Category: Environment

PRINCETON, N.J. — D&R Greenway Land Trust announces dates for its popular autumnal native plant sale that will soon open to the public in Princeton.

 

The event will be opened to the public Thursday, Sept. 16, from 5 – 6:30 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 17, from 5 – 6:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Sept. 18, from 9:00 until 11:00 a.m., at the Johnson Education Center, One Preservation Place in Princeton.

 

“Fall is an ideal time for planting shrubs and new trees, as they establish strong root systems before winter, well ahead of the stress of summer heat. Significantly, local plants require less maintenance in terms of fertilizer, water and pesticides,” states Director of Land Stewardship for D&R Greenway Tina Notas.

 

She explains that,  the land trust’s Native Plant Nursery specimens are grown from locally sourced starter plants free of nicotinoid insecticides which harm pollinators. Local plants are conditioned to survive regional stresses. Planting natives that evolved locally turns home gardens into habitat.

 

“Our Nursery, in front of which the sales are held, is an outdoor space. Visitors selecting their plants must wear masks and maintain social distancing,” she states.  As in earlier COVID-affected events, D&R Greenway Staff monitors ‘entrance,’ as needed.

 

D&R Greenway’s Native Plant Nursery availability has over 50 varieties of plants of the region. They are selected for health, for beauty and to provide shelter and food for regional birds, insects and butterflies. Our trees, shrubs, perennial wildflowers, grasses, sedges & ferns are grown either on-site or purchased from reputable nearby native plant growers. Our flora not only support New Jersey’s unique environment, but also D&R Greenway’s preservation and stewardship mission.

 

Notas reveals her enthusiasm for her very successful Nursery sales, despite pandemic realities:

 

“We are delighted to open our native plant nursery to the public, so that local gardeners may safely choose our vibrant native flora. Our broad array of plants summons specific creatures dependent upon our unique local ecosystem, in both breeding and migratory seasons.”

 

An up-to-date inventory is at the D&R Greenway’s Native Plant Nursery’s website: https://drgreenway.org/shop/native-plants/ Available trees and shrubs include oaks, ironwood, delicious local fruiting trees including pawpaw, serviceberry, beach plum; as well as buttonbush, red buckeye, spicebush (earliest spring flowerlets and home of spicebush swallowtail butterfly), witch hazel (which blooms in winter), dogwood and bayberry. Among our native flowers are blue flag iris, mountain mint, goldenrod (this important pollinator plant bears heavy pollen, which falls to the ground, does not travel by air, does not generate allergies), subtle foxglove beardtongue, towering Joe Pye weed and the exquisite blue lobelia.

 

The Johnson Education Center’s ca. 1900 barn is not currently open to the public though the land trust’s popular preserves and trails remain open for public enjoyment. The land trust has been careful to put practices in place that safeguard purchasers and staff, yet enabling gardeners to enjoy the spring planting tradition.

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BACKGROUND

D&R Greenway Land Trust, an accredited nonprofit, has saved over 21,000 acres of New Jersey land since its 1989 founding. D&R Greenway’s mission is connecting land with people from all walks of life. Preserving land for life and creating public trails grants everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors.

 

The land trust’s preserved farms and community gardens provide local, organic food for neighbors—including those in need. D&R Greenway’s strategic land conservation and stewardship combat climate change, protect wildlife, and ensure clean drinking water for future generations.

 

Our outdoor trails and labyrinth are open. Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages and www.drgreenway.org to learn about the organization’s latest news and virtual programs. D&R Greenway Land Trust, One Preservation Place, Princeton NJ, 08540. The best way to reach D&R Greenway Staff during the COVID pandemic is by e-mail, or by calling D&R Greenway at 609-578-7470.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Earlier this month, D&R Greenway and Soil Carbon Partners [SCP] announced the arrival of 15 cows to St. Michaels Farm Preserve in Hopewell.

 

They are already grazing on a diverse mix of forage grasses and legumes planted by SCP. Beginning in early spring 2021, Soil Carbon Partners, led by managing member Ed Huling, applied a special mix of organic materials to 50 acres of farm fields on the land trust’s St. Michaels Farm. Based on 20 years of SCP’s research and refinement, this soil mix contains abundant minerals, organic matter and beneficial soil organisms. The newly enriched soil is the heart of the matter in this ground-breaking Climate Project.

