Greener Bloomfield

Raising hens is legal in Montclair — why not Bloomfield? Click on the photo to read more.

Are you interested in getting fresh eggs…right from your own back yard? Converting some of your lawn to vegetable gardens to raise more of your own food? Then you should attend the CHICKEN MEETING – to discuss and propose an ordinance to allow Bloomfield residents to keep and raise chickens (hens) in their back yards as a pilot program. Urban homesteading will also be discussed. The meeting will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2013, at 10 a.m. at the Bloomfield College Library on the corner of Oakland and Liberty Streets. (Free parking in the Bloomfield College parking lot at the corner of Liberty and Austin Place).

Raising hens offers a number of benefits for local communities. Hens can be fed food scraps and garden waste while providing nitrogen-rich fertilizer through their droppings. Hens also provide natural pest control by consuming grubs and insects.

[From Facebook's "Citizens of Bloomfield, New Jersey" group and Bloomfield Patch.]

February 19th, 2013 | Tags: Chickens, Food, Homesteading, Meetings, Organic gardening | Category: Events, Food, Meetings | Leave a comment

Montclair Environmental Affairs office and Community Green present another eye-opening environmental movie – Renewal– the first feature-length documentary film to capture the vitality and diversity of today’s religious-environmental activists. It starts at 6:30 pm Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Montclair Public Library.

From within their Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and Muslim traditions, Americans are becoming caretakers of the Earth. With great courage, these women, men and children are re-examining what it means to be human and how we live on this planet. Their stories of combating global warming and the devastation of mountaintop removal, of promoting food security, environmental justice, recycling, land preservation, and of teaching love and respect for life on Earth are the heart of RENEWAL.

Join us for the film and discussion following. This is one of a series of free Environmental Film Screenings put on by CommunityGreen.org. For more information contact Marnie Vyff at 973-335-4469 ormarnie@ecoLOGIC-design.com.

February 18th, 2013 | Tags: Community Green, Environmental justice, Food, Global warming, Land preservation, Movies, Recycling, Religion | Category: Events | Leave a comment

Community Green is sponsoring a talk this Thursday, February 21, at 7:00 pm in Clifton on “Protecting NJ’s Environment: From Cancer Alley to the New Garden State”. Tom Belton, author of the book of the same title, will speak about key environmental issues in NJ and champion the ways common citizens have sought justice when faced with unseen health threats. Belton is a scientist with the NJDEP. He has investigated the impact of toxic chemicals on humans and wildlife. Free and open to the public. Light refreshments served. The event will take place at the Clifton Public Library, 292 Piaget Ave, Clifton. For more information please contact John Kashwick at jkashwick@optonline.net and go to the Meetup page at http://www.meetup.com/nj-green/events/98041522/.

February 18th, 2013 | Tags: Clifton, Community Green, NJDEP | Category: Events | Leave a comment

Join us for our February 2013 Greener Bloomfield meeting on Thursday, February 28, 7:30-9:00 p.m. at the Bloomfield Civic Center. We’ll have an open discussion with Bloomfield’s Recycling Coordinator Joe Testa and Department of Public Works and Parks Director Anthony Nesto. They will discuss the waste management and recycling programs in town, with some statistics, information on the expanded list of recyclables, and challenges they face where we might be able to help. Mr. Nesto will also discuss their green initiatives and challenges, including lawn and field maintenance, water conservation efforts, plantings, infrastructure, and even Christmas lights (can we finally go LED?). Bring your questions and suggestions!

According to the Township website, the Department of Public Works “includes maintenance of streets, sewers, shade trees, street sweeping, sanitation, recycling, potable water, and street lights”.

February 16th, 2013 | Category: Bloomfield Township Gov't, Events, Featured, Local Government, Meetings, Recycling | Leave a comment

Hello, friends! I’m happy to see a good number of people scheduled to attend tonight’s Greener Bloomfield meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Bloomfield Civic Center. It’s not too late to sign up, and it will help us figure out seating and snacks.

Our meetings are always interactive. Please come prepared to talk about at least one thing that you’ve been doing over the last couple of years to make your home, work, or community greener.

