I’ve been using my free time lately to organize a few closets around the house and streamline everything.  The most daunting of all was the closet where I’ve been keeping old gift bags, wrapping paper (brown paper scraps) and other shipping materials in the hopes that they find a new purpose someday.  I found one box full of bubble-wrap and two more full of packing peanuts (the dreaded classic stryofoam variety).  Not wanting to throw them out previously, I tucked them away until I found a new use for them.

Well, I guess I don’t ship things as much as I had anticipated, and I no longer wanted to hold onto these items.  Before throwing them in the trash, I figured I’d google search “recycling packing peanuts.”  Here I found an unexpected and interesting website called the Plastic Loose Fill Council.  On this site is a searchable database of different places you can drop-off old packing materials for re-use.  As it turns out, Morris County is lucky enough to have a place that participates!

Pack Ship ‘n More in Madison will not only take your old styrofoam peanuts and bubble wrap, but they’ll also accept old ink and toner cartridges, batteries and old cell phones.  By bringing my packing stuff there, I no longer have to hold onto the clutter, but I also don’t have to worry about throwing it all in the garbage.  Ok, so it’s not life-altering, but it sure made me happy, and I just had to share!

flickr: cmcottone

It’s almost criminal how long it’s been since my last blog post, and now that my academic ventures are winding down, I hope to be able to focus more time to writing posts.

Along those lines, I have a lot of catching up to do!  Here’s a brief mash-up of things going on this time of year that interest me.

• Raw milk: There’s a hearing on the raw milk bill next Monday, December 12 in Trenton.  The Foodshed Alliance is asking people to come in support of legalizing raw milk in the state of New Jersey.  There’s been momentum building, and an advocacy group called Garden State Raw Milk has formed as a response.
• Winter Farmer’s Market: The town of Newton, in Sussex County, has established a Winter Farmer’s Market open on Saturdays November through April from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.  It’s a little far from Morristown, but could be a good model for future winter farmer’s markets in the area!
• Acupuncture class: Morristown’s own North Jersey Community Acupuncture is holding a class this Friday at 7 p.m.  Attendees will learn the theory behind acupuncture and its benefits, and this will be the first of six more in-depth classes on the topic.  A $5 donation is requested.
• Music in the Woods: Schiff Nature Preserve is having its Annual Music in the Woods celebration on Saturday, Dec. 11 from 7-9:30 p.m.  Spend an evening by the fire listening to acoustic music and viewing stunning nature photography.  Members $8; Non-members $10.
• Gingerbread & gifts: Have a little holiday shopping to do? Check out the 20th Annual Gingerbread Wonderland and Holiday Craft Show at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum this Saturday and Sunday from 10-5 p.m.  The kiddos will enjoy marveling at the gingerbread houses on display, and adults can buy locally-made gifts and crafts for the holidays.  Suggested donation of $2.
• Bernards Green Drinks: Clink glasses with like-minded individuals at Bernards Green Drinks this Thursday, Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. at Dolce Hotel’s Vita restaurant.
• Pork: I just got an email this morning from River Bend Farm.  Now is the time to place your order for locally, pasture-raised pork, which will be ready in January.  Plus, they have a spiffy new website.

credit: flickr ExperienceLA

While it may seem a little too soon, if you have plans to feast on a sustainably-raised turkey this holiday season (Thanksgiving or Christmas), you should start evaluating the options now.

Last year we had a wonderful turkey from Griggstown Quail Farm and Market near Princeton, NJ.  We placed the order in advance and were able to actually pick it up at the last day of the Morristown Farmer’s Market (where Griggstown is a vendor).  They offer both traditional and heritage breeds and all birds are raised free range.

While Griggstown is well known and prevalent throughout the area, I would suggest giving one of the small farms in the area a shot this season.  Plaid Piper Farm (the farm where we’ve purchased our pasture-raised half a pig for the past two years) is another fantastic option.  Paul, the owner, considers himself a Grass Farmer, Microbe Manager and Steward of the Land.  He’s a big fan of Joel Salatin (of Food, Inc. and The Omnivore’s Dilemma fame).  None of the animals on his farm are treated with antibiotics or growth hormones and they’re all raised in the pasture.  The farm has been in his family for over 200 years!  I’ve  been there, and I know he’s for real.  Plus, if you go at the right time, you might get lucky and see Paul sporting his famous plaid kilt!

