We’ve all heard “Take only photographs, leave only footprints”. A noble sentiment, but it limits our interaction with wild plants to a visual one only, if that. Using wild plants as food and medicine helps us experience plants with our other senses and makes more permeable the boundary between us and the rest of the natural world. Learn about the cultural uses of native plants with Jared Rosenbaum, proprietor of Wild Ridge Plants, LLC. Jared will cover native spices, greens, fruits, and herbal medicines, including wild leek, Solomon’s seal, wood nettle, elderberry and others.      

A native of North Arlington, author Mary Bruno wanted to understand why her hometown river, the Passaic, has such a bad reputation.Working with experienced guides, she kayaked its entire length to witness all the rivers virtues and problems for herself. The trip inspired her to write An American River: From Paradise to Superfund, Afloat on New Jersey’s Passaic River. Part natural history, part personal history, and part rollicking adventure, the memoir invites readers to lose themselves in the Passaic’s storied (and often sordid) past. This program is being offered in partnership with Morristown National Historic Park.    

A native of North Arlington, author Mary Bruno wanted to understand why her hometown river, the Passaic, has such a bad reputation. Working with experienced guides, she kayaked its entire length to witness all the rivers virtues and problems for herself. The trip inspired her to write An American River: From Paradise to Superfund, Afloat on New Jersey’s Passaic River. Part natural history, part personal history, and part rollicking adventure, the memoir invites readers to lose themselves in the Passaic’s storied (and often sordid) past. Register by sending an email to [email protected].    

A native of North Arlington, author Mary Bruno wanted to understand why her hometown river, the Passaic, has such a bad reputation. Working with experienced guides, she kayaked its entire length to witness all the rivers virtues and problems for herself. The trip inspired her to write An American River: From Paradise to Superfund, Afloat on New Jersey’s Passaic River. Part natural history, part personal history, and part rollicking adventure, the memoir invites readers to lose themselves in the Passaic’s storied (and often sordid) past.      

Do you know your spring peepers from your wood frogs? What does a leopard frog sound like and can they be found in your neighborhood? Join GSWA and Tedor Whitman of Cora Hartshorn Arboretum for this hands-on training session to become an official FrogWatch volunteer. FrogWatch is a citizen science program that uses volunteer’s observations to create a database of frog and toad sightings, helping to establish long-term and large-scale data on amphibian populations. During the training, you’ll learn how to recognize different species of frogs and toads from their appearance and calls, and how to record your observations into the database. We will work with you to select places around the region to monitor and you will be frog counting in no time! Registration required. Register online at GreatSwamp.org or call (973) 538-3500 x 22.    

Why should you get a rain barrel? Use a barrel to capture and store the rain running through your home’s downspout and you’ll routinely have 55 gallons of free water to use around your property. Your barrel will also help slow the flow of stormwater running through your neighborhood and entering local streams. This helps to reduce flooding and water pollution. Sounds like a good idea, right? GSWA and Green Mojo Eco Consulting will help you build your own water-saving rain barrel. Using a recycled, food-grade barrel and a spigot adapter kit, we will walk you through the simple construction process. Each registered participant will leave with the workshop with their very own handcrafted rain barrel that is ready to be hooked up to a household downspout.    

There’s no better way to celebrate the first day of spring than to get outside and explore. Join GSWA’s Dan Ross as he guides you in identifying the first signs of spring – skunk cabbages peaking through the snow, new buds forming on trees, and spring migrants returning from their winter destinations. Although it may feel as though winter will be with us forever, these signs of spring will be sure to brighten your day.