 

In the first two months following the application of soil enrichment materials, the dry weight of newly planted forage grasses is already 300% greater compared to control plots. Growing more food on less land is essential for combatting climate change, because if food production per acre could be significantly increased, we would no longer need to cut down forests to feed a growing population. Recent Princeton research proves that forests powerfully cool the planet. The authors, Sara Cerasoli and Amilcare Porporato, recently published their breakthrough research on the cooling effect of forests in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

 

The third milestone in SCP’s three-part climate mitigation program, along with soil restoration and higher forage crop productivity, was bringing fifteen Hereford and Devon cattle to graze on the fields. Over the course of history, cows, buffalo, elk, and other grazing animals eating grass on pastures sequestered hundreds of billions of tons of atmospheric carbon in soil around the world. By doing so, these grazing animals have been key players in keeping the earth cool for tens of thousands of years. They are just as important now to keeping the grass trimmed, and actively drawing down CO2 from the atmosphere and sequestering it in soil.

 

Knee-deep in nutrient-rich grasses, the herd already surpasses the well known description of contented cows. In addition, a unique feature of their fenced pasture is a movable “cow umbrella” which shades the cattle from hot summer sun. Above their heads, white-breasted tree swallows and ruddy-breasted barn swallows waltz and even sing in welcome. A mockingbird flashes by in unaccustomed silence. As always, at St. Michaels Farm Preserve, calm is the norm. It is increased by the response of the Herefords and Devons to their abundant array of grasses. Gazing across the farm, visitors who walk the trails will notice differing heights of plants that indicate varying fertility formulations and application rates.

 

Ed Huling of SCP is thankful to D&R Greenway and the community, “We are very grateful for D&R Greenway Land Trust’s ongoing and active support of this Climate Project through use of their fields and managing their land to accommodate our farming activities. We also appreciate the warm welcome, curiosity and understanding shown to us by community members.” Through local connections, these first cows to arrive to the preserve came from Charlie and Lucia Huebner’s nearby Beechtree farm in Hopewell, provided for this key phase of research.

 

D&R Greenway, a nonprofit organization that counts on donations from individuals to care for this land, permanently preserved the 415 acre farm in 2010, saving it from development into 1,050 houses and a shopping center. The land trust maintains bird boxes and habitat on the farm, and ensures the continuation of agriculture. Six miles of trails through woods and along farm roads are provided to the public on this popular preserve. St. Michaels Farm Preserve visitors and hikers are urged to stay upon designated trails, and keep away from the animals for your safety and their continued tranquility.  Fences are electric, and people should maintain 10 feet distance and keep children from approaching them. Dogs should be kept on a leash, as is the preserve’s rule, to keep them from approaching and barking at the farm animals and fellow walkers.

 

D&R Greenway CEO & President, Linda Mead, remembers “Eleven years ago, when D&R Greenway opened the St. Michaels Farm Preserve, the cattle of Jon and Robin McConaughy’s Double Brook Farm were pastured upon these same fields where the new Herefords and Devons graze today. We have missed seeing cows on the fields since they were moved away these past 5 years. You could say we’ve been waiting ‘til the cows come home.”

 

Three independent advisors from leading universities are measuring results of this scientific project. In weeks to come, they will monitor the cattle’s individual weight gain, expected to surpass that of cows grazing upon conventional grasses today. Throughout the Climate Project, SCP will continue to manage grazing patterns at St. Michaels Farm, to optimize grasses’ ongoing sequestration of carbon. The ability to sequester carbon in farm and forest soils is increasingly recognized as a key strategy for helping slow climate change. Extreme weather events this summer occurring all over the world have been attributed to climate change. D&R Greenway and Soil Carbon Partners believe that techniques like this could be a part of the solution.

 

Read more on our website! https://drgreenway.org/

 

BACKGROUND

 

The mission of Soil Carbon Partners is to produce nutrient-dense organic food and help mitigate climate change.

