Saturday, May 16, 2009 • 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. • Bubbling Springs Park, West Milford, NJ
Presentations
10:00-10:15 Opening Pledge
10:15-10:30 Singing Crystal Bowls
10:30-11:15 Agriculture: The Missing Link
10:45-1:30 Hike and Learn with Don Weise
11:00-11:45 YogaFit Class by Andrea Powers Wellness Studio
11:00-2:00 Water Catchment in Soil with Swales
11:00-5:00 Pony Rides
11:30-12:15 Move from Talk to Action on Global Warming
12:00-12:45 Jazzercise with Christine
12:00-12:45 Eastern/Western Concepts of the Labyrinth
12:30-1:15 The Story of Stuff
1:00-2:00 The Strange World of Reptiles
1:00-1:30 Herbal Walk and Talk with Robin Rose Bennett
1:30-2:15 The Art of Herbal Medicine Making
2:00-2:45 Challenge Games for Adults and Teens
2:30-3:15 Safe Lawns: How to Create Beautiful Landscapes Naturally
3:00-3:45 Tai Chi Demonstration
3:30-4:15 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Options
Opening Pledge
10:00 – 10:15 at the Upper Music Gazebo Field at the Flagpole
Our Lady Queen of Peace Cub Scout Pack #159 begins the Highlands GreenFest opening ceremony with their “Bringing in the Colors” and pledge ceremony. A big thank you to Jody Sullivan and all of the scouts, who are 1st – 4th graders (ages 6-10) for learning about composting so they could share their knowledge with attendees at the compost stations. For scouting info and for more information about becoming a scout, please visit www.olqptroopandpack159.org.
Singing Crystal Bowls
10:15 – 10:30 at the Labyrinth
Jill Michel continues the opening ceremony by playing the Singing Crystal Bowls at the Labyrinth located in the upper gazebo field.
Jill is the owner of Evergreen Healing Arts which focuses on Body/Mind Integration. As a Certified Massage Therapist she offers Pediatric-Cranial Sacral Therapy, Therapeutic Massage and Structural Therapy. She works deeply in the energy field through the use of crystal bowls, Reiki, pure tone therapy and energy balancing. With offices in both Pompton Plains, and Hewitt, NJ, Jill offers private sessions by appointment - 201-704-0823.
Agriculture: The Missing Link
10:30 – 11:15 at the Presentation Tent
Inspired by Bill McKibben’s book, The Deep Economy, Cheryl Rogowski discusses the vitality of local food systems and food sheds and how a localized economy is dependent upon them. Learn about the importance of choosing organic food grown and produced locally, what it means to be a part of Community Supported Agriculture, and take a look back at the way things used to be as you learn about the importance of storing and preserving fresh local foods to sustain yourself and your family over the winter.
Cheryl Rogowski of The W. Rogowski Farm in Warwick, NY is a renowned speaker and second generation farmer, actively involved in the local farming and business community. Rogowski Farm is credited with starting the first low income CSA in the State of New York and The Senior Share of the Harvest, a special home town CSA program where senior citizens could receive a home delivered package of produce throughout the growing season. Diverse offerings at the farm include ethnic crops, specialty vegetables, Community Supported Agriculture, and a catering business known as Black Dirt Gourmet, which specializes in using products from regional producers. Cheryl and her family have received numerous awards including the Orange Environment award for their land stewardship and farming practices to protect the environment. Her radio talk show entitled “Agriculture – It’s not just Farming” brings public awareness and understanding to the issues facing the family farmer today. For more information, please visit www.rogowskifarm.com.
Hike and Learn with Don Weise
10:45 – 11:30 at the Exercise Meet-Up Area
Enjoy a short hike with Don Weise while learning about no trace skills, bear, snake and wildlife safety, how to follow trail blazes and local highlights and peaks. Please wear appropriate foot attire.
