The Godlewski Family in Great Meadows has run their family farm for generations

Unlike many parts of New Jersey, Blairstown and the surrounding communities have deep roots in agriculture that are not quite ready to give way. Please join us at 11 a.m., August 21^st at the Blairstown Farmers Market to listen in on a series of interviews with regional farmers as they share their stories about farming the land of Warren County.

From third generation farmers working hundreds of acres, to novice farmers squeezing every thing possible out of a small plot of land, you will hear differing perspectives on what it takes to be a farmer in 2010 and the importance of preserving this long-held tradition. Among the interviews given that day will be Mr. Bob Best of Best’s Fruit Farm, Hackettstown; Patty Godlewski of Godlewski Farms, Great Meadows; Lou Pittenger of Pittenger Farms, Andover; and Patti Doell of Little Big Farm, Blairstown.

The interviews will be recorded and posted on this website in order to preserve this important knowledge for future generations on the history and culture that is uniquely ours. There will be time for questions on the day of the interviews, but if you would like to submit topics of discussion ahead of time, please email Kevin.Doell@gmail.com.

The Farmers Market is located on Route 521 in Blairstown, just north of the Fire Department and across from the Blairstown Elementary School. Please join us.

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!

Does Your Restaurant Feature Local Produce? Ask them to!

Sustainable Blairstown has partnered with the Foodshed Alliance to help reenergize its “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” initiative with local restaurateurs that connects local food growers with local consumers.

Sustainable Blairstown’s goal is to assist the Foodshed Alliance enlarge its restaurant base in the surrounding communities and to help keep the farmers going strong. As part of its Sustainable Jersey certification program, Sustainable Blairstown chose to pursue a “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” initiative because of the fact that local food production systems strengthen the local economy, improve the health of the region’s citizens by providing access to fresh food, help preserve open space, and green the local environment.

One of the strategies enacted to achieve this goal has been to secure the commitment of area restaurateurs to a minimum monthly purchase of $100 per month in local produce. In return, the restaurants are included in marketing campaigns driven by the Foodshed Alliance featuring the Buy Fresh/Buy Local logo, which proclaims to diners that restaurant’s commitment to a healthy foodshed.

Check out an article written by Laura Corio for the Warren Reporter that details the program and provides a listing of participating restaurants:

“Warren County Restaurants, Farms Partner in Buy Fresh/Buy Local Campaign”

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.

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.

“We recognize that land-use is an essential component of overall sustainability for a community,” said Blairstown Mayor Richard Mach. “Well planned land-use can help us preserve the historical character of our township. As always, the Committee members continuously pursue ideas and initiatives that add to the quality of life for the Township’s residents.”

The resolution identifies specific areas where the Township will strive to handle municipal land-use decisions with the intent of making Blairstown a more sustainable community. The intent is to incorporate the principles when considering the next master plan revision, which is slated to be undertaken by the Township Planning Board in the coming year.

“We feel the resolution works well with the spirit of our Master Plan that addresses the needs of our community while recognizing the importance of economic vitality,” said Planning Board Chair Herman Shoemaker.  “The resolution addresses such topics as facilities siting, housing variety, natural resource preservation, land use, and green building design. It will be another tool we can use to assist us in the planning process and in formulating recommendations offered to the Township Committee.”

One of the important action items called for in the resolution is for the Township to update its 2006 Environmental Resources Inventory (ERI). In response, the Blairstown Environmental Commission will be working on updating the document, which is currently available online at the Blairstown Township Web site, http://www.blairstown-nj.org.

“The resolution calls attention to the importance of making land-use decisions that balance economic, environmental, and societal needs,” said Kevin Doell, Chair of the Sustainable Blairstown Committee and Vice Chair of the Blairstown Environmental Commission. “We must always work to strike the right balance and to provide the highest possible quality of life for all residents.”

Sustainable Blairstown is an initiative of the Blairstown Environmental Commission as it pursues the Sustainable Jersey certification program. Developed in partnership with the NJ League of Municipalities, Rutgers University, The College of New Jersey, the NJ DEP and the NJ BPU, the Sustainable Jersey program enables municipalities to tailor their sustainability action plans to the needs and interests of the local community. To date, the Sustainable Blairstown Committee organized a body of community volunteers, sponsored the “Buy Local for the Holidays” campaign last year and established an online local business directory. The committee is currently developing plans for an outreach and education initiative in recognition of the April Earth Day celebration.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Sustainable Blairstown Committee, contact Kevin Doell at Kevin.Doell@gmail.com. To sign up for an html newsletter fill out our contact form.

In speaking to Herman Shoemaker, owner of the Book Nest in downtown Blairstown, we learned that the buy local campaign had a real impact in making people think twice about where they should spend their money. According to Shoemaker, one shopper told him that before they made any purchases, they would “look in Blairstown first.”

We’ll be out gathering more feedback as to what the experiences were for the merchants as well as the shoppers. If you or someone you know has an opinion on this matter, please invite them to comment below.

More to come on the results of our buy local for the holidays campaign!

This night should mark the reestablishment of the tradition in Blairstown of bringing the community out together to celebrate the start of the Holiday Season in the spirit of community and good will. This type of gathering benefits the economic vitality of our town while also solidifying the wonderful sense of place that Blairstown offers as the town we all call home.

Special thanks to The Press for promoting the event, to REMax for Santa and the Grinch, for the Fire Department so that Santa could ride in style, and for all those behind the scenes that worked to make the evening a success.  This year’s event was pulled together in just three weeks time. What a tremendous result!

Let’s make a plan to do it again next year in a way that engages even more members of our community.