I’m leaving town for the week, but there are several upcoming events I’d like you all to enjoy in my absence!  They are:

• Winter’s Day on the Farm – February 5: Fosterfield’s will show you what life was like on a farm in the 1920s during the winter months.  12-4 p.m.
• Slow Food Winter Market – February 11: This event is a great way to stock up on locally-produced foods during the winter months.  Numerous farms and artisans will be exhibiting and selling their goods.  Don’t miss it! 12-4 p.m. at the Morristown High School. $3 admission.
• Snowshoe Clinic and Hike – February 11: Schiff Nature Preserve and BaseCamp Adventure in Basking Ridge are teaming up to present a snowshoe hike – snow or no snow!  Let’s hope for snow.  8:30-11:30 a.m.
• Gasland Screening – February 12: The Bernardsville Green Team is showing Gasland, The Movie, on February 12 at 2 p.m. at the Bernardsville Library.  Sign-up required; email bernardsvillegoesgreen@gmail.com.

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!

For those interested in learning more about Green Vision, the nonprofit I covered on the blog recently, buy a copy of the Daily Record today.  You’ll find my story featured on the front page!  It’s the article titled ‘Green Transformers.’

Daily Record

We’ll have to wait another week for the online version!

The hardest part about recycling with Green Vision was finding the place.

Earlier today, I set off to visit Green Vision, a non-profit organization that trains and employs adults and adolescents with autism to disassemble electronic waste for recycling.  A savvy ecoMotown reader had sent me an email to let me know about the organization.  It sounded like a worthy cause, and I was in need of a place to take my defunct printer and router, broken camera and archaic laptop (the thing is at least 3 inches thick).

Exhibit A

I loaded up  my car and headed north on Speedwell Avenue and then east onto E. Hanover Ave.  My destination: 60 E. Hanover Avenue (in between Speedwell and Ridgedale).  I definitely missed the turn in to the facility, which I found out later, is not an uncommon occurrence for first-time visitors.  After a little misguided adventure in a corporate park, I found Green Vision, Inc.  I unloaded the items from my car, and the team there wrote me a receipt for my tax-deductible contribution.  It was that easy.

Tim Butler, President of Green Vision, and Kevin Davidowich, Vice President, in their workroom.

Founders Tim Butler and Kevin Davidowich were both teachers at The Allegro School, working with children and adolescents with autism, when Tim came up with the idea to combine his love of kids, tools and recycling into what became Green Vision.  The organization provides training and part-time employment for adolescents and adults with autism, most of whom learn basic tools skills at The Allegro School.  After operating within the school for several years, Green Vision moved into its own facility on E. Hanover Avenue in January 2011.  Since opening, they’ve recycled nearly 300,000 pounds of materials.

Green Vision accepts materials from companies, municipalities and individuals alike, and the business model that Tim created assumes that everything they receive is junk.  Because their employees don’t possess refurbishing skills, newer (yet broken) computers are often given to partner companies to repair for resale.  The facility, which has 36 paid employees, recycles 99.8% of the components of the equipment it receives (with the other .2% being things like foam or treated wood for speakers).

When I asked where most of the materials go, Tim said the precious metals and wires stay on the East Coast, and the plastics are sent to China (to a recycling facility monitored by the US Environmental Protection Agency).  Because they can’t disassemble CRT monitors (older, box-like TVs and computer monitors), they have to send them to a special facility in Ohio for recycling – at a fee of $5 per monitor.  For that reason, they charge $5 for each big box monitor/TV they accept.  Otherwise, all recycling is free, and they’ll take anything with a plug.  If your item is old enough, it could end up in their unofficial museum (I was told my laptop was a contender).

Throwing your e-waste in with your municipal trash in NJ is now illegal.  Green Vision provides a sustainable option for recycling your items, while addressing environmental, social and economic needs within the community.  The organization will be at an electronics and clothing waste drive at the VFW hall in Morris Plains this Sunday, December 18 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at an event supporting Operation Homefront.  You can also drop off goods at Green Vision Inc. at 60 E. Hanover Ave. in Morris Plains, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Wires fresh from disassembly.