Don Weise has been a hike leader since 1996, leading 26 organized hikes a year. He is a Catskill 35er and a West Milford 13er, certified in Heartsaver First Aid with CPR and AED. The West Milford 13ers Hiking Club is dedicated to supporting sustainable tourism and offers moderately paced and strenuous hikes in and around the Northern NJ Highlands. Don has published a book entitled West Milford Baker’s Dozen – A Hiker’s Guide to Climbing the Heart of the Highlands’ 13 Greatest Peaks, which is available locally and at his booth at Highlands GreenFest. Please visit www.weishike.com for more information.
YogaFit Class by Andrea Powers Wellness Studio
11:00 – 11:45 at the Exercise Meet-Up Area
Join Andrea Powers as she offers a complimentary outdoor YogaFit style class that will be geared towards all fitness levels, all ages, and all body types. YogaFit classes are designed to improve the health, performance and mental acuity of athletes or individuals interested in improving their level of fitness. Based on the ancient fitness science of hatha yoga, it blends balance, strength, flexibility and power in a fitness format. YogaFit overcomes the mystery of yoga by delivering a practical, user-friendly style, which is accessible, understandable and doable by individuals at any level of fitness. The YogaFit style reduces the risk of injury and augments recovery for ailments including stress, lower back pain and tension. Mats will be available but limited so please bring a mat if you have one.
Andrea is the owner and head instructor of Andrea Powers Wellness Studio located at 179 Cahill Cross Roads in West Milford. Andrea is certified through YogaFit and as a certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Counselor through the AFPA, as well as a Certified Lifestyle Coach and Reiki Facilitator. Andrea is not only passionate about teaching others to be fit but teaching others mindful eating habits that will last a lifetime. She also finds enjoyment in her meditation workshops.
Andrea has been in the fitness field for over 15 years, beginning as an aerobics instructor in 1990. She left the fitness field for college but found herself yearning to teach again. After hurting herself running in 1995, Andrea became interested in Yoga and soon after that Pilates. Andrea's vision is to offer classes to the masses by incorporating friendlier classes that everyone can enjoy no matter what level practitioner they are. Her style of teaching is backed by a fitness background incorporating mind and body techniques that make her classes unique, fun, and safe. For more information, please visit www.andreapowers.com.
Water Catchment in Soil with Swales
11:00 – 2:00 at the Swale Demo Area
A swale, as described in Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway, is a shallow trench laid out dead level along the land’s contours. A swale can be anywhere from one to several feet across, a foot or so deep, and whatever length necessary. Healthy soil will store water for free. Humus and other organic matter act as a sponge, swelling to hold several times their weight in water. Learn to apply this to your own land and gardens. This hands-on workshop will take place in stages over the course of several hours during the day.
We will be:
1. Laying out the swale with an A frame
2. Digging the swale trench & building the berm
3. Filling swale w/stone & covering w/ straw
4. Planting on the berm
Douglass Herdt has completed a Permaculture Design course (www.earthactivisttraining.org) and is dedicated to sharing the techniques of permaculture to encourage sustainable living & self sufficiency.
Pony Rides
11:00 – 5:00 at the Green Team Kids Zone
Move from Talk to Action on Global Warming
11:30 – 12:15 at the Presentation Tent
Lacking clear guidance from the Federal Government, US states and communities have started planning how to meet the 80% reduction in GHG emissions the scientific community thinks is needed by 2050 to limit average global temperature increase by 2C. The US Mayor Climate Protection Agreement asks Mayors of individual communities to pledge to start immediate emission reduction initiatives. Learn what you can do to combat global warming in your community.
Dr. Stefano Crema is a PhD chemist who has worked for multi-national chemical industries for over 25 years in research and marketing. Recently retired, Dr. Crema dedicates most of his time to Global Warming issues and the development and implementation of educational and advocacy programs aimed at the amelioration of Global Warming effects. In 2007 Dr. Crema and some associates started a non-profit organization, Cooling America thru Local Leadership (CALL) to help municipalities implement cost effective emission reduction initiatives. Dr. Crema received his Bachelor/Master in Chemistry at the University of Padua, Italy and his PhD from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Jazzercise with Christine
12:00 – 12:45 at the Exercise Meet-Up Area
Jazzercise is a class of cardio, strength, and stretch moves for a total body workout. We’ve taken moves from hip-hop, yoga, Pilates, jazz dance, kick-boxing, and resistance training and bundled them together. Every Jazzercise class combines cardio moves to enhance endurance and burn mega calories, strength training to define muscles and strengthen your core, and stretching to increase flexibility. Through the use of hand-held weights, resistance tubes and balls, you will get a total body workout while blasting fat and having fun! All ages, levels, and sizes welcome so come join us today for this complimentary class!