 

D&R Greenway Land Trust, an accredited nonprofit, has saved over 21,000 acres of New Jersey land since its 1989 founding. D&R Greenway’s mission is connecting land with people from all walks of life. Preserving land for life and creating public trails grants everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors.

 

D&R Greenway Land Trust, in partnership with the Garden State Watercolor Society, announces the reopening of its Marie L. Matthews Art Gallery with the aptly named exhibit “Recovery,” at their Johnson Education Center in Princeton.

 

This river-focused 51st Annual Juried Exhibition will be available for reserved timed viewings from Aug.11 through Oct. 17, 2021.

 

Along with the juried exhibit, in the lobby of the Johnson Education Center, they will greet visitors with the Garden State Watercolor Society’s 3^rd Annual Art Installation of over 100 mini-paintings illustrating aspects of the Delaware River, displayed among river stones.

 

Interested persons can learn more by attending a Virtual Art Opening Cocktail Hour on Tues., Aug. 17, 2021, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.  Please RSVP to rsvp@drgreenway.org, by noon on August 17 to receive the zoom link to the virtual Happy Hour.  An in-person Reception and Awards Ceremony will take place on Friday, September 10 at the Johnson Education Center, outdoors. For more information and to reserve a space, visit www.gswcs.org.

 

Opportunities to experience the exhibit include in person viewings by appointment only, made by calling 609 558-0207.  Reserved timed entries will be available three days a week through the run of the show, with monthly Saturday hours.  Visitors will be invited to follow CDC guidelines when they enter the Johnson Education Center to view the exhibit, with masks and social distancing. Entries will be timed so that each visitor and their guests remain separated from others viewing the exhibit. Events had been on hold for over a year and this will be the first returning indoor gallery exhibit.

 

Garden State Watercolor Society’s “Recovery” portrays the wild landscape, recreation, birds, fish, flora and fauna of the Delaware River with creative imagination. Artists illustrate the natural beauty we all love. The art works showcase what “Recovery” signifies to each of us, in representational or abstract ways.

 

“This exhibit celebrates what we at D&R Greenway have learned over the past year and a half, that nature heals and helps us recover from isolation and trauma,” shares Linda Mead, D&R Greenway’s CEO and President. “Our founding mission to preserve water quality by saving land along our region’s waterways is reflected in the focus on the Delaware River.” The river is a comeback success story, with progress made in cleaning up the river celebrated in 2020 when American Rivers named the Delaware the “American River of the Year”.  The river landscape has long been a place of reflection and beauty for area residents and artists.

 

Tess Fields, GSWS President declares, “I was delighted when the D&R Greenway Land Trust challenged us with the theme of the Delaware River and its recovery. I grew up on the Delaware and have a great respect and fondness for it. Each season on the river holds its own particular beauty. It can be calm and serene, or, after a storm, it can be dangerous and threatening. GSWS Artists embraced the theme and created a wide variety of wonderful art. I hope that people will come to view the exhibit at D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center. GSWS is thrilled to be hanging its first exhibit in two years!”

 

This special 2021 “Recovery” exhibit by the Garden State Watercolor Society, hosted by D&R Greenway, recognizes the importance of the preservation of water that supplies 15 million people.  Wildlife and vegetation benefit from stewardship of the Delaware River and its adjacent land and natural resources in local communities like Lambertville and Bordentown, and in cities that include Trenton, Camden and Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE. The Delaware River’s waters have become a critical resource and connection for people, providing inspiration, safe passage and restorative recreation and meditation. The Delaware remains the longest free-flowing river in the eastern U.S., with the most extensive National Wild and Scenic River protection of any watershed in the country.

https://www.americanrivers.org/2020/04/river-of-the-year-for-2020-the-delaware-river/

 

Featured as the gateway to the exhibit is the Garden State Watercolor Society’s 3^rd Annual Art Installation, a distinctive mini-art representation of aspects of the Delaware River with over a hundred 5”x7” paintings created by GSWS artists. Challenged to paint using only cool colors of blue, green and purple, the collaborative exhibit shows the imaginative creativity of the artists. The installation art celebrates the Delaware River: clean water, return of wildlife and source of scenic landscapes and interaction of nature and people. This installation exhibit follows the previous challenges of “Head and Shoulders” art installation in 2019–in which portraits were done in primary colors of red, yellow and blue only, and “Beautiful Creatures” in 2020–using secondary colors: orange, green and purple, and showing: animals, birds and insects. Both were well-received; this installation is expected to draw much interest as well.

