Youth gardeners in Waterfront South Camden

The time has come… its time to sign-up for the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) hosted by The Center for Environmental Transformation in collaboration with Greensgrow Farm here in Waterfront South at our Youth-led Farmers Market just off the corner of Broadway & Ferry in Camden.

Fridays 4-7pm, May-November

Sign up here.

If you’d like to know more about what a CSA is, and why it supports the local economy of Camden, and farmers from all over the region, take a look at the information below. Basically you pay money upfront to become a member of the community that comes to pick-up produce:

Greensgrow CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) in Camden:

Did you know that the average American dinner has traveled 1,700 miles from the farm to the dinner table? Want to eat healthy fruits and vegetables from within a 150 mile radius? Then considering joining the Waterfront South CSA. What is CSA?- It stands for Community Supported Agriculture and has become an innovative model in sustainable agriculture. When a group of people join as members they come every week to the farmstand to pick up their share of what was grown by local farmers. The fruits, vegetables, and a protein are in your share every week. This helps the farmers to stay connected with you, the consumer, throughout the growing season. In the share each week, members, will receive a seasonal assortment of six to eight locally grown, fresh vegetables, and two types of fruits from a local orchard, a locally made cheese, and the choice of another dairy/protein option: yogurt, butter, one dozen eggs, seitan or tofu. In the share throughout the season, sometimes you’ll receive a variety of locally prepared foods like a loaf of fresh baked bread, apple cider, honey, fresh pasta, or dips and sauces all produced locally. Members can choose to receive a full share or a half share, which they pick once a week or every other week. Some smaller families have chosen to join with their neighbors, sharing a full or half share.

Why in Camden?

The CSA will take place at the Center For Environmental Transformation at Broadway and Ferry every Friday from May- November at the Waterfront South Farmers Market. Through hosting the CSA the Center and Greensgrow will continue to be able to make healthy food accessible at an affordable cost to all Camden residents in 8 different neighborhoods. The Center’s Farmstand is youth lead, growing over 2,000 pounds of organic heirloom produce each year, in a city with only one grocery store. Your support of this CSA and Farmstand help to build the local economy in Camden as well supporting a wide variety of local farmers within a 150 mile radius.

An example share of a week in August will include:

-12 dozen organic eggs

-one piece swiss

5 oz. organic spring mix

1 bunch parsley

-2 lbs. peaches

2 red bell peppers

2 lbs. tomatoes

2 lbs squash

2 lb. red potatoes

1 sugar baby watermelon

2 slicing cucumbers

for the weekly cost of $32.30/ week

Feb 26, 2-5pm: “How do we respond to diversity in our communities, work places, economy and world?” Urban Promise Sanctuary http://conta.cc/diverseworld

March 10,10am-1pm: Dash for Trash-Delaware River Cleanup Blitz with AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassadors; Cooper River Park http://conta.cc/riverblitz

March 28, 7-9pm: Updating the Suburban Lawn for Sustainability & Health at Cherry Hill Library http://conta.cc/healthylawn

March 29, 8am-1pm: PA/NJ Sustainability Symposium at The Franklin Institute http://conta.cc/njpass

April 28, 10am-3pm: Art Blooms Earth Festival at Croft Farm in Cherry Hill http://conta.cc/artbloomsearthfest

May 1, 7:45-9:30am: Green Your Bottom Line- Business breakfast at Cafe Aldo Lamberti with Camden County Regional Chamber of Commerce; check our website for emerging details

May 11, evening & May 12, morning: All Community Sustainable Cherry Hill Retreat; check our website for emerging details

May 19: Energy Efficient Car Show with It’s in Our Power at The Silver Diner; check our website for emerging details

And don’t forget to join us for Green Drinks on the first Wednesday of every month from 6-8pm at PJ Whelihans to meet and network with others thinking about sustainability in South Jersey!

Check out www.sustainablecherryhill.org for details about these events, our community driven task forces and more!

LIKE us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @sojerseygreen!

A 501c3 non-profit with the mission of bringing people together

to build a sustainable South Jersey

How can you make your yard healthier and more sustainable?

