Compostings

Supporting livable communities

The Geraldline R. Dodge Foundation recently announced $4,160,000 in awards to 60 environmental organizations under its latest round of grant making.

Of the 60 organizations, 42 are based in the Garden State.

Funds primarily support efforts to preserve major ecosystems and open space; to make the link between land preservation and healthy, local food systems; and to engage communities in land use decisions.

New Jersey grant recipients/projects, towns and their grant amounts:

• American Littoral Society, Highlands: $80,000 for general operating support.
• Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, Mendham: $250,000 for "Smart Growth Planning" small grants program.
• Branch Brook Park Alliance, Newark: $50,000 for Waterway Restoration Feasibility study.
• City Green, Ringwood: $15,000 for general operating support of programs in Paterson.
• Clean Ocean Action, Highlands: $80,000 for general operating support.
• Conservation Resources Inc., Chester: $55,000 to support assistance to land preservation groups.
• D&R Greenway Land Trust, Princeton: $85,000 for general operating support.
• Eastern Environmental Law Center, Newark: $175,000 for general operating support.
• Edison Wetlands Association, Edison: $50,000 for general operating support.
• Genesis Farm, Blairstown: $35,000 to support the Foodshed Alliance.
• GR Dodge Fund for Environmental Convening, Morristown: $10,000 for convenings designed to address emerging environmental issues.
• Great Swamp Watershed Association, New Vernon: $30,000 for general operating support.
• Great Newark Conservancy, Newark: $120,000 to support education, community greening and environmental justice programs in Newark.
• GreenFaith, New Brunswick: $50,000 for chapter development and "Restoring Eden" initiative.
• Hackensack Riverkeeper, Hackensack: $30,000 for general operating support.
• Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance, Flemington: $30,000 for general operating support.
• Ironbound Community Corporation, Newark: $75,000 for urban open space efforts.
• Isles, Trenton: $110,000 for general operating support of "Healthy Region Initiative."
• Morris Land Conservancy, Boonton: $60,000 for "Partners for Greener Communities" program.
• Municipal Land Use Center, Ewing: $70,000 for development of sustainable communities.
• Municipal Land Use Center, Ewing: $75,000 for general operating support.
• National Center for Neighborhood and Brownfields Redevelopment, New Brunswick: $25,000 for "Protecting Critical Water Resources" project.
• The Nature Conservancy, Chester: $140,000 for general operating support.
• New Jersey Audubon, Bernardsville: $100,000 for conservancy planning activities and advocacy.
• New Jersey Audubon, Bernardsville: $10,000 for education and outreach activities.
• New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Far Hills: $175,000 for general operating support.
• New Jersey Highlands Coalition, Boonton: $85,000 for general operating support.
• New Jersey Sustainable State Institute, New Brunswick: $40,000 to support "Sustainable Communities Project."
• Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey, Pennington: $15,000 for general operating support.
• NY/NJ Baykeeper, Keyport: $75,000 for general operating support.
• Passaic River Coalition, Warren: $25,000 for general operating support.
• Pinelands Preservation Alliance, Southampton: $120,000 for general operating support.
• Raritan Highlands Compact, Chester: $10,000 for general operating support.
• Skylands CLEAN Inc., Ringwood: $20,000 for general operating support.
• Skylands CLEAN Inc., Ringwood: $10,000 to support organizational development.
• South Jersey Tourism Corporation, Camden; $40,000 for ecotourism for South Jersey.
• Stony Brook - Millstone Watershed Association, Pennington: $105,000 for the "Municipal Excellence" program.
• Stony Brook - Millstone Watershed Association, Pennington: $155,000 for Watershed Institute and its support of watershed organizations.
• Sustainable Lawrence, Lawrenceville: $10,000 for general operating support.
• Center for Urban Environment at Thomas Edison State College, Trenton; $40,000 for general operating support.
• Weequahic Park Association, Newark: $35,00 for general operating support.

Information, including "how to apply" for a grant, is available at www.grdodge.org

Photo of Hackensack Riverkeepers.

Rutgers environmental class

Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station has opened registration for its 2008 Environmental Stewards Class.

Environmental steward training is designed to introduce non-scientists to the science underlying important issues in the Garden State.

The class is based on the model of the master gardener program. Similar to the MG program, students must pledge to intern 60 hours of volunteer service following completion of the lecture and field study portion of the course.

North Jersey classes will be held at the Essex County Environmental Center, Roseland. Normal class time is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays, January to May. Cost is $250.

