Monday, April 6, 2009

Upcoming Eco-Events

Our region is having many!

Cornucopia is sponsoring THREE Open Garden tours featuring at least 9 different gardens on April 25, May 16 and May 17. Details will follow, but my own garden will be open all three dates from 2-4 PM. Some of the others will stay open later on the May dates.

Bloomfield is having an Eco-Fair from 10-2 at Brookside Park on the corner of Bay and Broad Streets on Saturday, May 2.

Glen Ridge is having an Eco-Fair from 10-2 the following Saturday, May 9 at a place not yet revealed to me.

Meanwhile, a Gloriously Green Festival will be held on Sunday, May 3rd from 12-5PM. It takes place at Congregation Agudath Israel in Caldwell (20 Academy Road), but is an interfaith, community-wide festival. I will be speaking at 2:30 on lawn care.





There is also a film series that begins next week. I don't know when the movie starts but it's Wednesday evening, April 15, at the Montclair Public Library: "A Sense of Wonder"(http://www.asenseofwonderfilm.com/), a movie about Rachel Carson that won lots of awards.

Van Vleck gardens in Montclair are having several events, described in the following forwarded email.

Upcoming Events:

4/15--The first film, A Sense of Wonder, will be shown Wednesday, April 15, at 7:00 p.m. The film, which stars actress Kaiulani Lee, is an adaptation of the inspiring one-woman play about Pulitzer Prize winning author Rachel Carson, who is heralded as the mother of the environmental movement. Carson is best known for her book Silent Spring, which transformed the world's understanding of the dangers of pesticides and was first to shed light on the interconnectedness of the natural world.

Jane Nogaki, Pesticide Program Coordinator with the New Jersey Environmental Federation will speak briefly. Nogaki is an expert on pesticides in our environment and has assisted nearly 100 school districts, municipalities, counties, and the State of New Jersey to develop Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plans and policies.

4/18 -- Essex County Earth Day at the County Environmental Center in Roseland.

"Join the Essex County Environmental Center and partner agencies for a celebration of Planet Earth. Enjoy the Green Vendor Tent, canoeing, hikes, beekeeping demonstrations, and more! Plus, learn about natural resource and energy conservation and stewardship opportunities. Sponsored by PSE&G. Time - 11am to 4pm Location - Essex County Environmental Center, 621 Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland Fee - Free For more information - Please call 973.228.8776" (from website)

4/22 -- "Greening Your Home" 6:30 - 9pm in the LEED-certified GreenWorks building, 100 Grove St. "Sponsored by six Re/Max Realtors and Renee of Renee Realty who have all earned the NAR's Green Designation. The purpose is to both educate the public about the things that each of us can do to become greener in our homes and also to draw attention to the fact that we have gone the extra mile to earn the designation and that we are different than your average Realtor. The target audience is our clients and friends and anyone else that wants to attend, so feel free to let others know about it." (Gray Russell is the keynote speaker)

4/30— Jan Zientek, Senior Program Coordinator of the Cooperative Extension of Essex County, Rutgers Agriculture and Resource Management, Presentation Getting Started With Organic Gardening Thursday, April 30th at 7:00 p.m. at the Nutley Public Library Learn about:

Planning Your Garden

Developing and maintaining healthy soil

Managing pests and invasive weeds

Call the library at 973-667-0405 ext. 2604 to register.

5/3 -- Rand (Montclair's Environmental Magnet) Annual Community Eco-Fair has a "Green Innovations" tour--a self-guided tour of several residences (includes green kitchen renovations, solar installations, and properties of note) and one commercial property, GreenWorks on Grove--Montclair's first LEED certified commercial space. Tour hours are 12-4 and begin at 176 North Fullerton; tickets $15/person or $20/couple or family. Proceeds support environmental programming and other educational initiatives at Rand. At the Eco-Fair (hours 10-4; no charge): kid-friendly activities (Storytellers Brian Fox Ellis at 11; Nia Gill at noon), music, vendors, plant sale, and educational workshops. Questions? Call Kelly McDonald at 973-655-0146

5/9 -- Glen Ridge EcoFair is same place as last year: Ridgewood Avenue at Bloomfield.


 

Van Vleck Events:

April 18 - Save the Date! Spring Celebration for Families Join us to celebrate spring with your family and learn how to become more environmentally friendly in your home and garden. Activities will include a scavenger hunt, children's crafts and activities, information on plant selection for your garden, composting, yard care tips, guest presenters and more. While the event is free, registration is recommended. Please call 973-744-0837, or email education@vanvleck.org.

May 1 - "Wellies & Jellies" Plant Sale Preview Party 6-9 pm don't miss Van Vleck's Annual Spring Plant Sale Preview Party! Put on your favorite pair of wellies and join your friends at Van Vleck for a casual garden cocktail party. Celebrate spring, mingle, and of course shop our fabulous selection of plant offerings before anyone else in town! Advance Registration Required. Call 973-744-4752.

May 2 - Plant Sale 9am - 4 pm-- What better way to kick off the spring planting season than with a visit to the Annual Van Vleck House & Gardens Plant Sale offering unique and unusual shrubs, vines, perennials, tender perennials and trees. Many of the plants for sale are closely associated with the gardens, including plants favored by the late Howard Van Vleck. Experts will be on hand to answer questions and help visitors navigate the sale. Potted planters, plants and garden accessories make great Mother's Day gifts. This annual event offers something for everyone, from the veteran gardener to weekend warrior.

Van Vleck House & Gardens- 21 Van Vleck Street Montclair, New Jersey 07042, 973.744.4752 www.vanvleck.org

"Van Vleck House & Gardens is dedicated to preserving for public enrichment the spirit and beauty of this late 19th and early 20th century house and gardens. Continuing the Van Vleck family's commitment to the community and to horticultural excellence, the house serves as a center for non-profit organizations and the gardens are open to the public for display, education and research."

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