Join us on Wednesday, March 28, 7-9pm at The Cherry Hill Library for an evening of ideas and practical information on how to reduce the size of your lawn and increase the beauty of the remaining lawn by caring for it without the use of hazardous chemicals. We will discuss design ideas and plant selections that will assist you in changing your resource-hungry lawn into a healthier, more sustainable yard.

Cut it out!

Reduce your lawn, gas and  water consumption

Eliminate toxic chemicals that place your family and community at risk

Incorporate…

Native plants that know how to live with minimal care

Habitats for bees, butterflies, wildlife

Herb and vegetable gardens to decrease your food bill

Help us reinvent the outdated traditional lawn one yard at a time!

Speakers:

Aimee Bentley, Horticulturist for Hire

Sarah Deppa, Community Member

Barry Draycott, Tech Terra Organics

There is no fee for this program, but registration is required.

For more information, please contact Lori Braunstein at lori.braunstein@sustainablecherryhill.org/609.238.3449

Sponsored by: The Cherry Hill Library and Sustainable Cherry Hill’s Green Health/Garden Task Forces

Thursday March 29, 2012

Breakfast/Registration: 7:30am

Program: 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Workshop led by students from Science Leadership Academy 1:30 to 3:30 PM

Where:

The Franklin Institute
222 N. 20th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Register here.

Now in its second year, this event brings together industry, university and community leaders to share best practices, ask challenging questions and provide cutting edge information about sustainability in the Delaware Valley.

Nationally Acclaimed Keynote Speakers:

• Welcome by Brandywine Realty Trust
• Introductory comments by Troy Collins, Senior Vice-President of The Franklin Institute
• Welcome from Mayor Michael A. Nutter discussing the highly successful Philly Green Works program
• Roger Platt, Executive Vice President of the US Green Building Council 
• Henry H. Chamberlain, President and CEO of BOMA International (Building Owners and Management Association) 

15 Panel Discussions:

• Covering diverse topics, such as energy management systems, community engagement, building retrofits, starting a sustainable business, electric cars, LEED/Energy Star issues and more.
• Panelists include Kevin Kampschroer, Director of High Energy Buildings for GSA; Judy Wicks, Founder of BALLE;  Rob Watson, a founder of LEED; Leisha John, Americas Director of Sustainability at Ernst and Young; Audrey Zibelman, CEO of Viridity and other industry and thought leaders
• Detailed list of Detailed Agenda with Speakers/Panelists and Panel Grid

Stay for the afternoon:

• Join students from the Philadelphia School District enrolled in The Franklin Institute’s  Science Leadership Academy as they lead a session on sustainability

Event Co-Chairs:

Lori Braunstein
Executive Director
Sustainable Cherry Hill
Lori.Braunstein@sustainablecherryhill.org

Brad A. Molotsky
EVP and General Counsel
Brandywine Realty Trust
Brad.Molotsky@bdnreit.com

“Lightning Bolt” Level Sponsors:

“Kite” Level Sponsors:

Blue Sky Power, LLC / Diversey, Inc / Jones Lang LaSalle / Kitchen & Associates / MaGrann Associates Manko, Gold, Katcher, Fox, LLP / PPL Electric Utilities / SorinRoyerCooper, LLC / Spiezle Group             Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP / U-Go Stations / Waste Management

“Key” Level Sponsors:

Faithful & Gould / Sustainability Dashboard Tools LLC

Industry Partners:

For further information contact:

Brenda Jorett, communications director for SCH

Brenda@brendajorett.com

What’s Next Productions, LLC

Freeholder, Jeffrey Nash, SCH's Lori Braunstein and County Clerk, Joe Ripa

Pennsauken, NJ – Lori Braunstein, founder and executive director of Sustainable Cherry Hill (SCH) is one of 14 recipients of the 2012 Camden County Freedom Medal. Braunstein and all of the Freedom Medal recipients have made indelible and selfless contributions to communities throughout Camden County.

Through Braunstein’s expertise and leadership, hundreds of people have taken steps to make sustainability an active part of their lives in an effort to reduce their impact on the planet.  Braunstein was nominated for the Freedom Medal by Camden County Freeholder Jeffrey Nash who said of Braunstein, “No one is more of a motivator for change for and to the community than my friend, Lori Braunstein. The community would not be what it is without her service and dedication.”

