Early last week I had the opportunity to catch up with Paul Miller of Morristown’s Office of Sustainability.  We talked about the various goings-on in the sustainability realm in town, one of which is an exciting new supper club series.  The Morristown Sunday Supper Club Series is designed to bring funding into Sustainable Morristown as it weans itself off grants from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.  The series, scheduled to occur quarterly, will be hosted by the Highlands Dinner Club (experts in the supper club scene), Grassroots (the fabulous new section in the Daily Record) and Sustainable Morristown.

The first-ever supper club event will be held on Sunday, October 30 in tandem with the first-ever Grassroots Awards ceremony (more on that later).  Hosted at the Hyatt, well-known chefs from area restaurants with a focus on local and seasonal food (Blue Morel, EnoTerra, Pluckemin Inn, twofiftytwo restaurant, Elements and George and Martha’s) will prepare delectable dishes using food from local farms (Grow It Green Morristown, Alstede Farms, Totten Family Farm, Valley Shepard Creamery, Mini Mac Farm, Metropolitan Seafood and Hoeffner Meats.  Wine Chateau in Morristown is also providing organic and biodynamic wines!

The Grassroots Award will go to a local community member who has made significant strides in Sustainability.  One award will be granted in each of these 5 categories: Social Impact, Bottom Line, Courage in Leadership, Citizen Scientist and What a Great Idea!  For more information on each of these designations and how to submit a nomination (you have until Oct 14th!), please read this informative article from the Daily Record.  Winners will be announced at the dinner on the 30th.

Buy your tickets for this event and keep an eye out for a new supper each quarter.  I think we can all agree that local food + local businesses + good cause = sustainability trifecta.

[EDITED 10/24/11:  DISCOUNT.  You can now receive 30% off ticket costs by using the discount code: "DR-grassroots".  Please spread the word.]

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.

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!

Gate Installation at Chester Community Garden

If you live in or near Chester and you have garden envy (a clinical condition of those who don’t have yard space for a garden, but yearn to grow their own vegetables), you’re in luck!  Chester Township has created the Chester Community Garden, opening for the first time mid-May, which will have a whopping 120 plots (measuring 8′ x 16′).  Plots cost $30 for Chester residents and $40 for non-residents and will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.  The garden is located at Highlands Ridge Park (100 North Road) in Chester.

If you’re interested in registering for a spot, visit the township’s website to print a form.  Orientation will be held on Sunday, May 15, so hurry!

Installing the spigots for the garden plots

Did you know that it’s illegal to dispose of electronic or computer waste in your trash in New Jersey?  The law just went into effect this past year as many of those goods contain toxins that municipalities are trying to keep out of the landfill.  May 7 is Hazardous Waste Collection Day in Morris County, and in addition to the usual hazardous waste (paint, household cleaners, CFL lightbulbs, batteries, etc.) the county will be accepting e-waste as well.

Here’s a video put out by Morris County to make this all crystal clear for everyone.

Drop off your waste from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. rain or shine at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy, 500West Hanover Ave., in Parsippany.

Click here for more specific guidelines on what they’re collecting. Mark your calendars now!

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!

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to tour open space parcels throughout Morristown.  The town’s Environmental Commission put together a bus tour for interested citizens, town Planning Board members, the Office of Sustainability, Board of Adjustments members, and even Mayor Dougherty himself.

The idea was to bring people out to open space areas in Morristown proper to see what has been preserved and look a potential properties that could be preserved.  It was a daunting list of 27 stops, and I was sure we weren’t going to make it in the two-hour time frame allotted – but we did!

Here Samantha Rothman, of the town’s Environmental Commission, explains the purpose of the outing.  (Excuse the wind noise; it’s quite a blustery day!)

Why is open space good for Morristown?  In a small-sized town that is as developed as Morristown is, preserving open parcels of land is extremely important.  For one thing, you have the environmental benefits that some areas bring to our drinking water, they preserve plant and animal communities and reduce flooding and erosion.  You also have the health and recreational benefits for people within the community.  Beyond that, it makes financial sense, too.  According to the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC), in the long term, “municipal investment in open space and farmland is usually less costly than allowing development.”  (This is partly due to the strain that development can put on the town’s infrastructure and services.)

Jersey Avenue Playground

ANJEC is helping to match the town’s money to update the Open Space and Recreation Plan and Environmental Resource Inventory, which will be a part of the town’s Master Plan.

Speedwell Park - my favorite stop on the tour!

Stops or points of interest on the tour included: Franklin Street Park, Ford Ave Park, George Washington Headquarters and Traction Line Trail, Transit Village, Coal Avenue and a closed portion of Patriot’s Path, Cauldwell Playground, the Municipal Area near Pocahontas Lake, Abbett Avenue Park, Urban Farm at Lafayette Learning Center, Jersey Avenue Playground, Historic Speedwell, Willow Hall, Speedwell Park, Elliot Playground, Early Street Community Garden, Clinton Place Park, a property on Hillcrest Ave, Burnham Park, Budd Street Park, a 10 acre property belonging to the NJ Conservation Foundation near the Spring Brook Golf Course, a Gillespie Lane property, Footes Pond Park, Loyola Retreat & Morristown Field Club, Lidgerwood Park and another vacant property off of Knollwood Rd.

If you’re not familiar with many of these places, you can see where they are through Google Maps of Morristown.

Early Street Community Garden

An undeveloped parcel of land at Coal Ave & Center St. along the Whippany River

We learned that Patriot’s Path, as it runs along Pocahontas Lake, is closed currently because some of the land belongs to NJ Transit and it is awaiting an easement.  The train tracks run along there and in order to reopen for safety purposes, NJT wants higher fences and a different type of gravel put in.  The path is pretty much the only way for the general public to access Pocahontas Lake, and it connects the path to Speedwell Park and Lake, too.

A closed portion of Patriot's Path along Pocahontas Lake

If you’re interested in learning more about particular parcels of land, the Environmental Commission meets on the first Tuesday of each month, except July and August, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. on the 3rd floor of Town Hall.

I am on my way out the door for a wedding this weekend, but I have to share this event with everyone.  If you don’t know already, Festival Earth promises to be a big, fun, Earth celebration with live music, vendors and more – put on by Sustainable Morristown.  It happens tomorrow!

In the interest of saving time, I’m pasting the flyer here!  Enjoy it on my behalf, please!