We’re also going to do some brainstorming on goals for our organization over the next year. Should we become a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization? What should we focus on for Sustainable Jersey re-certification (see www.SustainableJersey.com for info if you’re not familiar)? What other issues should we pursue in town? How can we grow our membership and impact in the community? And very importantly, how can we continue to have fun while we seek our goals?

It’s going to be chilly, so bundle up, and we look forward to seeing you tonight!

P.S.: We’ll probably meet next in late February.

January 24th, 2013 | Tags: Meetings, Sustainable Jersey | Category: Events, Featured, Meetings | Leave a comment

Yes, Greener Bloomfield is coming back to life after a hiatus of almost 3 years! Our goals are the same — to bring the community together to learn about and implement actions that will help us be more sustainable in our homes, our schools, our businesses, and our township. We’ll build on the success we’ve had in the past to get Bloomfield re-certified with Sustainable Jersey. We’ll examine development going on in town and promote green building practices. And we’ll always advocate transparency, openness, and other best practices to make sure our township is thinking sustainably — so that we thrive not only environmentally, but also socially and economically. As always, we aim to be collaborative, non-partisan, and apolitical — we just want to work together to get good things done!

We’ll be meeting on Thursday, January 24, 7:00 p.m. at the Civic Center to share what people have done during our hiatus, to discuss what we want to do going forward,  and to enjoy fellowship with people who have similar ideals. We’re confirming our meeting place and time and will let you know as soon as we can! To make sure you’re on the list to be notified, sign up at http://www.meetup.com/GreenerBloomfield.

January 7th, 2013 | Category: Events, Featured, Meetings | Leave a comment

[NOTE: At the Jan. 8 meeting, both applicants asked for their hearings to be moved to Tuesday, Jan. 15, since a full Planning Board was not able to hear the proposals. They have been moved to a special meeting Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 7:00 p.m. The date and time below have been edited to reflect the new meeting.]

On Tuesday, January 15, 7:00 p.m. in the Bloomfield Municipal Building Council Chambers, the Planning Board will be considering at least two projects of interest to Greener Bloomfield friends. We hope you’ll attend to comment on these projects.

In one, Bloomfield College is proposing an attractive new bookstore run by Barnes and Noble. Rumor has it that they will be seeking LEED Silver certification! We’re also hoping that the bookstore will be welcoming to the public with a retail front end — especially as there are no other bookstores in Bloomfield! We hope you’ll encourage them in their sustainable development and providing a compelling retail destination for our residents and neighbors.

The second issue is more troublesome, where the developer of the Lion’s Gate property. Many have concerns that the residential development will cause more overcrowding at schools that are already using trailers. In addition, the developer appears to ask that the Planning Board grant them the right to modify their plans without any additional notice or approval, which could be a terrible precedent. The group Save Bloomfield Now posts the following:

Please attend the Bloomfield Planning Board meeting on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 7:30 PM to protect our rights to oversee development in our town!

The attorney for the developer of the former Scientific Glass property on Lion Gate Drive (off Broad St) will be appearing before the board seeking a blank check to allow unfettered latitude to make any changes they want to the approved development of 104 townhouses without having to come back to the Planning Board for approval of those changes.

In their own words (from the public notice that was hand-delivered to residents in a 200 foot radius):

“The applicant also requests that the Board grant any additional approvals, permits, interpretations, waivers or exceptions reflected in the materials filed (as same may be amended or revised from time to time without further notice) or determined to be necessary during the review and processing of this application.”

Save Bloomfield Now is concerned that the Planning Board may be pressured into giving in to this demand by the developer, and we ask residents to attend the meeting to show their support for our Planning Board and the important role they play in guiding development in our town within the boundaries of the law.

Show (and tell) the Planning Board that we want them to decide what is right for our town, not the developer!

(Did you know? Our Planning Board is comprised of Bloomfield residents who volunteer countless hours to fulfill this vital function of local government.)

January 7th, 2013 | Category: Bloomfield Center Redevelopment, Bloomfield Township Gov't, Local Government | Leave a comment

(From our friends at Baristanet)
Bloomfield Township last week sent notices to some residents warning that the level of trihalomethanes (chemical contaminants that are by-products of chlorination) in their drinking water exceeds federal standards.

