The Native Plants of the Lenape Nation
The Native Plants of the Lenape Nation (via Zoom)
February 23 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
With Clan Mother Shelley DePaul
Please join us for an in-depth discussion of the relationship between the Lenape Nation and the native plants of NJ and Pennsylvania. Clan Mother Shelley DePaul will discuss the protocols of respect for the plant community, spiritual associations and cultural practices with native plants, and how plants are gathered. The Lenape historically have approached plants and other living entities with respect and humility. Today, they apply these traditions to encouraging conservation landscaping and the reintroduction of native plants.
Clan Mother Shelley DePaul has served on the Council of the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania since 2002 as Genealogical and Historical Researcher, Lenape Language Specialist, and Educator. She teaches Lenape Language classes and workshops and presents lectures and educational programs on Lenape History and Culture. She is an expert on Lenape horticulture and medicinal plant practices and has published three books on Lenape Language and Lenape Ethnobotany. She is a Pennsylvania State Certified teacher with an MA in History.
ALl Hands ON DeCK: NJ Watershed Conference
9th Annual NJ Watershed Conference
Register for the event today! Attendees will be able to select sessions on the online Conference Hub once the agenda is finalized. You can explore the draft agenda here.
Event Description:
The Watershed Institute and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, NJDEP, are inviting you to join us on February 26 and February 27 for the 9th Annual NJ Watershed Conference! The Watershed Conference offers sessions that will increase knowledge and skills, encourage discussions between stakeholders, and foster collaboration on specific issues and potential solutions.
Who should attend:
Our audience includes state, municipal, and county officials and staff, nonprofit organizations, and environmental professionals.
When:
February 26, 2026 - Virtual on Zoom
February 27, 2026 - Hybrid (In-person at TCNJ and livestreaming on Zoom)
Where:
Virtual on Zoom
In-person at The College of New Jersey in Ewing
All registrants will receive a link to the Conference App on Zoom Hybrid Events when it is ready. The app will provide access to the sessions, all available materials and resources, networking with other attendees, and recordings once they are ready.
Ticket Types:
Virtual Only: $65.00
Attend virtually on Feb. 26 and 27
Hybrid: $130.00
Attend virtually on Feb. 26. Attend in-person on Feb. 27
Includes breakfast, lunch, an afternoon snack, and networking opportunities
Scholarships: Partial and full scholarships available on a first come-first served basis. Apply for a scholarship here. If approved, you will get a discount code to use at registration from Pri Oliveira (poliveira@thewatershed.org).
Continuing Education (CEUs) Package: $35 (all credits included)
CEUs may be available for engineers, planners, and attorneys for some of the sessions. The package can also support self-reporting other continuing education credits by providing a certificate of completion after the event has concluded. The $35 additional charge covers all CEU costs, and attendees can pursue as many as they want and are possible. Attendees who would like CEUs have the option to add it during registration.
More information about the 9th Annual NJ Watershed Conference will be posted on our website as we get closer to the date. Check it out here: https://thewatershed.org/ninth-annual-nj-watershed-conference/
Thank you to our sponsors: Princeton Hydro, Duke Farms, SOX Erosion Solutions, Kleinfelder, One Water Consulting LLC, and Stuart Country Day School
Want to support this event and our efforts to increase collaboration for watershed resiliency in NJ? Sponsor the conference today! Sponsorship packages include tickets to the event and other benefits. Learn more about sponsorship here: https://thewatershed.doubleknot.com/event/9th-annual-nj-watershed-conference-sponsorships/3107545
Contact E-mail
LivGreen Book club
Let's get together and delve into engaging green themes through a variety of books, articles or podcasts. Whether storytelling or documented research - we can share our perspectives, take-aways and how the themes relate to actions we could take in our community, and for the planet. The discussion will be moderated by Alison Barmas Chair of LivGreen.
The Livingston Public Library welcomes you to our first LivGreen Book Club on Tuesday, March 3rd at 7pm. LivGreen is a virtual book club for the environmentally curious! Registration begins on Tuesday, February 17th at 10am.
The meeting is free and open to everyone ages 18 and up. The Zoom link will be emailed the day before the event.
Registration is required. Information on how to access the Zoom event will be emailed to you the day before the program.