West Milford Jazzercise offers 28+ jazzercise classes weekly along with circuit training, jazzercise LITE, personal training and Junior Jazzercise. Visit www.jazzernut.com or call 973 208-9089 for more information.
Eastern/Western Concepts of the Labyrinth
12:00 – 12:45 at the Labyrinth
Join us for a presentation at the labyrinth and learn about the Eastern and Western Concepts behind these ancient meditation and spiritual tools. The labyrinth was built by our GreenFest team for you to enjoy and experience throughout the day.
The Story of Stuff
12:30 – 1:15 at the Presentation Tent
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever. A short discussion will follow.
This film is presented by Claire Mayer of Garden State Earth Institute. GS Earth Institute is a volunteer organization offering discussion courses, movie screenings and educational programs that raise ecological awareness and facilitate change for the greater good. Visit www.gsearthinstitute.org.
The Strange World of Reptiles
1:00 – 2:00 at the Green Team Kids’ Zone
Snakes-N-Scales & Turtle Tales brings us reptiles, snakes, lizards, turtles and even a junior alligator! Several of these animals can be touched under the watchful eyes of our instructor. We'll talk about the specialties and adaptations of each and what they eat, their habitats, predator-prey relationships, and their relationship with humans. We will tell jokes about their habitats and find out if these creatures make good pets. Snakes-N-Scales is part of an amazing network of state and local officials, humane, rehab and zoological professionals working constantly toward the proper care, rescue and preservation of animals both in the wild and in captivity. The animals used in our programs are almost all orphans rescued from a variety of unfortunate situations. Some are unwanted or abused pets, others were confiscated by authorities, still others were picked up in neighborhoods, along roads, from abandoned apartments or humane organizations. These animals are important to us and are given appropriate foods, habitat, medical care and a safe, secure home for the rest of their lives. Please visit www.snakes-n-scales.com for more information.
Herbal Walk and Talk with Robin Rose Bennett
1:00 – 1:30 at the Exercise Meet-Up Area
Come delight in the abundance of food and medicine plants that live in our backyards, forests, and fields. The best way to learn about herbs is outside in nature. We’ll take an easy stroll around the land and you’ll learn how to identify some of our local medicinal plants and trees as we discuss their medicinal properties. Nourish your body, uplift your mind, and delight your soul with herbal medicine. Common plants are our teachers. The weeds and wildflowers show us the joyful abundance and generosity of (our true) nature as they freely share their gifts of food, medicine, beauty, and wholeness. We’ll see what’s abundant and then ethically harvest at least one medicinal plant to make an herbal preparation within the 2nd part of the class. One “weed walk” can change your view of the outdoors forever!
The Art of Herbal Medicine Making
1:30 – 2:15 at the Presentation Tent
There is nothing quite as empowering as knowing how to make your own medicines. They are wonderfully effective and have uniquely special qualities provided by your own love and energy. Crafting your own herbal preparations can save you lots of money and you will feel healthier and happier than ever before, even before you use them! In this class, we will work with our freshly harvested herbs as Robin demonstrates simple ways to use those herbs (and others) as nourishing infusions, tinctures, liniments, oils, vinegars, and poultices. Herbs are magical, but preparing and using them doesn’t have to be mystifying. Come enjoy a fun, enriching experience and then do try making at least one of these preparations at home!
Robin Rose Bennett is a renowned local herbalist, writer, and educator. She has been teaching classes in Wisewoman Healing Ways: Herbal Medicine and EarthSpirit Teachings since 1986 in progressive and holistic learning centers, at national conferences, in medical schools, clinics, teaching hospitals, and most joyously, outside with the plants. She has a private consultation practice in NJ and guides an herbalist-in-residence training practice at a family medical center in NYC. Robin has written Wild Carrot: a Plant for Natural, Conscious Contraception and Healing Magic: A Green Witch Guidebook to Conscious Living. See www.WiseWomanHealingWays.com for her schedule of classes, herbal radio shows and videos, interviews, articles, herbal photographs and much more.