The flyer, slipped under the door of some apartment dwellers, and mailed to other residents, states: “This is not an emergency…You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. If a situation arises where the water is no longer safe to drink, you will be notified within 24 hours.” However, it does not state how residents will be alerted.

Particularly concerning to some residents is the warning in the flyer: “People who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL (maximum contaminant level) over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.”

See more details, with a statement by Township Engineer Paul Lasek, on Baristanet.

January 7th, 2013 | Category: Local Government, Water | Leave a comment

Check out the posts below to see what Greener Bloomfield has done in the past!

January 7th, 2013 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments Off

Bring your electronic to recycle at the Brookdale ShopRite this Saturday, April 24, 9:00am – 1:00 pm, as the Bloomfield Recycling Committee introduces a new monthly electronics drop-off for the North End. The Recycling Committee, Open Space Trust Fund, and Greener Bloomfield will be exhibiting as well to celebrate Earth Day, informing people of their projects and ways you can help preserve the environment. Greener Bloomfield will have information about the rebates available for recycling old refrigerators, buying new Energy Star appliances, and making other energy upgrades to homes and businesses. More »

April 21st, 2010 | Tags: Earth Day, Greener Bloomfield, Open space, Recycling, Recycling Committee | Category: Earth Day 2010, Events, Recycling | Leave a comment

Find out about affordable solar electricity for your home or business as the President and Co-Founder of Geoscape Solar, Jeff Chavkin, visits our next Greener Bloomfield meeting April 29, 7:00 pm, Bloomfield Civic Center. Jeff will explain how solar power works, the ins and outs of buy vs. lease, and the financial and environmental payback for generating your own power from renewable sources. Please RSVP at www.Meetup.com/GreenerBloomfield.

Geoscape claims to be the only company in NJ offering leases for solar, where for no money down, you can get solar panels on your roof and pay at least 25% less than you pay now for electricity (claims from their website). It’s also a good time to buy solar panels, with a rebate from NJ, federal tax credits of 30%, and the Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) you earn by generating electricity.

If you’re interested in generating electricity from the sun at your house, or at your business or church, then this is a great place to get it. If you already have solar electricity, or even solar thermal, please come to share your experiences. We met Jeff at the Earth Day 2010 celebration at the Essex County Environmental Center on April 16. [Disclaimer: Greener Bloomfield does not in any way endorse or recommend Geoscape Solar; we are simply providing information from one of many possible solar providers in NJ.]

April 21st, 2010 | Tags: Energy, Meetings, Solar | Category: Energy, Events, Meetings | Leave a comment

Pat Kenschaft, the noted local organic gardener, has put together tours of 3 organic vegetable gardens (including hers, of course) here in suburban Essex County on Saturday morning, April 24. More »

April 14th, 2010 | Tags: Events, Food, Organic gardening | Category: Events, Food | Leave a comment

Join Greener Bloomfield at the Essex County Environmental Center’s Annual Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 17, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. We will be providing information on cash rebates available to homeowners for energy audits, energy efficiency home improvements, and refrigerator recycling through the NJ Clean Energy Program. We’ll also have flyers on Bloomfield’s Grass Cut It and Leave It Grasscycling program, the new Water Conservation recommendations, and the Anti-Idling initiative. The event will also feature lots of activities for kids and adults, and over 40 environmentally-oriented organizations and vendors.

[We're also looking for volunteers to help at our table for an hour or two, starting with setup at 9:00. If you'd like to help, please sign up at www.meetup.com/GreenerBloomfield. Thank you!]

April 13th, 2010 | Tags: Earth Day, Energy, Events, Grasscycling, Homes, Recycling, Water | Category: Earth Day 2010, Energy, Events, Recycling, Water | Leave a comment

The Montclair Township Environmental Affairs office and Community Green present the latest movie in their Montclair Green Film Series. “A Chemical Reaction” will be shown on Thursday, April 15, 6:30 p.m. at the Montclair Public Library’s Main Branch, 50 So. Fullerton Avenue. All events at the Library are free.

