Community Gardens Sign Up on March 2
2015’s First Electronics Recycling and Document Shredding Event
The Mercer County Improvement Authority (MCIA) will hold its first Electronics Recycling and Document Shredding event of 2015 this Saturday, February 7th from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm at the Sun National Bank Center in the City of Trenton[ get directions] .
Electronics Recycling
This is the perfect time to dispose of unwanted computers, monitors, televisions, printers and other electronics. Computers contain a number of materials that should be reused as well as a number of components that are hazardous in a landfill. Laptops can contain small fluorescent lamps in the screen that contains mercury, and may also use lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. Additionally, CRT computer monitors contain lead, circuit boards may include mercury, lead and cadmium, as well as batteries made of mercury and mercury switches.
Reusable materials include: plastic, aluminum, copper and gold. Hazardous materials include: mercury, lead and other heavy metals.
Document Shredding
This is also an opportunity to safely and securely dispose of sensitive documents. This is one of 2 such events held each year by the MCIA.
Date: this Saturday, February 7th
Time: 9 am – 2 pm
Location: Sun National Bank Center in the City of Trenton [ get directions]
Restrictions: Mercer County residents only (proper identification required)
Save the Date! – Living Local Expo on March 28th
The 8th Annual Living Local Expo is in the planning stages!
Sourcing food locally is an essential part of sustainability efforts. Visitors to the 8th annual Living Local Expo in Lawrence on March 28 will have the opportunity to discover the many food resources we have right here in our community. The free Expo will showcase more than a dozen local farm businesses and chefs. The farmers market, the first of the spring season, will feature local fruits and vegetables, meat, cheeses, food and food products.
Visit the farmers market to talk with local farmers about the coming season. Have a locally prepared lunch, soup, chili, bread, cider, fruit and more from local farms and food businesses. Find out about local cheeses, jams and jellies, pickled peppers, desserts, and wonderful flowers. Cooking demonstrations and samplings by local chefs will be offered all afternoon.
After your visit to the market you can check out a presentation on fuel efficient cars and electric bikes. Area residents with fuel efficient cars will also have their vehicles on display. Walking and biking is the ultimate sustainable transportation, and as a bonus you get your exercise too. At the Expo you can find out about bike trails and walking paths throughout the area.
Newly organized by the Mercer County Sustainability Coalition, a partnership of sustainability organizations from Ewing, Hopewell, Lawrence, Princeton, Trenton and the Mercer County Office of Economic Development and Sustainability, this year’s Expo will feature hands-on workshops, displays from 90-plus local businesses and non-profits, and the “Ask your Neighbor” table where visitors can hear how homeowners and businesses completed successful energy-efficient projects. Speakers will be on hand to discuss a variety of sustainability issues ranging from local farms, school gardening & projects, to the future of transportation and recycling in Mercer County, and more.
Ask your neighbors about their experiences in green remodeling and energy efficiency projects. Get to know the inside scoop and the incentives that you can still get from New Jersey Clean Energy.
Donate your old bike to The Trenton Bike Exchange, or donate gently used medical equipment to Goodwill Home Medical Equipment, a non-profit that sells affordable medical equipment like wheelchairs, walkers and canes.
This year we are trying to “green” our Green Fair, so don’t forget to bring your travel mug for your drinks.
Stay tuned for more info soon.
New Year Begins with Swearing in of New EGT Members and Officer Elections
The Ewing Green Team began the New Year with the swearing in of two new appointees, Mary Corrigan and Caroline Steward at the January monthly meeting. In addition, an election of officers was held and the following individuals will serve for the 2015 term.
Co-Chair – Michael Nordquist
Co-Chair – Joanne Mullowney
Secretary – Mary Corrigan
Membership – Dave Byers
Communications – Mark Wetherbee
IT – Joanne Mullowney
February Tree of the Month — Witchhazel
Hamamelis x intermedia USDA Zones 5-9
The Ewing Environmental Commission has chosen the Witchhazel hybrid, Hamamelis x intermedia to be the February Tree of the Month. Although this small tree – or large shrub – is not a native (the crossing of Japanese Witchhazel, H. japonica, and Chinese Witchhazel, H. mollis), these two species combined produce a beautiful, fragrantly blooming plant that is outstanding in our winter landscape from late January through mid-March, depending on the weather and location.
Hamamelis x Intermedia can easily be mis-identified as a Forsythia from a distance. The flowers can be clear yellow but depending on the variety, are sometimes orange or reddish, and appear before the leaves. The flowers, 1.5” in diameter, have four ribbon-like, contorted and showy petals which are frost-proof. The fruit, which is a small, dried ½” hairy capsule, matures in the fall and opens to explosively discharge its two seeds a considerable distance. Turkeys, pheasants, cardinals and grouse enjoy Witchhazel seeds.
The bright green leaves are broadly oval and waxy, alternately arranged on zig-zag stems; they usually measure 3-4” long and the edges are toothed. The fall color is outstanding, with orange to red to copper hues. The bark is smooth grey to grayish brown
Hamamelis x intermedia will grow to 15’ to 20’ in height and will be equally broad; it is upright- spreading and will develop an irregular, rounded crown. It can thrive in either full sun or partial shade and is tolerant of poor soils although a well-drained, moist and fertile soil will allow it to thrive. Witchhazel is considered to be a maintenance-free plant, although occasional pruning may help to tidy it up. It is relatively slow-growing.
This small tree is useful in naturalized situations, near large buildings and in shrub borders. It is well suited for Ewing, USDA Hardiness Zone 6 B.
There are many cultivated varieties (CVs) of this plant available, not all of them yellow-flowering, as its characteristics have made it very popular. Most frequently seen varieties are “Arnold Promise’, ‘Jelena’ and ‘Pallida’.
Witchhazel oil extract is used medicinally as an astringent and for soothing sprains and bruises. The flexible wood was once popular for making divining rods, which were employed to detect water sources; the term “witch” is derived from the old English “wice” which meant bendable.
There are very few significant pests or diseases which affect this plant but Japanese beetles are known to enjoy the foliage. Deer do not favor Witchhazel.
Ann Farnham, LLA
Email the Ewing Environmental Commission with your suggestions for the Tree of the Month.
