As spring arrives, the wheels of Sustainable Collingswood, also known as the Green Team, are spinning.
They are gearing up for their annual Green Festival, which marks 15 years this year. Whether you are an eco-friendly expert or just getting started on your own green initiatives, the Collingswood Green Day provides opportunities and resources to support you on your journey to sustainable living.
And as they mark a milestone, Sandi Kelly, lead coordinator for the borough’s Green Team, it’s all about continuing education.
Kelly noted they are working to drum up the festival post pandemic. It was formed back in 2009 by commissioner Joan Leonard, a lifelong environmentalist.
Visitors can learn about rain barrels, composting, trees, recycling, native plants, pollinator gardens, electric vehicles on display, the bike share program, you name it!
Collingswood has been at the forefront of creating an electric vehicle infrastructure, which falls in line with supporting Gov. Phil Murphy’s goal of 330,000 EVs by 2025.
There are two centralized Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) at the public parking garage at the Lumberyard, located at W. Collings and N. Atlantic avenues.
The Level 2 EVCS are located in the central area of the Lumberyard garage.
And secured funding through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, and PSE&G will expand the availability of EVCS in Collingswood.
Moving from electric vehicles to protecting wildlife. Did you know about 100 back yards in the borough are certified through Certified Wildlife Habitat, a program through National Wildlife Federation?
Anyone can create a welcoming haven for local wildlife. Turning your yard, balcony container garden, schoolyard, work landscape, or roadside greenspace into a Certified Wildlife Habitat is fun, easy and can make a lasting difference for wildlife, according to its website.
“It’s more of a self-certification with guidance from local groups,” Kelly said.
The National Wildlife Federation, America’s largest and most trusted conservation organization, works across the country to unite Americans from all walks of life in giving wildlife a voice, the website states.
And as the Sustainable Collingswood looks ahead, the borough continues to work on the framework for the bike and pedestrian masterplan with Haddon Township and seeking grants through the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.
During the pandemic, the organization spent a significant focus on food insecurity and food equity during the pandemic.
They partnered with Virtua Health to host a food market year found for those in need to purchase inexpensive produce. Kelly said the market is open to anyone, not only those in the EBT SNAP (Electronic Benefit Transfer Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program), formerly food stamps.
Kelly said EBT SNAP is accepted at the Collingswood Farmers Market, which began last year.
They also work with the food pantry at the Collingswood Public Schools.
The annual Green Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20 at Haddon and Irvin avenues. To learn more about Sustainable Collingswood visit Collingswood.com.