The documentary tells the story of a powerful community initiative started in 1984 when a dermatologist noticed connections between her patients’ health and their exposure to pesticides and herbicides. She warned that chemicals put on lawns posed severe health risks, and had unknown side effects on the environment. This eventually led the town of Hudson to ban the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides. The chemical companies put their full legal weight on the tiny town and eventually the case made it to the Supreme Court. More »

April 13th, 2010 | Tags: Events, Films, Herbicides, Organic gardening, Pesticides | Category: Events | Leave a comment

Greener Bloomfield will NOT meet this Thursday, March 25, due to scheduling conflicts. We’ll meet as usual the last Thursday in April, the 29th, at 7:00 pm. Instead of meeting, please take time to COMPLETE YOUR CENSUS FORM, if you haven’t already. We can also use VOLUNTEERS to help at our table at the Essex County Environmental Center’s Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 17, 11:00 am-4:00 pm. Please let us know if you can help by signing up at www.Meetup.com/GreenerBloomfield.

March 22nd, 2010 | Tags: Census, Earth Day, Greener Bloomfield, Meetings | Category: Events, Meetings | Leave a comment

The Montclair Township Environmental Affairs office and Community Green present Green Builders, another eye opening film Thursday, March 18, 7:00 pm at the Montclair Public Library. Greener Bloomfield’s Christine (Bruncati) Liaukus is one of the experts appearing in the show. A green revolution in the building world is evolving, and a first wave of innovative green design projects large and small have already arrived here in New Jersey. More »

March 17th, 2010 | Tags: Events, Green Building, Local groups, Schools, Sustainability | Category: Events, Green Building | Leave a comment

Now you can participate in a humane way to reduce destructive goose populations. Essex County is offering FREE GeesePeace training on March 24. The training is particularly targeted to assist municipalities and property owners in their geese management efforts. GeesePeace volunteers will be training volunteers, public works and recreational personnel on how to addle goose eggs, thereby eliminating new births.

Training will be held at the Essex County Environmental Center at 621-B Eagle Rock Avenue in Roseland from 9a-11am or 7pm-9pm on March 24th. Pre-registration is required – please 973 228-8776 if you plan to attend. More »

March 17th, 2010 | Tags: Events, Geese Peace, Training | Category: Events | Leave a comment

Greener Bloomfield usually meets the last Thursday of each month. But with the weather and early school closings, our February 25 meeting  is was POSTPONED, probably to next this Thursday, March 4, 7:00 pm at the Bloomfield Civic Center. At that time, we will discuss the NJ Clean Energy Community Partners program and how Greener Bloomfield can help to inform local residents and businesses of the benefits and rebates available for energy-efficiency improvements and signing up for clean energy sources. We’ll also begin discussions about activities for Bloomfield’s participation in the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day in April. We’ll hear about the 2010 Census and how we can help, and we’ll also discuss by-laws for our 501(c)(3) non-profit application.

February 24th, 2010 | Tags: Earth Day, Energy, Greener Bloomfield, Homes, Meetings | Category: Events, Meetings | Leave a comment

The Montclair Environmental Affairs office and Community Green present another eye-opening environmental double feature from the Montclair Green Film Series, “The Disapperaing Male” and “Big River”, hosted at the Public Library Main Branch, 50 South Fullerton Avenue, on Thursday, February 18th at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.

“The Disappearing Male” is about one of the most important – and least publicized – health issues facing the human species: the toxic threat to the male reproductive system. The last few decades have seen dramatic increases in the incidence of boys and young men suffering from a number of problems including low sperm count, testicular cancer, ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. The male birthrate is steadily decreasing.

“The Disappearing Male” takes a close and disturbing look at what many doctors and researchers now suspect are responsible for many of these problems: a class of common chemicals called “endocrine disrupters” that are found in everything from shampoo, sunglasses, meat and dairy products, to pesticides, carpets, cosmetics and baby bottles.

The second film, “Big River”, investigates the environmental impact one acre of corn causes for the people and places downstream. In a journey from the heartland to the Gulf of Mexico, two farmers trade their combine for a canoe––and set out to see the big world their little acre of corn has touched. More »

February 16th, 2010 | Tags: Food, Health, Local groups, Water | Category: Events | Leave a comment