Livingston Environmental Commission Meeting
LEC Meetings are held the 1st Thursday of every month
Meetings will be held at the Livingston Senior/Community Center, 204 Hillside Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039
Fundamentals for Effective Environmental Commissions
2026 Fundamentals for Effective Environmental Commissions
Virtual Sessions
Tuesday, March 24, 7pm
Wednesday, March 25th, 7pm
Thursday, March 26th, 7pm
Join ANJEC staff and expert presenters for our annual Environmental Commission Training! This comprehensive training is designed to equip environmental commissioners with essential knowledge and practical tools to effectively serve their communities.
Check back soon for details and registration information.
Livingston Environmental Commission Meeting
LEC Meetings are held the 1st Thursday of every month
Meetings will be held at the Livingston Senior/Community Center, 204 Hillside Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039
Sustainable Jersey Summit
Save the Date: 2026 New Jersey Sustainability Summit
May 15, 2026
8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Bell Works: 101 Crawfords Corner Rd, Holmdel, NJ 07733
Save the Date!
The Stormwater MS4 Permit: What, Why & How
ANJEC: The Stormwater MS4 Permit:
What, Why and How
Wednesday, February 11
7:00pm
Via Zoom Webinar
Register
The Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit is a 5 year permit held by every municipality in New Jersey. The goal is to ensure good management and stewardship of stormwater infrastructure. Each year brings new requirements that build on the previous year’s work.
Join this webinar to learn about the tasks that should have been completed in your municipality by the close of 2025, how to catch up if you are behind, and what you need to work on in 2026 to ensure compliance with your permit.
MS4 permit requirements include: a dedicated municipal stormwater page to track progress, and inventory of stormwater facilities, annual public outreach and education, watershed improvement planning, and more.
Guest presenter:
Chris Obropta, PhD, P,E. Rutgers Water Resources Cooperative Extension
Registration:
ANJEC Members: No charge to participate
Non-Members: $25
Click here to register now!
Intro to NJ Backyard Bird ID
Breakfast Briefing:
Intro to NJ Backyard Bird ID
February 10 at 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Great Swamp Watershed Association HQ
Become a backyard bird extraordinaire at GSWA’s intro to bird ID breakfast briefing!
Come enjoy a light breakfast with GWSA’s Hazel England and Sandra Lavigne and learn all about bird identification and how to identify some common backyard birds found in New Jersey. If the weather permits, after the presentation, we will grab some binoculars and head outside to put your new bird ID skills to work!
Space is limited, and registration is required.
Get tickets below: GSWA Members are Free | Non-members $10 (Adult) and $5 (Child)
Eco Pro Tip: Purchase a discounted annual GSWA Family Membership today to attend this program for free!
Questions or need to cancel? Email Izzy at ifilippini@greatswamp.org. Ticketing closes on 2/9 at 3:00 PM.
Cancellation Policy: Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) makes every effort to assure all programs and events take place as planned. Should an event be cancelled due to severe weather or other unexpected reasons, GSWA will promptly notify all registrants via email and the event page will reflect the status. To accommodate people on the waitlist, participants needing to cancel should do so ASAP. Cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance will not be refunded unless they are due to a health emergency. Unused registration fees may be converted into a tax-deductible donation.
Light Pollution: An Overview
Light Pollution: An Overview
Light pollution is practically ubiquitous, yet for most it goes unnoticed each night. Artificial light has creeped into our yards and forest, disrupting circadian rhythms of wildlife, plants, and us humans. Nocturnal animals, who have evolved to thrive in dark conditions, no longer have the upper hand against their prey. Trees and other plants growing under the glow of streetlights are shown to be less resilient than those given a nights rest. Even people need natural darkness to reset, and with studies finding those who live in excess of light pollution can higher rates of depression, diabetes, and more. At times the solution can be as easy as switching off the lights, but in our fast-paced society that is not always an option.
Join Great Swamp Watershed Association’s Ginger Van Ryzin to learn what exactly is light pollution, its effects on the flora and fauna, and what we can do to protect our ecosystems against it. Sponsored by the Environmental Commission of Chatham Borough, Chatham Township and Madison.
