Sustainable Blairstown

One person's trash is another person's treasure!

Sustainable Blairstown and the Blairstown (Warren) Chapter of Freecycle^TM are organizing a community-wide “Free for All” event on Saturday, August 28, from 10-2 p.m. (Rain date: Sep. 4). The event will take place in conjunction with the Farmers’ Market in the lot adjacent to the fire department and next to Blairstown Elementary School.

Community members are invited to register and come down to the Freecycle event with serviceable items they would like to gift to another community member who could put the item to good use. NO MONEY IS EXCHANGED. All the items are to be given away for FREE. By finding new homes for gently used items, community members are doing their part to reduce the amount of garbage going to area landfills while helping others save valuable resources in difficult economic times. Every item must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.

Got an old bike that’s not being used? FREECYCLE it! Have the Kids grown out of their last pair of boots? FREECYCLE them! Tired of looking at that chair? FREECYCLE it! Perhaps you, too, will be able to find that special somehing you’ve been looking for at a price that works for everyone – FREE! One person’s trash can truly be another’s treasure!

If you would like to gift items at the Freecycle event, please contact Jannine Zerres who is the volunteer moderator of the local chapter of Freecycle. You can reach Jannine at 973.875.3764 or via email blairstownfree@gmail.com.

The mission of Freecyle “is to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources and eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community.” To join the Blairstown (Warren) Freecycle Chapter, visit their online group and select “join.” Membership is free.

Waste reduction is important to sustainability for the following reasons:

• Reduces the need for landfilling and incineration
• Prevents pollution caused by the manufacturing of products from virgin materials
• Saves energy
• Decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change
• Conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals

Pitch in to customize the Blairstown "My Map"

Sustainable Blairstown is currently working on a Community Asset Mapping Project and needs your help.

Community Asset Mapping provides a collective inventory of the positive and valued aspects of a community, including places, institutions, programs, and people. In doing so, it also provides the foundation for assessing gaps and making improvements. Asset begins to answer the question “Where are we now?” and helps community members to think positively about the place in which they live and work. It also challenges residents to recognize how other people see and experience the same community. By identifying community assets, communities can better understand how to build on these important community resources to sustain and enhance future generations.

Sustainable Blairstown members are working on dual path approach to mapping our community: a customized Google “My Map” and a written “Report of findings.” Read on to see how you can help.

Be a cartographer with using Google “My Map”

Thanks to the brilliant software developers at Google, Sustainable Blairstown members were able to begin building a custom map of Blairstown that features overlays of those aspects of our community that are truly special. We invite you to be a collaborator on that map by following the link to the map and adding your thoughts as to what should be highlighted in our community for all the world to see.

First watch the Google tutorial on “My Maps” and then help us make our map reflect all that’s great about our town by directly collaborating on the Blairstown map itself.

Drop a Comment for our “Report of Findings”

As part of the mapping project, Sustainable Blairstown members interviewed residents at the Footbridge Park Forth of July Celebration and at the local farmers market to gauge their thoughts on the community’s assets. Based upon the interviews, Sustainable Blairstown member Laura Corio worked up a report of our findings. We invite community members to tell us what they think about the community by answering the questions below:

• What’s so great about Blairstown?
• What could make Blairstown a better place to live?

Let us know your thoughts!

On Saturday, April 24, over 70 community volunteers of all ages descended on the grounds of Blairstown Elementary School to lay the foundation for a new children’s garden. In just over two hours, the volunteers established a reading ring surrounded by trees and shrubs, raised beds for vegetables and flowers, a meadow, and the Brownie Troop 1161 Butterfly Garden.

Commemorating the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day, many of the volunteers proudly wore T-shirts with “Plant it for the Planet” as they broke ground for the gardens. Blairstown Township Mayor Richard Mach was in attendance, adding a bit of official flair as he cut the ceremonial ribbon for the butterfly garden. While volunteers worked in the garden, many of the students spent time making Earth day crafts such as seed planting, birdhouse painting, and other garden related projects.

Kim Harrington, a six-grade teacher at Blairstown Elementary and the garden project director, stated the overall intent of the garden is to give back to the Earth and to enrich children’s education with experiential programs that teach children a greater understanding of and appreciation for horticulture and food production.

Planning for the garden began last summer as members of the Sustainable Blairstown Committee exchanged ideas and inspiration with Blairstown Elementary School Superintendent Mark Saalfield and Mrs. Harrington, who are both members of the committee. Patricia Kraemer-Doell of Little Big Farm and Dennis Kovalcik of Landscape Originals provided the school with site design and plant selection recommendations.

The establishment of the school garden and the outreach programs that ensue will earn Blairstown points towards a Sustainable Jersey certification that the Township has been pursuing. Sustainable Blairstown member Kevin Doell thanked the volunteers for their efforts in establishing the garden, pointing out just what an amazing impact a group of committed citizens can have in such a short amount of time.

