Greening Lawns and Adopting Beaches

Hi all!

Blog #2 here with some tidbits I picked up at this month's Little Silver Environmental Commission and New Jersey Wastewise Business Network meetings.

Here on coastal NJ we are transitioning from spring to summer, so some folks (my husband) are focused on lawn maintenance while others (me and my kids) have their eye on securing quality beach time.  

For those looking to green up their lawn (pun intended), it's worth noting NJ has a new lawn fertilizer law (full text).  As an overview, the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association recommends waiting until at least March 15 to apply fertilizer, choosing to use phosphorus-free fertilizers that contain slow-release nitrogen, carefully following the application rates formula on the back of the bag, and avoiding fertilizing before it rains.

Also, the Monmouth County Planning Board lists organic alternatives to toxic pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers in its 2010 Recycling Directory* (page 23).  For instance, to spot kill weeds, try a mixture of 1 oz of vinegar, 1 oz of gin and 8 oz of water and spray on weeds — straight up. 

Appreciating the lawn on your way out the door to the shore, you anticipate a great beach day meaning debris-free sand, clean ocean waters and gentle sea breezes.  Unfortunately, this is not always the case.  

You can help make a change by enrolling in the "Adopt A Beach" campaign sponsored by the New Jersey Clean Communities Council and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.  Business, community organizations, schools and individuals who would like to clean or adopt beaches should contact the Clean Communities Council at 609-989-5900 or njccc@njclean.org.

Additionally, Clean Ocean Action conducts frequent beach sweeps as well as being a national and regional voice working to protect waterways using science, law, research, education, and citizen action.

So whether you spend Memorial Day tending to the grass, playing in the surf or a little bit of both, any touch of green is welcome on this traditional red, white and blue holiday.

   *OK, I know I am a recycling geek, but honestly this directory is a very cool resource - hard copies are generally available at local libraries and town halls.