Challenge Games for Adults and Teens
2:00 – 2:45 at the Exercise Meet-Up Area
Come join the fun and engage with others in cooperative games which challenge your ability to strategize, communicate, and execute your plan, while learning the principles of good teamwork and community. Ropes, balls, lumber and carpet squares are some of the props used to play games including “Turnstile,” “Here to There,” “Warp Speed” and “Team Skis.”
Project USE works with almost 10,000 young people and adults from all over New Jersey and the Northeast. We provide experiential education programs to public and private schools, state and municipal agencies, community groups and corporations. Our offerings emphasize developing character, building community, enhancing curriculum, and connecting with the natural world. We use a variety of methods to achieve outstanding results including single- and multi-day outdoor adventures, a residential community home, high and low challenge courses, after-school academic programs, and consulting services. For more information, visit www.projectuse.org.
Safe Lawns: How to Create Beautiful Landscapes Naturally
2:30 – 3:15 at the Presentation Tent
Keynote Speaker Paul Tukey, America's Gardening Communicator of the Year for 2006 and author of The Organic Lawn Care Manual, will show us how and why to create landscapes without toxic products. A book signing will follow.
Paul Tukey is the founder of SafeLawns.org, an international coalition of for-profit and non-profit organizations promoting environmentally friendly lawn care and resource conservation. Paul is well known to millions of Americans through his popular gardening program People, Places & Plants on HGTV and through his magazine of the same name. He brings many years of experience in both journalism and gardening to the SafeLawns.org campaign.
He was introduced to gardening during summers spent growing vegetables at his grandparents’ dairy farm in Maine. After graduating from the University of Maine with a degree in Journalism, Paul spent nearly a decade as a reporter and editor covering the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots and Bruins. In the late 1980s Paul followed his love of the outdoors and founded his own landscaping company. Like most commercial landscapers of the era, Paul used conventional techniques and supplies.
But in the early 1990s Paul started hearing about the links between 2,4-D, a synthetic weed killer, and numerous illnesses including cancer. Then his personal physician suggested that his recurrent headaches, nosebleeds and blurred vision were attributable to exposure to those same chemical weed killers. His transformation to organic gardening and building healthy soil was underway.
In 1995 Paul founded People, Places & Plants Magazine and the HGTV show followed in 2002. In March 2006, Paul won the highest honor in gardening journalism and broadcasting when the American Horticultural Society named him the winner of the annual Horticultural Communication Award. He is the author of a book on organic lawn care from Storey Publishing and has won numerous awards for his writing. He is also a frequent public speaker on organic gardening, photography and environmental awareness.
Paul resides in Maine with his wife, Katie Hoffman Tukey, and is the father of three children. His own garden and landscape in Maine is spread across more than two acres of flowers, vegetables, trees and shrubs and, of course, a spectacular lawn. Still addicted to growing and mowing great grass after all these years, Paul’s emerald green carpet is achieved without a single synthetic fertilizer, herbicide or fungicide. “The kids can roll around in the grass,” says Paul, “and I don’t give it a second thought.” Visit www.safelawns.org and www.paultukey.com for more information.
Tai Chi Demonstration
3:00 – 3:45 at the Exercise Meet-Up Area
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Options
3:30 – 4:15 at the Presentation Tent
Learn about state and federal funding to help make your home more energy efficient. Learn about renewable options including solar, wind and geothermal for your home.
This talk will be presented by Frank Dewitt, President of Alternative Energy Associates. Alternate Energy Associates, has been in the renewable industry for five years. Their highly skilled professional team designs and installs renewable energy systems for residential and commercial applications across the tri-state area. Training includes solar and wind energy at the Solar Living Institute and Solar Energy International, and geothermal training at the University of Oklahoma and BPI (Building Performance Institute). Certified through the State of New Jersey’s Home Performance with Energy Star Program. Please visit www.altenergy1.com for more information.
