Mercer County’s annual celebration of all things sustainable – which features several in-person events in Lawrence Township – has been set for the week of April 23-30.
The week-long environmental celebration, dubbed “Greening Together,” is sponsored by the Mercer County Sustainability Coalition. Lawrence Township is a member of the coalition.
In Lawrence, the week kicks off April 23 with two stream cleanups: one at Colonial Lake on Colonial Lake Drive, and one at the Shabakunk Creek at Drexel Woods at 505 Drexel Ave. Pre-registration is required.
Participants in both events, which each start at 9 a.m., will work together to remove trash, litter and debris from Colonial Lake Park and Drexel Woods. Sustainable Lawrence and The Watershed Institute are sponsoring the events.
The next in-person events will be held April 29. Participants can learn how to build a spotted lanternfly trap at 3 p.m., followed by the planting of a conifer tree at 4 p.m. Both events will be held at the Lawrence Nature Center at 481 Drexel Ave.
More in-person events are planned for April 30 at Colonial Lake Park, beginning with a 9:30 a.m. walk in the park to introduce attendees to the birds who live in the water and around the lake – from Great Blue Herons to cormorants, osprey, mallard ducks and cardinals.
At 11:30 a.m., attendees will explore the concept of non-point source pollution in a walk along Colonial Lake and in the neighborhood. They will learn how their activities in and around the neighborhood may impact water quality in the lake.
Both walks around Colonial Lake and the surrounding park will be led by Jeff Hoagland, the education director at The Watershed Institute.
In the afternoon at 1:30 p.m., attendees are invited to dig in and help plant some trees at Colonial Lake Park. The trees are being donated by the Friends of Colonial Lake Park. Nick Bosted of the Lawrence Nature Center will talk about proper tree planting.
A variety of virtual events also are on tap for the week-long celebration, starting with a presentation on climate change and health, hosted by the Lawrence Green Team, at 3 p.m. April 24.
C-Change Conversations worked with scientists and energy and policy experts to develop the “C-Change Health Primer.” The PowerPoint presentation provides a non-partisan, accessible overview of the science behind climate change and the reasons why people should care about it.
On April 27 at 7 p.m., staff from The Watershed Institute will talk about stormwater runoff and flooding. Participants can learn how to use plant to manage and prevent water problems. It is being presented by the Lawrence Green Team and The Watershed Institute.
Another virtual presentation, set for April 28 at 7 p.m., is focused on “Energy Tools for Homeowners: Electrification and Renewables.” It focuses on residential energy efficiency and explains the ins-and-outs of electric vehicles and charging; heat pumps for heating, cooling and hot water; and solar energy and storage. It is being presented by the Lawrence Green Team and the Hopewell Valley Green Team.
The week wraps up in-person at the annual Green Get Together at Lawrence High School April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The entrance to the event is off Gainsboro Road.
The Green Get Together includes a bike rodeo, in which children will learn how to ride their bicycles safely on the rodeo trail. Each child will receive a new helmet from the Capital Health Safe Kids program.
Visitors can talk to people who own electric cars, and they can also learn about the benefits of battery-powered landscaping equipment.
There will be a reusable bag give-away, and a demonstration on how to create no-sew, reusable bags from T-shirts.
A composting demonstration and worm sale are on tap, as well a tips for homeowners who want to de-carbonize their homes.