 

The community is invited to call 609-558-0207 to make a reservation to visit the free installation and exhibit, in person. Artist entry and prizes were juried by Tim Saternow, a Signature Member of the American Watercolor Society whose watercolor paintings explore the lost and forgotten areas on the edges of the urban scene. Art is available for sale. A percentage of each purchase will support D&R Greenway’s mission of preserving and caring for land and inspiring a conservation ethic, now and forever.

 

BACKGROUND:

 

The Garden State Watercolor Society was founded in 1969 by Dagmar Tribble, a noted watercolorist. Over its existence, GSWS has been a beacon whose award-winning artists have inspired generations. The nonprofit organization’s goal is to encourage painting in water media and provide educational and exhibition opportunities for artists and residents of NJ, PA, NY or DE. Please visit www.gswcs.com for updates.

 

D&R Greenway Land Trust, an accredited nonprofit, has reached a milestone of over 21,000 acres of land preserved since 1989. By preserving land for life and creating public trails, it gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The land trust’s preserved farms and community gardens provide local organic food for our neighbors—including those most in need. Through strategic land conservation and stewardship, D&R Greenway combats climate change, protects birds and wildlife, and ensures clean drinking water for future generations. D&R Greenway’s mission is centered in connecting land with people from all walks of life.

 

D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center, home to its art galleries in Princeton, is the location for this exhibit.  Visit www.drgreenway.org to learn about the organization’s latest news and virtual programs.  D&R Greenway Land Trust, One Preservation Place, Princeton NJ 08540.

 

D&R Greenway congratulates Emmy Stenull [age 13]; Allie Martin [age 12]; and Alexandra Kasimatis [age 9] for

having been granted a Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Community Work from the Junior League of Greater Princeton in a June ceremony.  The girls were honored alongside HomeFront, Arm in Arm, Mercer St. Friends and RISE.

 

The “3 Helping Hands” came up with a unique nature project, because, as they wrote to D&R Greenway, “We are dedicated to making a difference in our world.” They painted flowerpots, then planted flowers to sell to neighbors, each purchase adorned with a colorful, helpful note. Volunteering runs in the Martin family, as Allie’s father, William Martin serves on the land trust’s board of trustees. They donated their entire proceeds, of $178.00, to D&R Greenway “to help save the environment.”

 

Community projects are a monthly undertaking for the three girls. Previously, they raised and donated money to help with the COVID-19

vaccine through Johnson & Johnson. They also collected over 500 non-perishable food items distributed through Aunt Chubby’s Luncheonette in Hopewell to families in need.

 

“We wish to continue doing projects to help our community and world; organizations like yours inspire us to do so.”

The 3 Helping Hands.    Follow them on Instagram.com/3.helping hands  for their future projects.

 

Linda Mead, D&R Greenway CEO & President, praises the generosity and commitment of these three girls, as well as Hopewell’s Callie Considine, whose dedicated efforts helped D&R Greenway Land Trust permanently protect St. Michaels Farm Preserve in Hopewell. In

2010, we celebrated the tenth anniversary of this preserve that is beloved by the community: “These young people, who have taken personal action to protect nature, are an inspiration to all of us. Their commitment is an embodiment of the third part of our non-profit’s mission: To Preserve, To Care, To Inspire.”  Watch Callie tell her story (starting at 4:15 pm) on Greenway’s You Tube channel,  3 Stories of Land Preservation.   

       

                                                                       

                                                                               BACKGROUND

 

D&R Greenway Land Trust, an accredited nonprofit, has saved 21,200 acres of New Jersey land since its 1989 founding. Preserving land for life and creating public trails grants everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The land trust’s preserved farms and community gardens provide local organic food for neighbors—including those in need. D&R Greenway’s strategic land conservation and stewardship combat climate change, protect wildlife, and ensure clean drinking water for future generations. D&R Greenway’s mission is connecting land with people from all walks of life. D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center, home to its art galleries in Princeton, is closed to the public, to ensure health and safety, during the COVID emergency.