Harrington added that the garden was implemented solely through donations, large and small, from all corners of the community. Donors included Blairstown Township, North Warren Farm & Home Supply, Blue Ridge Lumber, Constantine Landscaping, Dennis Kovalcik – Landscape Originals, Patti Doell – Little Big Farm, Pio Costa, Race Farm, Tractor Supply, U-Mark-It, Agens Stone and numerous teachers, staff, and community members.

With the foundation of the garden now laid, there is still much work to be done to develop it, maintain it, and nurture it to its fullest potential. With the community spirit demonstrated at the garden’s installation, it seems there is no shortage of committed citizens to lend a hand when needed.

Donations Still Needed

Blairstown Elementary School (BES) is celebrating Earth Day 2010 by “planting for the planet” and installing a children’s garden to enrich education and give back to the Earth.

BES will hold a Family Work Day on Saturday, April 24, 2010 from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. (rain date:  May 1).  A butterfly garden donated by Brownie Troop 1161, a Reading Ring inspired by the works of the Sustainable Blairstown initiative, and two vegetable gardens are on the list of things to accomplish during this work session for young and old alike.

There will be crafts for children as well as garden projects.  Plant installation, gravel placement, and a seminar on composting will be on the agenda for adults.  This is a wonderful time to come celebrate community!  Bring a shovel and your enthusiasm!

Refreshments will be provided.  There is no cost for the day, however, t-shirts, primarily children’s sizes, will be available for $10.00.

This garden is being implemented solely through donations!  BES would like to thank our many local vendors who have so generously donated to this special project:

• Agway
• Blue Ridge Lumber
• Constantine Landscaping
• Dennis Kovalcik – Landscape Originals
• Little Big Farm
• Pio Costa
• Race Farm
• Township of Blairstown
• Tractor Supply
• U-Mark-It
• Agens Stone, Inc.
• Numerous teachers, staff, and community members

Donations are still needed for plants, fence posts, etc. If you would like to donate, BES is accepting checks made payable to the “Blairstown Board of Education.” For more information, contact Kim Harrington at Blairstown Elementary, 908-362-6111.

Due to the Christmas holiday this month, the Sustainable Blairstown Committee will be meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at Givens Belet. All members of the public are welcome to attend as the group looks to plan the next phase of its program to support the local economy, local environment and quality of life in Blairstown.

BLAIRSTOWN, NJ (Nov. 9, 2009) – The Sustainable Blairstown Committee is challenging residents to “make their purchases count” this holiday season by making at least two purchases with local businesses between Thanksgiving and New Years. Shoppers should look to sign a “Thank You” booster slip at participating businesses that will then display the slips in appreciation. The buy local challenge is part of the Committee’s program to qualify for the Sustainable Jersey Municipal Certification.

Buy Local Slips will be Available for Participating Businesses

“Everyone wants to live in a bustling and vibrant community with nice stores and strong property values,” said committee chair Kevin Doell. “This requires an investment and commitment on the part of the residents to shop locally so that our community’s businesses stay healthy.”

The Sustainable Blairstown Committee chose to initiate a buy local campaign this year because of the opportunity to make an important economic contribution. Locally owned businesses buy more goods and services from other local businesses. Studies show that local businesses spend a much larger share of their revenue (two to three times as much on average) in the local area as national chains and online retailers do. More money circulating in the local economy means more jobs.

To raise awareness about local shopping possibilities, the Committee is also developing an online business directory at www.sustainableblairstown.org. The directory is searchable by category and keyword. All local businesses are invited to visit the site and add their listing for free along with a description of the business or service and possible gift ideas. Some of the businesses already listed include The Cupcake Factory, Gallery 23, Brook Hollow Winery, the Twice Upon a Time Shop and others. In the coming weeks, the Committee will begin circulating a list of creative, local gift ideas on the blog. Residents are invited to comment on the site’s pages with their own gift ideas.

“We’re looking forward to participating in the buy local campaign,” said Sharon Almassy, owner of The Twice Upon a Time Shop, whose spouse started Cole’s BBQ in June. “Our family is actually running two new businesses and we really appreciate the efforts of Sustainable Blairstown to raise awareness of this important issue. I find that my customers are always surprised at what is available right here in town. I tell them to look local first before taking that 30-minute drive.”

To learn more about Sustainable Blairstown, sign up for the group’s email newsletter at  www.sustainableblairstown.org. You can also attend the group’s 4th Wednesday meetings each month at 7:30 p.m. at Givens Belet American Legion VFW Post. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, this month’s meeting will be held on Nov. 18. If you would like to have a Sustainable Blairstown representative address your organization, please contact Kevin Doell at 908-459-5484.

