching from feed crops to organic grains.

RVCG provides these farmers with the guidance, tools and resources they need to make the switch—procuring the right heirloom seeds for the soil and conditions, managing pests and weeds without chemicals, threshing and harvesting, cleaning, storing, testing and milling the grain and, finally, finding markets for the flour.

Their artisanal flour and rolled oats are used by local bakeries, pizzerias and granola makers and sold in farmers markets and natural supermarkets throughout the state. RVCG flour is used by Montclair’s Le French Dad Boulangerie, Bloomfield’s Jed’s Bread, Brooklyn’s Otway Bakery, and Frenchette Bakery and Mel Bakery in Manhattan. Chilton Mill Brewing in Long Valley even uses it to make a Belgian wheat beer.

Naturally, RVCG flour was also used in the pies at Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q & Pizza in Montclair until Perretti and Kaplan closed the beloved restaurant this summer so she could focus on the grain initative in Marksboro.

In May, RVCG took a big leap forward with the opening of a home base, Marksboro Mills, in a former farm-machine repair shop. Perretti purchased the property and supervised the renovation, which she hopes will cement Marksboro’s status as a grain hub—the center of an agricultural revolution that will restore small grain farming to an area that, from the late 1700s through the early 1900s, was the bread basket of the region.

“The small farms in this area were decimated by big ag in the ’80s, which gave seeds and chemicals to farmers, dictated what they could grow, and shipped it all to China,” says Perretti. “The small farms had no choice. This grain initiative is so important because it provides a different economic alternative.”

Marksboro Mills will give farmers a place to sell their products. And, in its demonstration kitchen, students, the public and nonprofits will be able to learn about ancient grains and small-scale grain processing and baking.

As its name implies, the mill’s primary function is a place where RVCG can mill its clients’ grain. Since 2019, they’ve been grinding it by hand on tabletop mills in a commercial kitchen in Long Valley, which they could use only one evening a week. Says Bussanich, “To say Marksboro Mills is a game changer is an understatement.”

The cavernous space also has room to host meetings and demonstrations with nonprofit partners like the Food Shed Alliance and Montclair Community Farms; eventually, it could host special events.

Growing grain, especially without the use of pesticides and fertilizers, is not for the faint of heart. The weather, which is getting more severe due to climate change, is a constant threat. In July 2021, for example, just as they were getting ready to harvest five acres of spring wheat on Ruthie’s farm, the rain “came down in buckets and did not stop,” says Bussanich. The better part of the harvest, cultivated for nearly a year, was lost due to the rainfall and excessive summer heat.

With the rain come weeds. To prevent weeds and fertilize crops, cover crops of buckwheat, red clover, oats, peas or mustard must be planted.

The “storage piece” has also been challenging, Bussanich says. The grain’s moisture content must stay at 12 percent or below to prevent the growth of the vomitoxin-causing fusarium fungus. They recently acquired a grain hopper that can store many thousands of pounds of grain, as well as the machinery necessary to move the grain into the bins.

For the founders of RVCG, the challenges are well worth it. With a strong demand for artisanal grains, their business is thriving. Farmers get more per pound for heirloom grains than for feed crops, along with the benefits to the local economy. Even with the extra costs associated with organic grains, including fees to RVCG for their services and time transitioning fields to chemical-free soil, many are finding it worthwhile to make the switch.

Bussanich, who worked for the outdoor store Campmor, and Mahmarian, who worked in corporate relocation, both now work full time for RVCG, and are astounded by its rapid growth. “If you had told me when we started I’d be in a position to commit to this full time, I wouldn’t have believed it,” Bussanich says.

The idea for RVCG was kindled when the three friends joined a group trying to restore the soil and water of the Musconetcong River Valley, run by Sister Miriam MacGillis, who founded Genesis Farms in Blairstown, one of the country’s first community-supported organic farms.

