SJC Testimonial Support from "The Friends of the Walkway"

A big THANKS to Sustainable JC!  This great organization is truly committed to "all things green" for Jersey City.  Their support and collaboration with other local groups that are focused on neighborhood sustainability efforts is without measure.  They have been a great champion of "The Friends of the Walkway", a Society Hills resident group that has been working diligently since 2009 to stop the removal of 84 trees along the public access walkway surrounding their community.  SJC has provided very helpful guidance to assist with this important mission - because "Jersey City is in need of more trees, not less!"   Their advocacy work for more Green Infrastructure in Jersey City is so important to all of us and "The Friends of the Walkway" is a partner in that process. We would also like to specifically thank Sustainable JC's co-founder and driving force, Debra Italiano.  Her sincere environmental concerns, and her "we can do more if we work together" approach was instrumental in the support of the "Friends of the Walkway".  Her efforts have also been recognized by the Hudson County Executive Thomas A. DeGise, the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs/Tourism Development.  She is an honoree for the 2014 Women's History Month - Celebrating Women of Character, Courage and Commitment.  The award honors "women in Hudson County who, through their personal and professional endeavors, have dedicated themselves to standing up for causes, promoting social justice, advocating for the rights of disadvantaged groups, or giving above and beyond to their communities, doing so with character and courage often in the face of many obstacles."  These words absolutely describe Debra Italiano!

Congratulations and continued success to Debra Italiano and the entire SJC team for their unwavering dedication to JC residents and the continued growth of urban sustainability in Jersey City.

Sincere Regards, Friends of the Walkway Community Denise Bailey & Vern Carlson - Members

Green Drinks +ART March 20, 2014

Deadline To Register! Certificate Program: Urban Sustainability in Jersey City

The Early Bird Discount for this program ended yesterday but the Community Partner rate for this program continues to be available, as are a few scholarship seats for those working on sustainability projects in their neighborhoods, that SJC is supporting. The Community Partner Program enables individuals who are members of SJC's Collaborative Network to take the course for $200.  If you or your organization are interested to learn more about the Community Partner Program, feel free to contact us through this post, or by sending an email to info@sustainablejc.org.

In case the endorsements of the US Green Building Council and Eco-Schools USA are not enough, re: boat load of CEU's available to participants, we have lined up an AMAZING group of instructors, for this groundbreaking course.  Principals of Green Path NJ (John Decina, Karen Huff, Darryl Bowman) and Eco-Schools USA (Jennifer Dowd), along with the Cloud Institute (Jaimie Cloud) and Ramapo College Graduate Sustainability Studies Program (Ashwani Vasishth) and JC's very own Tom Gibbons (former JCEC Chair), are all coming into this in support of educating stakeholders, to help them take sustainability initiatives forward, either professionally or in their communities.  In my opinion, this is a great opportunity - there I said it.

We will not be offering this course again until next Spring.  Jump on the bus now, gain the knowledge and support provided by this program, and dig in with us.

Registration closes Mon April 14th; click below for more information and to register -

SJC’s Spring 2014 Certificate Program: Urban Sustainability in Jersey City

New School Food Legislation Tied To "Locally Grown" AND Expanded Funding Opportunities For Healthier School Food !

NJ Farm To School has been a leading advocate for NJ Farmers and School Food Legislation since 2008.  Their recent newsletter highlights some of the recent activity with fabulous, BREAK THRU news on that front - FIVE farm to school bills and one joint resolution to support the farm to school movement in this state have been introduced with bi-partisan support ! These follow another school food related bill that was announced last month allowing food produced in local community gardens to be served to school children after meeting certain criteria http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2012/Bills/S3000/2561_R1.PDF

Also, don't miss the announcement included in the NJF2S newsletter from the USDA, expanding funding to school districts thru their grants program which capitalizes on and financially supports, the new connection between the National School Lunch Program and local fresh food producers - expanded grants program provides training, planning and implementation funding to school districts!

"Connecting American farmers and ranchers with the National School Lunch Program provides schoolchildren with daily access to locally sourced, healthy foods," said Vilsack. "These Farm to School grants will help schools respond to the growing demand for local foods and increase market opportunities for many types of food producers."

More information here -

http://www.njfarmtoschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/02-2014NJF2S_News.html

These grants help eligible schools improve the health and wellbeing of their students and connect with local agricultural producers.

Get fresh veggies, support a local farmer

The Journal Square CSA is ramping up to the start of its 4^th season in Jersey City.   We started in 2010 with a coordinator who didn’t want to travel downtown to get her vegetables, a north Jersey farmer, and a living room.  Over the past few years, the CSA has grown slowly but surely.

Nolasco’s Farm, a short hour’s drive from Jersey City, grows all the vegetables, herbs, and melons for the Journal Square CSA.  Every week, CSA members receive 7 items that are in season on the farm, ranging from bunches of greens to squash blossoms to white sweet potatoes to Mexican herbs like cilantro and papalo.  Our CSA members receive the freshest vegetables, harvested the morning they are brought to Jersey City.

Being a CSA member has pushed my boundaries as an eater, a cook, and an informed consumer.  Even a vegetable lover like myself never would have picked up a kohlrabi (even if I could find one in a grocery store), or purchased mustard greens several weeks in a row.  But being a CSA member means you experience the changes in seasons and climate in a way that you can’t with grocery store vegetables.  Knowing you will never have tomatoes in early June, or that a flood from a hurricane destroyed a field full of winter squash, makes me appreciate the vegetables and all the hard work the farmer puts in to get them to us.   Our CSA members may feel more connected to the farm and informed about their foodshed, or maybe they just come up with a creative new mustard greens recipe.  Either way, everyone that participates learns something about the food on their table.

This year we are also able to offer a fruit share from Suka-Di Farm in upstate NY.  In addition to the weekly vegetable share, members can choose to purchase fruit fresh from their orchard and vineyard.  I am personally looking forward to having a weekly supply of fresh peaches, plums, and grapes to fill up my fruit bowl.

We currently partner with Hudson Pride Connections Center, who generously provides their space for the weekly vegetable distribution.  More information about the Journal Square CSA can be found at www.JournalSquareCSA.weebly.com.