Welcome to Wild Sustainable Summer  
Pick Your Own (PYO) at Mercer Farms

This year's PYO is BYOM (Bring Your Own Mask). Stores are slowly opening up, but community supported agriculture is our pick for a sustainable summer. We have highlighted our farm markets and our CSA's but now it time to get out and pick your own. Picking your own fruit this summer is coming back at our favorite farms. Check our list below and share with us your fresh picks.

Little Acres Farm
Terhune Orchards
Tindall Farm

What are you picking? Share your fresh finds and recipes with us using  #sustainablelawrence on social media and we will include your photos in our next newsletter. 
Are Reusables Safe?
ANJEC has compiled a list of Q&A and resources to share in your community
One of the many coronavirus fears is about the safety of using reusables. ANJAC has put together a cited list of questions that have been on our minds. Check out the resource here for the answers to the questions below. 
  • Are reusables safe? 
  • Aren't disposables more safe?
  • Can I use my reusable water bottle or coffee cup?
  • What are some tips for using a reusable bag?
  • My local grocer is NOT allowing me to use reusable bags.  What are my options?
  • What can be done about all the personal protective equipment (PPE) littering our streets and waterways?
  • Will coronavirus kill the growing zero waste lifestyle, built on bring-your-own (BYO), reuse, and bulk shopping?

Sustainable Lawrence continues to organize and look for ways to reduce plastic consumption throughout our community. If you are interested in joining our efforts, please join us at our monthly meeting. 
Census 2020 Race Heats Up
Lawrence Cardinal spirit is strong and we encourage our residents to help Mercer County become New Jersey next top census reporting county! The Census response is more important arguably than ever before so let's show that here in Lawrence we mean it when we say #everyonecounts. WE NEED YOU to help us get there!

We are com mitted to working together with Mercer Counts and other partners to share census information in our town. The Census Bureau states that 99% of residents will be able to respond in their language so please help  share this information  in your neighborhood. It's safe and easy, and it's your opportunity to bring education, health care, housing and political power to your community.
Watershed Institute Seeks River Friendly Residents

Enter the Challenge for Prizes!
River Friendly Newcomers will want to first check out:  https://thewatershed.org/2020-river-friendly-resident-challenge/

If you are already certified, send a River-Friendly photo of yourself to  [email protected] to be entered into the drawing! A River-Friendly photo can be you:
  • with a bag of trash you picked up on a walk
  • with a rain barrel, native pollinator garden, bird house, bird feeder, or compost pile
  • with invasive plants you pulled out
  • recycling
  • using a reusable bag, straw, or other plastic-reducing device
  • with a low-flow toilet or appliance
  • or doing any other River-Friendly actions
Recommended Reading


Join millions for Plastic Free July
Garden Growers
We want to know: how is your garden growing? Please share your progress. 

The Living in Love Food Pantry Garden serves Mercer County communities by raising fresh produce for local food pantries. The LiL garden has surpassed 10,000 lb. mark and wants to celebrate with the Lawrence community! This is an adult only volunteer opportunity to help support those that are food insecure in our community. We are planning a blueberry picking day in July to learn about the garden and pick berries for Lawrence Community Center, HomeFront, and Arm in Arm and others. Hats and masks are required. Gloves will be provided. Date is tentatively planned for July 11 from 8-12pm. Please sign up for more details.
Guess whose garden?
Thank you for reading this edition of Sustainable Lawerence Covid Newsletter. We hope this message finds you well in these changing times. We are finding new ways to connect and continue our sustainability mission. Many of our lives have shifted and to best connect us, we aim to connect our community during these changing times. Please share your feedback and ideas with us as we evolve. 
STAY CONNECTED:
Don't forget the next Sustainable Lawrence Meeting is scheduled for July 2, 2020.