Earth Week

Earth Day/Week

The first Earth Day was in 1970, the same year that the Environmental Protection Agency was founded. Earth Day takes place on April 22^nd of each year and in many places has grown to encompass an entire week’s worth of activities. In 2009, Maplewood stepped up its efforts and had a week’s worth of activities to celebrate Earth Day.

In 2010, we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day. Check out the schedule and see what you can do -- lots of spring cleaning to do! You can go splash down to the Rahway River and enjoy Maplewood's natural beauty while you help keep it that way. Clean out your aging files and go to the shred-a-thon! Have a drink and meet new people at Green Drinks, go to Maplewood Library and hear about Organic Gardening, learn how to compost, regenerate the forest, help out the Green Team energy conservation group. There are loads of opportunities. See the details below.

Monday, April 12th 9:00 am -- Tree Planting Maple tree generously donated by Pleasantdale Nurseries in West Orange -- from last Green Day -- will be planted in Memorial Park, behind Memorial Library and across the stream.

Saturday, April 17th, 9-11:30 am -- Village Alliance Spring Planting and Cleanup Sponsored by Valley National Bank. Volunteers wanted to help plant spring flowers in our flowerpots in Downtown Maplewood Village. Please bring gardening tools and gloves. We'll have the flowers and soil. Welcome spring by helping to beautify our lovely Village. A volunteer clean up will also be held that morning. Scout, school and church groups are welcome. For more information, contact Julie Doran at 973-762-4566.

Saturday, April 17 10:00 am - noon -- Home energy conservation literature distribution DeHart Community Center. The Green Team energy conservation group needs help distributing information on the attractive NJ Clean Energy programs to provide financial support for households that take energy conservation measures. There are excellent programs to provide financial help and advice on ways that almost all Maplewood households can reduce their energy waste but too few people know about them and take advantage of them. The Hilton and Lightning Brook neighborhoods will be the focus on this morning. Just show up at the DeHart Community Center at 10:00 am or contact money4energysavings@gmail.com for more information.

Sunday, April 18, 9:30-noon Forest Regeneration Corps. Join the South Mountain Conservancy for its first activity of the year. Remove invasive plants, and plant native plants. Meet at Wildflower and Forest Preserve at dog park parking lot off Crest Drive. Long pants recommended. Water and gloves provided. All ages welcome. Call Tricia Zimic to see if poor weather will cancel at 973-650-6106.

Monday April 19th, 7:30 p.m. -- Green Drinks Steve Tesoriero of Renewable Resource Systems will speak about home energy efficiency. Learn how to take advantage of Clean Energy programs and save money on your energy bill! O’Reilly’s Bar and Grill, 2208 Millburn Avenue. Friend us on Facebook. Or go to the Green Drinks page. No fee, cash bar.

Wednesday, April 21, 7-9 pm at Memorial Library (downstairs) -- Organic Gardening Lecture given by Jan Zientek, Essex County Master Gardener Coordinator. Come learn what an organic garden is and how you can start one of your own. Free and open to the public.

Friday, April 23, 7:30 pm at Ethical Culture Society, 516 Prospect Street. Food, Inc. by filmmaker maker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that's been hidden from the regulatory American consumer with the consent of our government's agencies, USDA and FDA. Viewing this film will be an eye-opener about what we are really eating. After film discussion will be held on movie reactions and tips will be provided on to follow on healthy nutrition strategies. For more info., go to Ethical Culture Society of Essex County ethicalessex@netscape.com.

Saturday, April 24, 10 am -- Composting Workshop Virginia Lamb Falconer will lead a composting workshop at the Recycling Center, 359 Boyden Ave. Learn how to turn your household waste into valuable fertilizer while reducing your trash. $10 workshop fee. For more information, contact virginialamb1@yahoo.com.

Saturday, April 24, 8 am-noon -- Shred-a-thon Event Clear out your old financial and personal records. Bring your old papers and watch them get shredded on the spot. At the Recycling Center, 359 Boyden Ave. For more information, contact Diane Thomson at diane@creativeorganizing.biz. Free and open to the public.

Saturday April 24th, 10 am-12 noon -- Rahway River Cleanup Come help clean up Rahway River. Meet at Memorial Park off Dunnell Road near the walking bridge to get an assignment to help clean up the Rahway River.

Saturday April 24th, Noon-5 pm Look for the Environmental Advisory Committee table at Maplewood Village’s Spring Open Market. For more information, contact Julia Doran at 973-762-4566.

Maplewood Earth Week 2009 in the News

Composting Workshop Maplewood Patch