Another great local farm located in Long Valley, Mini Mac Farm, is offering turkeys for Thanksgiving.  The turkeys are raised free range on small family farms in the area and are processed locally.  I’ve been to visit that farm as well and I know Helen and her husband are working hard to make a go of sustainable farming.

The Health Shoppe in Morristown is also working with local farms to help you buy an organic or free range turkey this season.  That’s a great travel-free option.

Whatever route you choose, I suggest you hurry!  These farms have a limited supply of turkeys (and sizes) that they’ve raised, and once they’re gone, they’re gone!

Gobble, gobble!

Sustainable Morristown is at it again with another eco-minded event this weekend!  Check out Green on the Green and the Morristown Film and Music Festival on Saturday, August 27 on the Morristown Green.  This will be the fourth annual film festival  hosted by MorristownGreen.com, showcasing films by local filmmakers with this year’s theme built around sustainability!  And who doesn’t love to watch a movie or two outside on the Green?  Viewers vote for Best Picture at the end.  I can’t wait to see the results and learn more about all of the sustainability intiatives in the area.

It will be a daylong celebration, beginning at 12 p.m.  Musical acts of all genres will perform throughout the day and festival goers can check out exhibitors from local non-profits and eco-concious companies.  The Loretta Hagen Band will headline the afternoon’s musical acts at 7 p.m. with a mix of country and rock music.  Once it gets dark (around 8 p.m.), the film festival will begin!  Be sure to bring lawn chairs or blankets.

For any questions, please contact sustainmorristown@yahoo.com.

There’s no shortage of farm fresh food in Morristown this time of year.  It’s all about finding the right places and buying the right items.  Before you make your automatic stop at the grocery store, try one of these places first.  Here’s a brief list of places to go this weekend or in the upcoming weeks:

• Morristown Farmer’s Market – Sundays from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the lot behind George & Martha’s & The Grasshopper.  Great way to meet your local farmers!
• Grow It Green Morristown’s Urban Farm at Lafayette – On Saturday from 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., tour the garden with a volunteer, learn about the crops and they buy what you’d like straight from the garden at a very reasonable price.  It doesn’t get any fresher than that, people!
• The Health Shoppe – always a great local resource for food from the area.
• Mendham’s Organic Farmer’s Market – Saturdays 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., enjoy live music as you buy your local and mostly organic produce from local farmers.
• Local Food Buying Club – Consider joining the Foodshed Alliance (based out of Blairstown).  They have an innovative Food Buying Club where you place an order for what you’d like from the farm and it’s delivered right to a Morristown location.  There’s a small delivery charge and a small annual fee ($30) to join the organization.
• Online tools – Check out NJ Dept of Agriculture’s Jersey Fresh website for what’s in peak season and links to farms.  LocalHarvest.org is also a great resource.

If I forgot anything, please add it to the comments!

I stopped by Festival Earth today at the Morristown EcoCenter, and it turns out I timed it perfectly with the brief bout of rain we had this afternoon.  The event was a little quiet, I suspect because it was the first nice day all week and people wanted to be outside doing outdoorsy things, but the smaller crowd allowed me to really talk with some of the neat vendors at the event.  I’ve been to Earth Day events and green fairs in the area before, so it was great to meet many new people.

The first was Beaux Art Green, an eco-friendly furniture & interior design company based out of Plainfield, NJ.  I learned about the marmoleum – just like linoleum, but made from all natural components – that clicks together in tiles, allowing for maximum portability (if moving to a new house), or allowing homeowners to replace only the tiles that are scratched.  They also have a similar system for bamboo flooring.

I spoke with Jeff at Quercus Studio about landscape architecture and how T and I have been talking about putting in a rain garden to sop up the small lake that is our backyard each spring.  He actually was the landscape architect for a home down the street from me that implemented the LEED for Homes principles.  We talked about how bringing in a landscape architect early in the process allows them to work with the engineer and architect to integrate the natural systems into the home, but most people tend to bringing in the landscape designer after the house is complete.