The last time I wrote about my chickens, I shared the story of how I learned that a hen is not a hen when it is a rooster.  Please read my tale of stupidity here.   Since last September my six hens were reduced to three when I let them forage outside of their run for a few too many hours, and then from three to two as the run was again penetrated by a raccoon.  Sadly, I think the two remaining hens were suffering from PTSD and spent very little time outside as a result.  They were not laying regularly, and we found ourselves asking other chicken farmers for eggs.  Something had to be done, so I started to look for more pullets.

After unsuccessfully scouring Craigslist for a little while, I called the farm where I purchased my original hens.  They said they still had plenty of birds that were about 16 weeks old (they start laying at around 18-20 weeks), which was perfect.  A friend of mine was actually looking for more birds as well so we headed down there together.  I got four more birds and he got ten.  We each got one Black Star hen and the rest were all Rhode Island Reds.

It was dark by the time we got back, which, as I have read, is a good time to introduce new chickens into a flock.  The older chickens will be more accepting if they wake up with the new chickens as opposed to throwing them together during the day.  Of course my two older birds  were establishing the new pecking order the next morning.  This is a noisy and painful looking ordeal.  Lots of chasing, feather pulling, and general bullying which makes you feel bad for the new birds.  I tried removing the two older birds for a while to calm them down and added a head of cabbage for distraction, but I think it was mostly time that calmed down the bullying.  It was also helpful that there were four new hens to the existing two hens.  The new ones weren’t outnumbered, and the bullying was spread out among the four.

Sadly what happens next is another lesson in backyard farming: sometimes you get sick chickens.  Unfortunately the owner of the farm where we got the new birds was not in when we picked up the chickens.  She later told my friend and me that we should have quarantined them and given them antibiotic before adding them to an existing flock (my flock of two, and my friend’s flock of 25 birds).  We  both had introduced the new birds directly to our flocks only to realize later that they had given our flocks a bug.

The birds displayed a range of symptoms including lethargy, head shaking, snotty beaks, watery eyes, and in the extreme case of one of my hens rattled breathing and gaping for air.  My friend feared it was gapeworm, a type of parasite that causes difficulty breathing due to the worms hanging out in the bird’s airway.  That usually kills them, but could be treated with a dewormer.  My birds displayed very little gaping, and I thought they had a cold.  I was able to talk to a vet friend of mine who told me he would give me an antibiotic that would help clear up their upper respiratory infection.

Well, it was probably a couple days too late as I ended up losing one of my older birds.  She was the hen who had the worst symptoms, though I thought she had turned the corner and was getting better.  The hens are all recovering nicely with the help of the antibiotics they are getting through their water.  They are all outside all day eating scratch and showing healthy appetites.

Another lesson learned and, unlike my friend who lost almost a third of his flock, I only lost one bird.  Thankfully the owner of the farm said she would replace the birds that my friend had lost.  While we weren’t too keen on using antibiotic at first, it was the only way we saw to keep them alive.  Aside from learning a valuable lesson, the other good thing that came out of the situation is that while the older bird is still at the top of the pecking order, she is much more relaxed about her bullying.  The hens are all getting along very well.  Here they are on their outdoor perch enjoying a sunny December day.  Now hopefully they get to laying some eggs.

Ladies enjoying the sunshine

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!

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.]

In many of my group projects for school, I come across many like-minded individuals, and it’s a great way to share resources and ideas.  Most recently I learned about the concept of Collaborative Consumption.  In essence, rather than owning everything you use, create a shared ownership with others.  As an example, my classmate pointed out that a vacuum could be a shared resource since it’s not something you use every day.  This not only reduces expenses, but it greatly reduces consumption and the waste associated with it.

My classmate introduced me to a website and company that I’d like to share with all of you: CollaborativeConsumption.com.  They’re a great resource for all kinds of nifty “stuff-sharing” websites, including a few that I’ve already heard of or used… Swap.com, ZipCar, Airbnb, RentTheRunway.  But, there are so many neat ideas that I’d never heard of — things like Art.sy (for renting art), Toygaroo (renting toys –that are sanitized) and ShareSomeSugar (for sharing with neighbors).

I encourage you all to explore the various links and sites on Collective Consumption and do a little sharing of your own!

The festival is postponed until further notice due to the incoming hurricane.  Stay safe, all!