i-tees » Gardens and Parks

EARTH DAY Festival at Liberty State Park

itees — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 18:21:55 +0000

Yesterday was such a glorious day, the perfect day for an Earth Day Festival! Not a cloud in the sky, 65-70 and a slight breeze, fabulous.

Mary Jo, my business partner for our cause, FROGS ARE GREEN and I, packed up some giveaways and headed over to Liberty State Park. Our plan was to meet some of the other organizations as well as pass out postcards and wristbands to as many people as we could. We were thrilled to see thousands of people, young and old, and knew right away we hadn’t brought enough materials. Nevertheless, we gave out all we had and lots of kids smiled at the cute frog postcard and loved the bright green, eco-friendly wristbands. Folks stopped by and asked questions about frogs, and our cause.

We’ve already ordered more postcards and will tackle the Hoboken Arts & Music Festival next Saturday, May 2. Come out and meet us…

Tents at Liberty State Park, Earth Day Festival 2010

Earth Day 2010 – Cool Ideas

itees — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:14:21 +0000

Earth Day Festival in Liberty State Park
Saturday April 24, Liberty State Park will host an Earth Day Festival, a daylong celebration which will include exhibitors and a 5K run… Mary Jo and I of Frogs Are Green will be there, handing out wristbands and postcards. Hope to see you there, and for those who’d like to enter our contest and win a FREE t-shirt or poster, click here.

Elmer’s Glue Crew Challenges Parents and Teachers to 40 Days of Earth-Friendly
“Beginning on Earth Day, teachers across the country will begin recycling the millions of glue bottles and glue sticks their classrooms have collected since the beginning of the school year. This recycling effort is part of the Elmer’s Glue Crew Recycling Program, which was created three years ago to help teachers educate children about recycling and environmental stewardship and prevent millions of glue bottles and glue sticks from going into our landfills.

To coincide with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Elmer’s is inviting parents to get involved in the Elmer’s Glue Crew program through the “40 Days of Earth-Friendly Living.” The campaign kicks-off on Earth Day and offers an eco-friendly tip or idea every day through the end of May. The tips are designed to allow parents and children to participate together and to give teachers more ideas for expanding their Earth Day curriculum. To participate, parents and teachers can download the “40 Days” calendar at www.ElmersGlueCrew.com or sign up to receive tips on Twitter or Facebook.”

Kenwood Vineyards Celebrates Earth Day with Innovative “Plantable” Bottle Neckers
“As the world prepares to celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd, Kenwood Vineyards commemorates this year’s observance with an innovative bottle necker, one created to inspire everyone to take better care of the planet. The specially designed neckers are featured on Kenwood’s “Sonoma Series” Cabernet.
Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel and are available in stores nationwide.”

On Earth Day: Stop Junk Mail and Keep Trees in the Forests
“The danger of dramatic climate change underlines the need for each of us to find sensible ways we can contribute to keeping the planet healthy. One simple step is to say “NO” to unwanted junk mail. The nonprofit 41pounds.org service stops your paper junk mail – and keeps more trees in the forest providing oxygen for us to breathe and absorbing carbon to cool the planet.”The celebration of Earth Day takes on greater urgency as we learn more about climate change,” says 41pounds.org co-founder Sander DeVries. “Each of us can make changes that improve our daily lives AND improve the planet’s health — like stopping the daily deluge of junk mail that ravages the forests and clutters your home.” With 41pounds.org, you can reduce household clutter and protect a healthy climate.”

CHICAGO — Earth Day event (adults only) | Wine & Wildlife: Saving the Serengeti
Wine & Wildlife: Saving the Serengeti
April 22 from 6 – 7:45 p.m
Lincoln Park Zoo
For one night only, join Princeton University ecologist and author Andrew Dobson, Ph.D., and the zoo’s director of Tanzanian programs, Felix Lankester, D.V.M., as they share their experiences working to save Africa’s crown jewel, the awe-inspiring Serengeti National Park.

Paterson Plank Rd, Jersey City Heights, Needs A Serious Clean-Up

itees — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:11:41 +0000

This afternoon the weather warmed up a bit to the upper 40s and so it was time to get out there and start walking. I love to walk around town, down to Hoboken, along the waterfront, and back up the hill. My route today was a big circle starting from “The Heights” of Jersey City, down the elevator at 9th Street, up to 14th street and across to walk along the water and down to First Street, across to Paterson Plank Rd. and back up.

Paterson Plank Rd. is a route that is mostly used by cars and buses rushing up and down, but there is a walkway and occasionally you see bicycle riders, runners and folks just walking along, more in warmer weather.

What I’d like to know is, who’s job is it to clean this walkway, because the amount of trash I saw on my walk today, was insane. Besides the leaves that had fallen, there was glass, crushed plastic bottles, newspapers, cans, empty chip bags… you name it, I saw it.

I assume this area is considered Jersey City, but have they cut back? Is there no clean-up detail to work this area anymore? Also, you wouldn’t believe what I saw just thrown over the little wall you walk along that is above the Light Rail train tracks. All kinds of assorted trash including a shopping cart from a supermarket.

I imagine people just drop things as they walk along, or perhaps people throw things out of the car windows as they zoom up? All I know is, if they don’t address the garbage there soon, there won’t be any space left to walk.

Click on the above map picture to go to Google Maps and see the area I'm talking about