I bought spare ribs from pasture-raised pigs raised from the great Totten Family Farm booth (they also had produce and vegetable plants).  I had a nice conversation with Kyle from the farm about their sustainable principles, and it’s abundantly clear that this farm is doing ALL of the right things!  He was even talking about how the lamb they raise may be the most sustainable thing they raise/grow – even more so than the vegetables.  He explained that the lambs only graze on the pasture (and are in a portable enclosure which allows them to move the lambs to fresh grass).  Even the electricity for the fence is solar powered!  In comparison, the gas and imbedded energy needed to run tractors for tilling and such probably make vegetables less sustainable.  They’ll be at the Mendham All Natural & Organic Farmers Market on Saturdays June 25-October 1 (Mendham Township Elementary School).  You can also sign up for CSA’s via their website.

I bought a big, soft baby blanket for a friend from Joy Organic, based out of Whippany.  They do wholesale and retail, and I’ve seen them at a few events around town.

I also met a woman who is starting North Jersey Community Acupuncture, which has a sliding scale of prices for her clients, in order to make acupuncture accessible for everyone in the community.  She’s located within Body In Mind massage on Morris Street in Morristown, and since she’s just starting out, she’s offering everyone a free session between now and June 15 – and she has Saturday appointments!

And last but certainly not least, is John.

He made this human-powered vehicle over 6 years ago, and he rides it just about everywhere!  Inside is a seat and pedals that give him the benefits of riding a bicycle, but with better balance and a lower center of gravity.  The outer body is made of foam and John says it withstood a car crash – it just bounced right back!  It has lights and blinkers and is quite the work of art!

I highly encourage you to visit the fair tomorrow from 12-5.  Tomorrow there will be live music all day and activities – like painting – for the kiddos.  Go meet John and the rest of these vendors!

Well, the Morristown EcoCenter may not be fully established yet, but they’re definitely using the empty building to its maximum potential.  If there are this many events there now, just imagine when it’s fully functional!  Starting tomorrow and through this weekend there will be two different but related events at 55 Bank Street.

The Green Building Expo will run on May 19 & 20 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Festival Earth, an annual celebration of  Sustainable Morristown, will run over the weekend on May 21 & 22 from 12 – 5 p.m.

Exhibitors for these events will highlight products and services that are focused on green building, healthy living, sustainability, and local and organic food production.  It will benefit the work of Sustainable Morristown and the Sustainable Business Incubator of New Jersey.

If you’re as jazzed as I am by the idea of a Morristown EcoCenter, I encourage you to be a part of it from the beginning.  Attend one of the design charrettes this week/weekend and give input on the design and components of the LEED-hopeful facility.  As a recap for those who didn’t read my blog post about the Morristown EcoCenter, it will hopefully include: a Farm-to-Table Restaurant, a Local Food Hub, a Green Retail store, a Commercial Kitchen, Creative and Event Space, the Business Incubator, Rooftop Greenhouses with demonstrations of urban agriculture technology, educational and event programming, and inspiration for further economic development in harmony with the neighborhood, the community, and the bioregion.  If that doesn’t get you excited, you are reading the wrong blog!

Participate in one of the following charrettes this week into next (updated 5/3/11):

• Wednesday, May 4: 5-9 p.m. Kickoff
• Thursday, May 5: 12-7 p.m. Key Stakeholders: Planning, Parking, and Footprint
• Friday, May 6: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Key Stakeholders: Measurable Goals, Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing
• Saturday, May 7, 12-5 p.m.: Initial wrap-up
• Monday, May 9, 2-7 p.m.: Community feedback

All charrettes will be held at 55 Bank Street in Morristown.  If you can’t attend a charrette, check in on the progress as they live blog it here!  If you do plan on attending, please email admin@morristownecocenter.com. 

I’ve RSVP’ed to attend Saturday’s charrette as I’ll be in class or my internship at other times.  I’m excited to see what kind of fabulous ideas circulate!

There’s been a lot of buzz around raw milk these days and its possible legalization in the state of New Jersey.  Right now, raw milk is illegal in 10 states because of food safety concerns associated with the fact that it is unpasteurized.  However, it is legal in Pennsylvania and New York, and you didn’t hear it from me, but I know a few people who do consume it locally (in NJ) because they believe it holds many benefits.

