Green Living: Gardening and Farmer’s Markets

My Patch.com column this week is a round-up of Northern New Jersey early summer garden harvests.

I enjoyed writing it because it gave me a chance to reach out to local gardener friends and ask, “What are you eating from the garden this week?”

My hope is to inspire new gardeners to get growing.

For those readers without the time, space or inclination to garden, I promoted our area’s newest CSA and our town’s Farmer’s Market.

Read my Patch.com column.

The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway.
— Michael Pollan

Green Business: Promoting Sustainable, Local Eco-Friendly Enterprises

The Summer Solstice reminds me that we live on a spinning planet circling around a blazing star.

Every choice, no matter how small, does have an impact on us all.

My weekly Patch.com column today offers my support for a locally owned, made and marketed line of reuseable, wipeable, washable snack and sandwich baggies.

Co-owners Jen Larsen and Jen Dowd have hatched a great business aligned with their personal values around family, community, and sustainability.

Read my Patch.com column.

When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.

— John Muir

Ripple Effect: New CSA Breaks Ground

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a new CSA starting up in my county. I was happy to support this new not-for-profit venture that connects New Jersey farmers with families near me.

Today was the first pick-up day. I spent a few minutes talking with co-founder Jackie Lowe. She told me that membership enrollments for the CSA took off after my article was posted on both the West Orange and Livingston Patch sites.

Hearing that made my day.

I wrote the article because I was interested in the topic and thought my readers might be as well.

I’m delighted that my work made a ripple to help the West Essex CSA get started and off to a great season.

Read my Patch.com column.

“Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”

—Scott Adams