Green on the Green on Saturday

by ecomotown on August 24, 2011

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.

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Farm-to-Table Dinners Galore!

by ecomotown on July 20, 2011

flickr: SEMAP

Call it Farm-to-Table or Farm-to-Fork, this summer there’s no shortage of options in the Morristown area for getting farm fresh food into your tummy.

Here’s a highlight of farm-to-table dinners in the area this summer:

  • Morristown’s own Grow It Green Morristown will have a Farm-to-Table Dinner at The Artist Baker on Cattano Ave. on Sunday, August 14.  Produce from the nonprofit’s Urban Farm at Lafayette will be featured in the meal. Tickets cost $85 pp and proceeds will benefit Grow It Green and all of the work they’re doing to make mo’town more sustainable.  Make reservations through The Artist Baker (973-292-5940).
  • Slow Food Northern New Jersey Chapter will host it’s annual Sustenance on the Farm Dinner on Sunday, August 21 at Fosterfield’s Historic Farm in Morristown from 5-8 p.m.  The 5-course meal will be prepared by area chefs and paired with sustainable and organic wine.  Proceeds will go toward Slow Food NNJ‘s work to establish school gardens in local schools.  Tickets are $155 per person and can be purchased through Sustenance Events.
  • Foodshed Alliance, a nonprofit organization based in Blairstown, is hosting a farm-t0-fork dinner at Alba Vineyard THIS weekend!  On Sunday, July 24 at 4 p.m. enjoy a 5-course gourmet dinner with paired wines, and enjoy the ambiance of the vineyard (Rain date is July 31).  Tickets are $125 per person and proceeds benefit the Foodshed Alliance.  Check out the menu and buy tickets on their website.
Bon appetit!

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Save Primrose Farms

by ecomotown on July 6, 2011

I’ve said it before: the last thing this area needs is more development, especially on previously untouched land.  The Harding Land Trust is urging Harding residents to petition their township committee members to support the preservation of Primrose Farm Estates in Harding (a 122-acre property off of Brook Drive South).  The land is at risk of being divided and developed, and the town of Harding has the ability to leverage state funds to purchase the property for preservation.  Preservationists say it is the last large opportunity for preservation in the town.

For more information, visit this blog.  If you’d like to help, sign the petition!

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Fresh & Local Food Abounds

by ecomotown on June 24, 2011

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!

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Wild & Scenic Film Festival

by ecomotown on May 26, 2011

Buy your tickets now for Schiff Nature Preserve’s Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival on Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 4 from 5:30 -9:30 p.m.

According to Schiff, the evening will include:

  • Two hours of short films
  • A 30-minute night hike to and from Woodbadge Lodge.  For those who prefer not to hike, we will offer a hay ride to the theater
  • Bucket Auction items and free gifts from local and national sponsors
  • Light refreshments from Black River Roasters Coffee, Chester Meat Market and more
  • Campfire and games for kids after intermission!

The list of films includes:

I haven’t been, but I hope to go this year!  Tickets are $20 per person, or $17pp when you buy 4 or more.  They’re also encouraging carpooling to the event by offering a forum on the event site.

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Festival Earth Today & Tomorrow

by ecomotown on May 21, 2011

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!

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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.

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May is Bike to Work Month!

by ecomotown on May 5, 2011

If the (mostly) warmer weather gives you the itch to get outdoors, you could try doing it on your way to work this month.  TransOptions, a nonprofit organization that encourages alternative transportation commuting in the region, is hosting a Bike to Work Challenge for the month of May.  They’ll be holding events throughout Morris County this month for those biking by on their way to work.  Check out their website for more information.

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Morristown EcoCenter Design Charrettes

by ecomotown on May 3, 2011

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!

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Chester Community Garden Has Open Spots!

by ecomotown on May 2, 2011

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

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