To float the idea of a grain initiative, the three friends and MacGillis hosted a meeting of about 50 locals in February 2016. Agronomist Elizabeth Dyck, who had led grain enterprises in other states, shared stories of successful, small-scale grain enterprises she’d helped jumpstart.

Connecting with Dyck, who did soil testing and advised early adopters how to grow without chemicals, was “critical,” says Bussanich. They’d reached out after reading about her role in the Northeast’s grain renaissance in the book The New Bread Basket, by Amy Halloran.

“Elizabeth told us about this area’s rich history of grain growing,” says Bussanich. “We figured, if it’s been done before, it can be done again.”

Steve Gambino of Villa Milagro Vineyards in Warren County was the first to take the leap, transitioning a field of soybeans into spring wheat and producing a bumper crop of 10,000 pounds. He donated 500 pounds to RVCG, which they had stone-ground into flour by an Amish miller in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It was baked into samples given to local bakers and donated to Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse in Milford for a flour-baking class. The results were delicious and promising, and the business was launched.

At this point, the flour produced through RVCG is not certified organic, even though no pesticides are used and only natural fertilizers applied that would pass organic muster. Certification would require farmers to wait three years before planting organic seeds and not allow them to use any equipment they also use on non-organic fields. “Certification is a real hindrance to growers, especially small farmers,” says Perretti. “They can’t switch to organic if it means they’ll lose money; we have to give them a bridge into this.”

So far, the RVCG model has been working. The biggest problem now is that demand for their flour is outstripping supply. “We need more growers to really bring all the benefits to this process,” says Bussanich, “to bring the environmental benefits, and to bring a product that’s healthier and better and stays in the community.”

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Montclair institution Ruthie's BBQ and Pizza set to close, owners say it was time

Montclair is set to lose as an institution after the owners of Ruthie's BBQ & Pizza announced they were closing their beloved restaurant on the corner of Chestnut and Forest.For owner Ruthie Perretti and her husband Eric Kaplan, who served as head chef, the decision was anything but easy. But they both acknowledged that it was time."I've been in the industry for 45-something years," Kaplan said. "I wanted to try something new."Perretti described the restaurant as a "labor of lo...

Montclair is set to lose as an institution after the owners of Ruthie's BBQ & Pizza announced they were closing their beloved restaurant on the corner of Chestnut and Forest.

For owner Ruthie Perretti and her husband Eric Kaplan, who served as head chef, the decision was anything but easy. But they both acknowledged that it was time.

"I've been in the industry for 45-something years," Kaplan said. "I wanted to try something new."

Perretti described the restaurant as a "labor of love." It's easy to understand what she means. She and Kaplan met each other in West Orange over 16 years ago. Kaplan was playing guitar at a blues club, and Perretti was in attendance. They started dating, and both decided that they wanted to open a restaurant. Kaplan was a professional chef trained at the Culinary Institute of America, while Perretti worked for years in the fashion industry.

The pairing resulted in a restaurant with excellent barbecue, a rarity for North Jersey, along with thin-crust pizza.

Ruthie's was "simple food done right," the way Perretti and Kaplan wanted it. But it was also a hub for live music, with bands jamming on the outdoor patio in the summer. It was a community linchpin for Montclair, especially for high school students looking for an after-school slice.

"People would meet each other there," Perretti said. "I had several people who met their future wives and husbands there, we've had weddings there."

It was never just a restaurant to the pair, it was literally home. Perretti and Kaplan lived in the apartment above the restaurant. They'll now reside on Perretti's family farm in Warren County, but will continue to give back to the community.

A few years ago, the couple began growing natural grains and have since established Marksboro Mills. They aim to help start a market for other local growers. The hope is that in the future, Marksboro Mills will eventually be open for more live music and locally sourced food, a Ruthie's staple.

Perretti and Kaplan will both miss the community that was an integral part of Ruthie's. Perretti remembers people who would come up to her at the restaurant, grab her hand and say "thank you." Kaplan says he's heard some say it feels like losing a family member.

"How important is community?" Perretti said. "It's the whole reason we did it."

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