BLAIRSTOWN, N.J. (OCT. 13, 2009) — Community volunteers organizing the Sustainable Blairstown program (www.sustainableblairstown.org) finalized their action plans last month as they pursue the state’s “Sustainable Jersey” Municipal certification on behalf of Blairstown Township. Crafting programs that strengthen the community’s economy, environment and quality of life, the Sustainable Blairstown Committee will begin its efforts with a buy local campaign that will result in the creation of an online, local business directory and a community pledge drive to buy local this holiday season.

“The group is looking to raise awareness of its activities in a way that quickly engages both the business community and the residents,” said committee chair Kevin Doell. “Research shows that for every $100 spent in independently owned stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If that same $100 is spent at a national chain store, only $43 remains in the community. For online purchases, little comes back at all.”

To start, the group is collecting information on businesses operating in Blairstown, Columbia, Frelinghuysen, Hardwick, and Knowlton. These businesses will be listed in a buy local directory on www.sustainableblairstown.org. Businesses interested in being listed on the site can enter in their information directly on the Web site or they can email lcorio@embarqmail.com. The directory will be searchable by category and will inform residents about the wide range of products and services available within just a few miles of Blairstown.

The second part of the buy local campaign will be a community pledge drive in which residents will be asked to pledge that they will make at least two holiday purchases from community based businesses between Thanksgiving and the New Year. Shoppers will simply add their name to a list posted at local businesses to complete and document their pledge.

“One needn’t spend an hour in traffic to find the perfect gift,” said Buy Local Program Champion Laura Corio. “Buying locally strengthens relationships in the community, maintains our town’s economic vitality, and conserves time and energy – all while limiting pollution by eliminating unnecessary travel.”

The Blairstown Township Committee passed a resolution naming the Sustainable Blairstown steering committee members back in August. A subcommittee of the Environmental Commission, the group leverages the skills and expertise of team members to develop plans, implement programs, and assist with educational opportunities that support the creation of a sustainable community. For each completed activity the group earns “Sustainable Jersey” points towards the town’s certification requirement of 100 points.

In addition to the buy local program, the group is considering a school garden project, an energy audit for municipal buildings, and a sustainable land use pledge, among other projects. The Sustainable Blairstown Committee members include: Laura Corio, Kevin Doell, Carolyn Fenton, Kim Harrington, Joe Heydel, Lavonne Heydel, Angel Ramos, Sylvia Ramos, Jen Reich, Mark Saalfield, Michelle St. Andre, and Joe Wargo. New members are welcome.

The “Sustainable Blairstown” group meets on the 4^th Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Givens Belet American Legion VFW Post. The public is invited to attend. To learn more, sign up for the group’s email newsletter at www.sustainableblairstown.org. If you would like to have a Sustainable Blairstown representative present at your organization, please contact Kevin Doell at 908-459-5484.

About Sustainable Jersey

Developed in partnership with the NJ League of Municipalities, Rutgers University, The College of New Jersey, the NJ DEP and the NJ Board of Public Utilities, the Sustainable Jersey program (www.sustainablejersey.com) enables municipalities to tailor their sustainability action plans to the needs and interests of the local community. Each completed program element earns the municipality credits as it drives towards a sustainable certification upon reaching 100 points. A number of other towns in the surrounding area have also passed resolutions to participate in the program, including: Byram, Fredon, Hardwick, Lopatcong, Mount Olive, Mount Arlington, Netcong, and Newton.

Inquiries:

Kevin.Doell@gmail.com

908.459.4584

The Sustainable Blairstown Green Team will roll up its sleeves on August 26 to establish priorities in the town’s pursuit of its Sustainable Jersey municipal certification. At its July meeting, the group reviewed a short list of activities that could earn the town the 100 points needed for certification. The list of activities included:

• Municipal Energy Audit
• Municipal Carbon Footprint
• Buy Local Programs
• Recycling
• Green Fair
• Community Asset Mapping
• Local Food Production & Gardens
• Sustainable Land Use Pledge
• School Programs and Partnerships

(more…)

Here is a rundown of our meeting tonight:

Blairstown Township Environmental Commission
Sustainable Blairstown Subcommittee
106 Route 94, Municipal Building
Blairstown, NJ 07825

Meeting Facilitator:
Kevin Doell
Blairstown Environmental Commission
Sustainable Jersey Representative
908-459-5484

MEETING OBJECTIVES:
•    Provide an overview of the Sustainable Jersey program
•    Plot the general course for “Sustainable Blairstown” based upon community feedback
•    Identify the initial “Green Team” members and other potential participants and project champions

MEETING TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

1.    Introductions and Welcome
2.    Sustainable Jersey Overview
3.    Sustainable Blairstown Survey Results
4.    Taking Stock of Community Resources and  Accomplishments
5.    Green Team Selection
6.    Project Selection
7.    Next Steps

We will post the presentation and notes after tonight’s meeting.