General information: http://njaes.rutgers.edu/envirostewards/

Essex County/Roseland information: 973-228-2210 or email, Jan Zientek at zientek@rce.rutgers.edu

Gardener's artistic impulse

Purchase that 2008 datebook yet? If so, pencil in the dates of Wave Hill's horticulture lecture series IMMEDIATELY!

In January, February and March -- the Bronx garden will hold three talks featuring distinguished gardeners from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the New York School of Interior Design, 170 E. 70th St., Manhattan.

The 2008 schedule is:

-- Jan. 30, "Constant Gardens: 500 Years of Plants and Art" with Brooklyn Botanic Garden's director of library services Patricia Jones (pictured).

-- Feb. 27, "Jardins de Metis: Making an Historic Garden Hip" with Alexander Reford.

-- March 19, "Portrait of a Garden" with Pepe Maynard

The cost for each lecture is $25.

Information: 718-549-3200, ext. 216 or www.wavehill.org

Photo courtesy of Susan Kuklin.

A breath of 'fresh' air?

Every year ... during the holiday season, we display paperwhites narcissus throughout our home.

I love them, I really do -- but I forget how dang fragrant they are.

This past weekend, we were putting up/out alot of Christmas decorations ... and we moved all the blooms onto the dining room table for safekeeping.

When it came time to eat dinner, I could barely breathe. I know, I shouldn't complain ... there is nothing like that sweet-scented smell, but phew ... it was strong!!!!

Oh, well ... unfortunately, their beauty and smell don't last very long -- so I guess you got to appreciate them while they last ... AAACHOOOOOOOOOO...

Next up, those aromatic pine needles!!!!

Photo courtesy of johnscheepers.com

Protect and combat

The Palisades Parks Conservancy, in coordination with the Highlands Environmental Research Institute, has recently received a total $90,000 from the NY DEC to conduct two environmental conservation projects in Harriman and Bear Mountain State Parks.

The first, funded through the State Wildlife Grants Program, aims to conserve wood, spotted and box turtles in Harriman State Park by radio tracking females, protecting existing nests and head-starting young turtles.

The other, funded through the Aquatic Invasive Species Eradication Grants Program, will eliminate Phragmites australis from ten acres of Iona Island Marsh, Stony Point.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Matthew Shook, assistant director of HEnRI -- 845-351-2106.

Best seat in the house

What a grand way to welcome in 2008 ...

HGTV will air live, uninterrupted coverage of the 119th Tournament of Roses Parade beginning 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan 1.

Jann Carl, best known as the weekend co-anchor and correspondent for "Entertainment Tonight," will host the event. He'll be joined by garden expert Paul James and Robb Weller.

Viewers can expect to see highights of every float, equestrian unit and marching band.

Interest ... in the quiet season

Add some brightness, warmth and cheer to the cold winter months with Suzy Bales' "The Garden in Winter" (Roadale Books).

This 224-page hardcover book -- filled with 150 color photographs -- is a gorgeous idea-packed guide.

Gardeners will find: lists of best trees, shrubs, groundcovers, perennials and grasses for winter impact; places to visit -- including arboretums, gardens, nurseries and towns -- that celebrate the winter; best bulbs and perennials to plant for the midwinter and early spring surprises in the garden; and a entire chapter devoted to decorating for the holidays with branches, berries, cones and seedpods.

Bad chemistry

Here is a disturbing item that moved recently on The Associated Press wire ...

Bill Nye (pictured), who hosted the PBS series "Bill Nye, the Science Guy," is seeking a permanent restraining order against his ex-fiancee Blair Tindall, alleging she tried to poison his vegetable garden, according to court records.

Nye, 51, said Tindall came to his Studio City, Calif. home late Sept. 3 carrying "two plastic bottles filled with some sort of solvent," according to court papers filed last week in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Garden wit and wisdom

"When swallows fly low, rain is on the way."

"If there were no bees, 100,000 plant species would cease to exist."

"Onions have been used to treat gunshot wounds."

These are just a few of the time-honored tips, ancient customs, observations, quirky quotes and even recipes that you'll find in Niall Edworthy's new book "The Curious Gardener's Almanac: Centuries of Practical Wisdom" (Pedigree Hardcover).

The 192-page, 5 1/2" x 8 1/4" hardcover book is a perfect stocking stuffer.

It sells for $16.95.

Information: www.penguin.com