Learn more about those benefits and legalization at the Raw Milk Forum on Thursday, May 5th at the Morristown EcoCenter (I LOVE that people are already holding events there in the raw space!) at 7 p.m.  The event is hosted by The Health Shoppe and will feature guest speakers Pam Schoenfeld, a registered dietician, and Dr. Joseph Heckman, a professor of soil science at Rutgers.

To register, please email Tammy@thehealthshoppes.com, or call The Health Shoppe at (973) 538-9131 (ext 120).

Given that Earth Day (April 22) is this month, and April is supposed to be when things get warmer (ahem), there is a plethora of things going on around town!

Morristown Green (credit: flickr Wallyg)

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up:

• Restaurant Week: Now through Saturday, April 16 is Downtown Morristown Restaurant Week.  Support local businesses by visiting one of the many participating restaurants that have prix fixe menus for under $30 per person.
• Willow Hall: On Tuesday, April 12 at 2 p.m., Willow Hall will be officially added to the National Register of Historic Places.  Willow Hall was saved by the Passaic River Coalition, a local nonprofit organization that now has offices in the building.
• EcoCenter Info Session: If you missed the first presentation on the Morristown EcoCenter, don’t miss your second chance!  On Wednesday, April 13, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., get a tour of the facility at 55 Bank Street and learn about the plans for this exciting proposed project.  See my previous post for more detailed information.  Please RSVP to Chris Kogler (ckogler@sbinj.org; 908-334-8263).  Lend your support!
• Share the Bounty: Support the Community Soup Kitchen on Wednesday, April 13 from 6-9 p.m. at the Madison Hotel.  They’re holding a benefit cocktail buffet and silent auction called Share the Bounty.  Tickets are $60.  The Community Soup Kitchen hasn’t missed a day of service in 26 years.  Now that is impressive!
• Revolutionary Times: Next weekend (April 15-17) is Revolutionary Times Weekend.  I think an argument can be made that part of sustainability is keeping history and culture alive, so celebrate Washington and the rich history we have right at our fingertips.
• Brownfields: As part of Schiff Nature Preserve’s Raritan Watershed Project, they’re having folks from the Edison Wetlands Association talk about brownfields (or polluted sites).  There are many in NJ, and they’ll discuss how to turn those into greenfields on April 20 from 7-8 p.m.
• Earth Day: Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 30.  That’s Earth Day in Morris County!  Held at Lewis Morris Park from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Earth Day is fun for all ages with games, activities and information galore.  Check out local nonprofits and businesses that are working hard to do right by Mother Earth!

Delaware Water Gap (credit: flickr Sed Navs)

Now that your schedule is all filled up, check out a few additional things I’d like to share with my ecoMotowners…

• Rebates for Energy Efficient Appliances: Our clothes washing machine recently bit the dust, so we took that opportunity to invest in an EnergyStar-labeled water and energy efficient washing machine.  We’re in the process of getting a $50 rebate from the state for doing so.  The trick is, you have to make sure that your old washer is properly disposed of (so we payed $10 extra to have Sears take ours away – apparently their takeback program qualifies with the state).  To learn more about different benefits you can receive from the state of NJ for buying new appliances or HVAC systems, visit www.njcleanenergy.com.  It’s a great resource, and no one paid me to say that!
• Protect the Delaware Water Gap:  The Delaware River Basin Commission is considering allowing hydrofracking in the region, a controversial process where highly pressurized water and chemicals are shot down into the earth to extract natural gas.  NJ Conservation Foundation and the National Parks Conservation Association have both sent out pleas for public comment to stop this from happening.  I’ve learned about the dangers of hydrofracking in class, and you can read one of my professor’s takes on the subject here, from an NYC perspective.  If you’d like to stop this controversial process, please read their two sites by clicking on their links above and submit your comment with the National Park Service.
• Easter eggs: And finally, for something a little more lighthearted…  If you celebrate Easter, buy eggs from a local farm (or just find some in your backyard like we do) and use natural dyes to color them.  Wouldn’t you know, Martha Stewart has come to the rescue with her ideas.  Oh Martha!