Location: Lundt Room at Library of the Chathams
Registration required! Note: Registration ends February 5 at 3:00pm.
"Meat me Halfway" Documentary Film Screening
“Meat Me Halfway” Documentary Film Screening
Hungry for a way you can fight the climate crisis as an individual? The SOEC and Green Team are proud to endorse Meat Me in the Middle’s month-long sustainable food celebration, “Veggie Vebruary”. Led by South Orange resident Jennie Aylward, Meat Me in the Middle (MMITM) is a local project that promotes a more plant-forward diet as a way to do your part towards fighting climate change. Compared to crop agriculture, animal agriculture is disproportionately responsible for greenhouse gas pollution that is warming our planet, contributing to climate change’s extreme weather events and ecosystem disruptions. In fact, animal agriculture is responsible for 12-20% of greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors, as reported by The Breakthrough Institute.
To kick off the month, there will be a free screening of the documentary “Meat Me Halfway” at 3pm on Sunday February 1st, to highlight motivations for reducing meat consumption. You can RSVP for that event here, then follow up on the film’s inspiration with a simple vegetarian “recipe of the week” that MMITM will publish each week of February.
Dam Removal in NJ
ANJEC: Dam Removal In New Jersey
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
7:00pm
Via Zoom Webinar
There are over 1,700 dams in New Jersey that are regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Dam Safety, about one third of those dams are owned by towns or counties. Some of those dams are still performing the function for which they were built, many others are obsolete.
This webinar, presented by The New Jersey Statewide Dam Removal Partnership (SDRP) and ANJEC will explore dam removal in NJ and include case studies. The SDRP, a coalition of state and federal agencies and nonprofit partners, works with willing dam owners to address dams that are obsolete, unsafe, or harmful to local waterways.
There will be ample time for questions.
Removing a dam:
eliminates long-term inspection and maintenance costs,
reduces public safety liability,
provides safer recreation for anglers, paddlers, and waders,
provides opportunities for new trails or recreation in the former impoundment,
restores healthier waterways,
and has the potential to reduce nearby flooding*.
*Engineering studies are needed to investigate this.
For those who are interested in exploring dam removal further there will be a spring workshop for municipal and county officials and engineers. There will be additional training for local governments seriously investigating removal including a free two-day Project Manager Training. For some dams, the ecological benefit of removal is quite high and in those cases funding to complete removal may be available.
Registration:
No charge to participate
Click here to register now!
Winter Sowing
Join us at the Livingston Public Library for a Winter Sowing Workshop and learn an easy way to get started with your spring planting.
The program will be led by Alison Barmas Chair of LivGreen.
No experience needed. Sponsored by the Friends of the Livingston Public Library.
Make Polluters Pay: NJ Kick-off
Make Polluters Pay: NJ Kick Off
Join us for the National Week of Action Make Polluters Pay New Jersey kickoff with Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill and Senator Sponsor John McKeon.
This virtual event brings together legislators, advocates, and organizers to launch the 2026–2027 legislative session for the campaign to pass the Polluters Pay for a More Affordable New Jersey Act. The kickoff will feature remarks from the bill’s prime sponsors on why New Jersey must hold major polluters accountable and invest in affordability and climate resilience. We’ll outline the bill’s updated name, recap where the legislation stood at the end of the last session, and lay out what it will take to move it in the new legislative session.
Virtual event. Open to all.
The Green Scene - Green Fair
The Green Scene - Sustainability in Action
An opportunity to talk with local sustainability experts and learn how you can support sustainable action in our community and in your home.
Become a part of SOMA's Green Scene!
Participants include:
ElectrifySOMA
MMITM (Meat Me In the Middle)
Cute as New
Java's Compost
WalkBikeRide
BikeBus
Oakland Road Art Club
SOMA Tool Share
Repair Cafe
Maplewood Environmental Advisory Committee
South Orange Environmental Commission
Maplewood Library/Children's Room
LS Impact Consulting
SomaCycle
SOMa Action Climate
Speakers, all SOMA residents, include:
Walter Clarke, South Orange Recycling Coordinator
Tracey Woods, Energy Program Manager for Sustainable Jersey
Julia Sommer, Environmental Educator for NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection
Lauren Sklaver, owner, LS Impact Consulting (consultant for mission based businesses and local sustainability advocate)
Catherine Redd, owner, SomaCycle (local recycling business owner and sustainability advocate)
Open Space proposals Update for Livingston
Information Session & Survey: Orchard Hill, Licari and Strahman I & II Sites Concepts
The township will hold an in–person public information session to discuss preliminary concept plans for the Orchard Hill, Licari, and Strahman I & II sites on Monday, December 1 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, 357 S. Livingston Avenue.