 

Our outdoor trails and labyrinth are open. Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages and www.drgreenway.org to learn about the organization’s latest news and virtual programs. D&R Greenway Land Trust, One Preservation Place, Princeton NJ, 08540. The best way to reach D&R Greenway Staff during the COVID pandemic is by e-mail, , or by calling D&R Greenway at 609-578-7470 or info@drgreenway.org.

D&R Greenway Land Trust and leaders from Soil Carbon Partners [SCP] announce successful completion of the first phase of their Carbon-Sequestration Process at the land trust’s St. Michaels Farm Preserve. Growth of lush forage grasses exceeds expectations, in fields fertilized with a special mix of organic materials and minerals. Despite significant spring rains, followed by a hot, dry spell mandating irrigation, just two weeks after planting, production was twice that of grasses grown in control areas, and has been increasing since the first test results. Three independent researchers, including from Princeton University and the University of Vermont, are evaluating results in the amended fields compared with control areas not treated with SCP’s natural, organic soil amendments.

 

In May, SCP’s special mix of soil fertilizer, an organic blend of minerals and microbes—was spread on fifty acres of fields on D&R Greenway’s St. Michaels Farm Preserve. The first phase of the project, that included deliveries and mixing of materials, and spreading organic elements on the fields, is now complete. The goal is to increase productivity exponentially to expand the ability of the plants to sequester and store carbon from the atmosphere. If successful, the science will demonstrate how agriculture can be managed to diminish catastrophic climate change.

 

SCP will bring a small herd of cattle to selected fields this summer. This experiment replicates grasses and processes of the healthy ecosystem that nourished long-ago bison on Western prairies. Cattle nourished on SCP’s fertilized forage grasses, fed by nutrient and mineral-rich soil, are expected to produce significantly less methane than is typical today. The impact of St. Michaels Farm cattle upon

the climate will be tested. Daniel Rubinstein, Ph.D., of Princeton University’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology will focus his research on the impact of this system on the animals. His expertise is founded on an individual animal’s foraging, mating and social behavior. At St. Michaels Farm, Dr. Rubenstein will measure methane emissions, which are expected to be reduced as the cattle consume nutrient-dense forage growth from SCP-enriched pastures.

 

The trails at St. Michaels Farm Preserve remain open as always, and visitors are encouraged to enjoy the lush, green views. D&R Greenway and SCP asks that, later this summer when the cattle arrive, walkers maintain a “Cattle-Distance” of at least 6 feet from any fenced fields where cattle are grazing.

 

The amenities at D&R Greenway’s signature preserve were recently enhanced with a new, rustic three-sided bench structure, Jackson’s Place, on top of the hill near the Charles Evans Overlook. Visitors can enjoy a wide view of pollinator fields and Hopewell Borough from this vantage point, accessed from Aunt Molly Road or by walking across the stream on the trails from the main parking area. The total preserve is 415 acres, with this scientific study taking place on a total of 60 acres.

 

Learn more at drgreenway.org where you will find answers to Frequently Asked Questions

 

BACKGROUND:

D&R Greenway Land Trust, an accredited nonprofit, has saved over 22,000 acres of New Jersey land since its 1989 founding. Preserving land for life and creating public trails grants everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The land trust’s preserved farms and community gardens provide local organic food for neighbors—including those in need. D&R Greenway’s strategic land conservation and stewardship combat climate change, protect wildlife, and ensure clean drinking water for future generations. D&R Greenway’s mission is connecting land with people from all walks of life. D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center, home to its art galleries in Princeton, is closed to the public to ensure health and safety due to COVID.

 

Our outdoor trails and labyrinth are open. Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages and www.drgreenway.org to learn about the organization’s latest news and virtual programs. D&R Greenway Land Trust, One Preservation Place, Princeton NJ, 08540. The best way to reach D&R Greenway Staff during the COVID pandemic is by e-mail, or by calling D&R Greenway at 609-578-7470.