Braunstein, 49, has led SCH since she founded the organization in 2007. The grassroots, non-profit group has grown to include many residents and business leaders from throughout Cherry Hill and other communities. SCH has become a well-respected organization under Braunstein’s leadership by helping educate citizens about issues affecting the environment. She has been instrumental in the sustainability efforts of Cherry Hill Township, the Cherry Hill School District and Camden County.

“Serving one’s community is something that anyone can do, no matter your education, income level or age,” says Braunstein. “ It is an honor to receive this recognition in the company of so many inspirational people.”

The Cherry Hill resident, family, friends and supporters were among those attending the annual awards dinner during a week that honored the legacy of Martin Luther King Junior. Camden County has been awarding the Freedom Medal since 2001 to honor citizens who serve others in many ways. Braunstein also received proclamations honoring her service to the community from Cherry Hill Mayor Chuck Cahn, the township council and from the New Jersey state legislature.

###

Courier Post:  CamCo honorees echo King’s spirit

See more photos from the event here.

Here in North America, our weather is heavily influenced by the movement of the jet stream – the high-speed air current about five to six miles above earth’s surface – which serves as the dividing line between cooler air to the north and warmer air to the south. As the jet stream shifts from day to day (and season to season), the result is a change in our regional temperatures as well as the track that storms take.

In recent decades, researchers have observed two very important changes in the jet stream as the planet has warmed. The first is that its wind speeds have increased, which gives winter storms more energy to both form and intensify. The other change is that the jet appears to be developing more bendy “kinks” in its flow pattern, similar to the wave created when someone snaps their wrist while holding a jump rope. When one of these waves  drops down from Canada, the cold air it brings southward often sets the stage for snowstorms to form along the Atlantic coast.  So while global warming is generally making winters milder and less snowy overall, its effects on the jet stream are likely contributing to an increase in the occasional but powerful freak storms that can paralyze the region under a blanket of white.

Just as winter has its topsy-turvy responses to global warming, so too does the summer season. Droughts and heat waves have become stronger and more persistent, such as the European heat wave of 2003 which is estimated to have killed tens of thousands of people. On the flip-side, heavy precipitation events have also become more common, as the warming oceans release more evaporation to the atmosphere to feed storm clouds. Here in the Northeast, the first half of summer 2011 was very hot and dry, but the second half was quite cool with August being the wettest month ever on record in Philadelphia. These distinct alternating weather patterns seem to be a more common aspect of our overall climate regime.

Researchers have also noted that ‘major’ hurricanes (Category 3 or higher) have become more common as they intensify over warmer-than-normal ocean waters, but that overall hurricane activity has actually decreased.  For instance, 2005 saw some of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record (such as Katrina and Rita), while the 2006 hurricane season was eerily quiet as a stronger-than-normal jet stream (a trademark of global warming) weakened tropical systems and pushed them away from North America.

It’s important to keep in mind that not all of the weather effects of a warmer planet are necessarily negative. For instance, while snowstorms cost communities millions of dollars in clean-up and lost economic revenue, they can also provide a water supply buffer for the following summer. With winter being the season of the greatest above-normal temperatures due to global warming, heating costs are reduced as a result, saving millions in the commercial and residential sectors. Warmer overall winter temperatures may even encourage consumer spending, as more people are out enjoying nature’s respite from the cold.

When it comes to our warming planet, many of its effects are not just unpredictable, but also counter-intuitive. We should not assume that the climatic changes associated with global warming will always fit a neat, identifiable pattern. So the next time you are up to your knees in snow, or your lawn is lush green with summer rain, or you are experiencing a quiet hurricane season – remember that global warming just may be to blame.

Paul Hanley is a long-time Cherry Hill resident, freelance writer and Environmental Science professor at the Community College of Philadelphia. Look here on Sustainable Cherry Hill for more upcoming blogs from Paul in the coming weeks. He can be contacted at phanley@ccp.edu.

Join us for an evening of discussion with two of the region’s top breast cancer experts on the topic of environmental factors and breast cancer.

Speakers:
Marisa Weiss, MD
President and Founder, Breastcancer.org

Generosa Grana, MD  Director, Cooper Cancer Institute

This program is offered free of charge, but registration is required here.