Before attending the information session, all residents are encouraged to fill out the Livingston Open Space & Recreation Survey at surveymonkey.com/r/7R2QZ5W. Residents who aren’t able to attend the information session are also encouraged to fill out the survey.
This survey displays multiple concept plans for the three sites. The township, in collaboration with T&M Associates, has developed these plans based on previous in–person public information sessions.
Input will help refine the concepts and guide final decisions to ensure these spaces reflect the needs and priorities of Livingston residents and the surrounding community.
The meeting on December 1 will also be live streamed on the township’s Facebook page and posted to YouTube:
facebook.com/LivingstonTownshipNJ
youtube.com/@livingstontownshipnj
The Sites
The Orchard Hill site is located at 244 Hillside Avenue and contains a total area of approximately 2.92 acres. Purchased by the township in 2007, the site was originally a farm and orchard dating back to the days of the American Revolution.
The Licari site is located at 240 East Northfield Road and contains a total area of approximately 9.93 acres. It was once the site of the Evergreen Miniature Horse Farm and features rolling hills, white-fenced stables, and picturesque red barns. The township purchased the site in 2019.
The Strahman I & II sites are located at 321 East Cedar Street and 323 East Street, respectively. Strahman I and II contain an area of 8.42 and 5.97 acres, respectively, for a combined total of 14.39 acres. The township purchased Strahman I in 2021.
The properties were purchased with funds from the township’s Open Space Trust Fund and/or the New Jersey Green Acres Program.
For more information about open space in Livingston, visit the Open Space Trust Committee’s website at livingstonnj.org/OpenSpace.
Previous press release:
Liv & Learn: Stream Monitoring
Join us to connect with your watershed & learn how to assess the health of our streams.
We will meet in the field to measure, observe & record physical characteristics of a Livingston stream including macro invertebrates (if they aren’t too cold!).
We are learning together, building community and sharing the data we collect for the benefit of statewide data collection efforts.
TO REGISTER JUST EMAIL US! Livgreenteam@gmail.com
What will we be doing?
You will receive on site training before we start. Necessary equipment and data sheets will be provided.
We will be meeting at a stream in Livingston. Location details will be coming soon, we are just checking water levels.
Clothing & Equipment:
Some portions of both streams may reach knee level, so just keep that in mind when choosing your outfit (and spare ones!).
If you do not feel able or comfortable entering the river you are welcome to support recording data from the bank.
Please be aware of the usual conditions of being out in Nature, near a stream and the potential for both slippy and uneven ground. Dress in sturdy footwear, waders or rain boots. Dress in layers for the cold and work to your own physical comfort level.
Stewardship:
When out in the River be aware we are stewards for the land and operate on the leave no trace philosophy.
Liv & Learn: BACKYARD Native Planting
TO REGISTER JUST EMAIL: LIVGREENTEAM@GMAIL.COM
Sunday November 23, 2025
Tea, Coffee & cookies 1pm-3pm
Pop by & visit a neighborhood example of fall native planting.
Yes, it’s Ali’s backyard experiment - what will survive? Let’s learn together and i’ll show you some plant basics & how we can add our gardens to homegrown national park.
* free Milkweed seeds for all attendees.
Please register for the address: livgreenteam@gmail.com
EcoCrafting: Zero Waste Gift Wrapping
Join us at the Livingston Public Library for Eco Crafting and get creative while being kind to the planet! Eco Crafting is a hands-on crafting session where we’ll transform everyday and recycled materials into beautiful, useful, and eco-friendly creations. On Thursday, November 13th at 11am we will be creating Zero Waste Gift Wrap. Please bring a clean, old t-shirt with you to the program. Space is limited and registration opens Monday, October 27th at 10am.
The program will be led by Alison Barmas of the Livingston Environment Commission.
No experience needed. Sponsored by the Friends of the Livingston Public Library.
Livingston Environmental Commission Meeting
Meeting of the Livingston Environmental Commission, 9pm, Craft Room 3 Livingston Community Center.
Plastic People Screening
Plastic People - Documentary, Discussion, Snacks
Join Beyond Plastics NJ for a free showing of an incredible movie: Plastic People. This collaborative event will be held at the beautiful Greater Newark Conservancy at 32 Prince St, Newark on Tuesday, Sept 30th from 6-8pm. Learn what you need to know about plastic to keep your family safer and let's work together for better legislation. Note: emails and reminders will come from Janette@sustainablehaus.com; Janette is a cofounders of Beyond Plastics NJ and work with all the environmental groups across the state.
Date: 09/30/2025 (Tue.)Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm EDTLocation: Greater Newark Conservancy
32 Prince Street, Newark, NJ 07103
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4EAEAE2EA6FFCE9-58221133-plastic
Open to the public
American Water - Movie Screening
Caldwell Environmental Commission’s Feature Film - Click to download flyer
Free admission. Giveaways for attendees.
Native Shrub Sale & Nature Walks NJNPS
Buy native shrubs and explore the woods at the Environmental Center on guided nature walks!
11 and Noon. Guided Nature Walks – See native plants with expert guides! All ages welcome.
10-1. Shrub & Evergreen Fern Sale - Fall is the best time to plant shrubs! All from Gino’s Nursery. Ten are available for pre-order; more will be at the sale. All shrubs can grow in sun or part shade.
We are also offering Marginal Wood Fern, a wonderful evergreen fern. For more plant info, go to www.jerseyyards.org/plant.
Pre-orders will be taken between Sept. 3-9 (Extended to Friday 9/12!). Please email essexnativeplantsale@gmail.com with your desired species & amounts & cell phone.
Payment at pick-up on 9/20: cash or check only.
Arrowwood, Viburnum dentatum $30 (2 gal)
Blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum $40 (2 gal)
Chokeberry, Photinia melanocarpa $35 (2 gal)
Coral Honeysuckle Vine, Lonicera sempervirens $25 (1 gal)
Elderberry, Sambucus canadensis $30 (2 gal)
Inkberry, Ilex glabra ‘Shamrock’ (female) $35 (2 gal)
Oaleaf Hydrangea, H. quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’ $45 (2 gal)
Shrubby St. John's Wort, Hypericum prolificum $25 (1 gal)
Sweetspire, Itea virginica $35 (2 gal)
Summersweet, Clethra alnifolia $30 (2 gal)
Marginal Wood Fern, Dryopteris marginalis $15 (1 gal)
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, Oct. 4, 10-10:45; 10:45-11:30-- Summit Tiny Forest Tour, two 45 min tours
Saturday, Oct. 18, 2-4 – Fall Party and Plant Swap, West Caldwell
Questions? Email Essex@npsnj.org
Voices for Justice: How to speak up in Environmental Justice Hearings Webinar through ANJEC
Presented by ANJEC - Click here for details & to Register
X Braithwaite, EJ Organizer for Clean Water Action and Newark EC member
This webinar will help residents understand New Jersey’s Environmental Justice Law and how to engage in public hearings. Participants will learn how to stay informed about permit applications in overburdened communities, how to register for hearings (virtual, hybrid, or in-person), and how to submit effective and impactful public comments.
Livingston Environmental Commission Meeting
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
anjec Hour of Action: NJPACT REAL
to learn about how you can support proposed statewide regulations that will help reduce the impacts of flooding by requiring stormwater management for redevelopment projects, elevate new and redevelopment above floodplains, and encourage nature-based infrastructure solutions.
The New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threat Resilient Environments and Landscapes (NJPACT REAL) rules are re-proposed by the NJDEP with substantial amendments.
Written public comments are due by Sept 20, and the public hearing is Sept 3.
ANJEC Executive Director, Jennifer M. Coffey, will provide an overview of the rules and guide participants to craft comments to support the adoption of NJPACT REAL and advocate for rules changes that provide equal protection from flood risk for people living in affordable housing.