Wednesday, February 8- 6:30pm

Cherry Hill Public Library

Sponsored by:

Cooper Cancer Institute, Breastcancer.org and Sustainable Cherry Hill

Speakers at the event, ranging from community organizers to academics, will describe how our communities, workplaces, economies and planet benefit from diversity, using real-life examples to show how diverse systems interact to create a stronger whole.

Following the presentations, stay for an interactive, small group discussion that will further examine the ideas of diversity and sustainability.

Who: Anyone interested in Diversity and Sustainability

When: Sunday, Februrary 26th, 2-5pm

Where: UrbanPromise Sanctuary. Located at 3700 Rudderow Street, Pennsauken, NJ 08110 (After arriving at the Urban Promise campus, enter the building that looks like a church).

Registration: Event is free, but registration is required. To register visit http://conta.cc/diverseworld or contact Lori Braunstein, Sustainable Cherry Hill, at lori.braunstein@sustainablecherryhill.org, 609.238.3449

Panelists:

Rev. Eric Dobson – Co-director, Organizer and Public Relations – Fund for an Open Society

Emilio Panasci – Co-director and Urban Planner- Fund for an Open Society
Monica Hennessy, Esq.
Labor and employment attorney, mediator, affirmative action and diversity advisor, Montgomery McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP

Dr. Margaret Lewis Associate Professor of Biology, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey

Dr. Kevin Lyons
Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management and Marketing, Rutgers University

Co-sponsors:
The Fund for an Open Society

Congregation M’kor Shalom

The Center for Environmental Transformation

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Cherry Hill (UUCCH) UUCCH Social Justice Committee Community

Planning and Advocacy Council

Soul of Camden

South Jersey NOW–Alice Paul chapter

I am pleased to invite Cherry Hill students and friends to participate in the Earthwatch Institute’s Costa Rican Coffee from Community to Cup Teen Tour, from July 14-21. http://www.earthwatch.org/exped/chandler_teen.html

As an Earthwatch Teacher Fellow in 2009 and 2011, I participated in two amazing (AND FUN!) expeditions that tapped into my passion for environmental stewardship.  These experiences were so transformative, I wanted to bring them to my community.

Students do not have to be studying Spanish (or be future science majors) to take part; this is a fantastic experience for any student interested in environmental preservation, service learning, sustainable economic practices, and enjoying the great outdoors!

Participants on an Earthwatch expedition engage in hands-on fieldwork with conservation scientists.  Rather than merely learning about environmental preservation, participants are actively working to create a better world — conducting research that is used to make decisions about the future of the planet.

You’ll experience a slice of life in Costa Rica that is not generally available to tourists, working with farmers and community members.

Students work as a team, gaining hands-on experience that can be used for college applications and into the job market.

Fees payable to Earthwatch are tax-deductible! The cost for our group expedition is $1995 + flight (approx $600 round-trip through STA).  Earthwatch will coordinate flight arrangements.

The expedition is open to students 15 -17 years of age, and will be limited to 12 students.

Ms. Korff will be meeting with students at Cherry Hill West on Wed, Jan 18 at 2:45pm; Cherry Hill East on Thu, Jan 19 at 2:45pm.

An evening information session for interested students and their parents will  be held at 7pm Thursday, January 26 at Cherry Hill East.  James Fry, from the Earthwatch Institute, will be on hand to answer questions.

For more information, contact Inez Korff at ikorff@chclc.org

The "Big Dig"!

In December, members of the J.D. Sharp School Green Team embarked on a five-month study of what happens to trash when it is buried.  Calling the project “The Big Dig,” the students wanted to study first-hand the length of time it takes various materials to decompose.

Prior to the actual interment, the 39 students in grades one through five created a list of goods to collect.  The materials included food scraps, paper, plastic, cardboard, rubber, leather, styrofoam, wood, aluminum and metal.  The children made predictions about which objects would decompose at a faster rate, concluding that paper and food products would rot faster than the others.

Armed with trowels, shovels and trash, the Green Team buried their “treasures” in narrow ditches on the side of the school.  They plan to dig up their trash in May to test their predictions and make observations.

At monthly meetings, the team will learn about sustainability issues, including the rate at which materials decompose and the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling as many materials as they can.  The “Big Dig” is one of several projects that the Green Team students are exploring to educate themselves and their school community.