By Donald Gilpin

Spring has arrived in Princeton, and Sustainable Princeton wants the community to know that it’s time for a Backyard Chicken Chat, where you can learn how to raise your very own flock; Foraged Flower Art, where you can gather your materials and create your own pressed art; Jardin de Lluvia 101, a workshop in Spanish for landscapers; a Gathering for the Bike-Curious; and much more.

These multiple EcoExperiences lead up to an Earth Day Community Green Fair at Morven Museum and Garden from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, with live music, historic garden tours, lots of food, fun activities and games hosted by the Princeton Public Schools, more chickens, yoga, flowers, and chances to win prizes.

On their sustainableprinceton.org website, the organization describes EcoExperiences as “unique sustainably-themed events with all proceeds from ticket purchases going directly to support our mission of reducing greenhouse gases,

protecting our local ecosystem, and increasing resilience to climate change.” Jardin de Lluvia 101 on April 6 and the “Party Like It’s Your Earth Day” event on April 20 are free.

“This year we decided that instead of our annual fundraising gala, we would offer more intimate small-group experiences based on sustainable topics and activities that people buy tickets for and have a more intimate, interactive experience,” said Sustainable Princeton Communications and Outreach Manager Elana Berk in an April 1 phone conversation. “And they get to meet like-minded individuals who are interested in similar topics.”

Coming up this Sunday, April 7, back by popular demand after its sold-out sessions last year, is the Backyard Chicken Chat, led by  Sustainable Princeton Program Manager Jenny Ludmer, who has been a successful backyard chicken farmer since 2020, when Princeton passed an ordinance permitting and regulating the raising of chickens in town.

“She’ll take people into her backyard and teach them one-on-one how to do this yourself, and since it’s spring she has baby chicks,” said Berk. “It’s an interactive experience, with refreshments too.”

Berk went on to explain how the chicken experience aligns with Sustainable Princeton’s overall mission. “One of the things that most people think of when they get chickens is ‘Hey, I’m going to get eggs,’ which is great, but one of the things I found out through Jenny is that chickens are composting machines,” she said. “You’ll never have to put another scrap into the landfill when you have chickens. They eat all the food waste.”

She continued, “They also help to control ticks in your yard and other pests so you don’t have to use pesticides. It’s a very nature-based, environmentally-friendly solution to problems that we have to deal with.”

Berk noted the composting, fertilizing, and soil-aerating contributions of chickens. “They’re a great thing to have in your backyard, and keeping that food waste out of the landfill has a direct impact on our greenhouse gas emissions,” she added. “I’m really excited about that. I live in an apartment, but if I had a yard, I would have chickens.”

On Sunday afternoon, April 14, another EcoExperience will take place with wilderness guide, sustainability teacher, artist, and Sustainable Princeton Board Member Liz Cutler leading a two-session class with June 23 follow-up. Participants in the first session meet outdoors, where they learn how to gather and press flowers, then return in June to eat plant-based hors d’oeuvres and create their own pressed flower art at Cutler’s home.

“She’ll show you how to arrange the dried flowers, pressed flowers,” said Berk. “I want to call them collages, but they’re not even collages. This is a super-exciting experience that we’ve never offered before.”

Partnering with the Morven Museum and Garden and the local school district for Earth Day on April 20, Sustainable Princeton will be offering a varied array of entertainments and learning experiences. “The middle school will be doing a hydroponic demo, which is really cool, and Sustainable Princeton will be launching its lending library,” said Berk. “It’s a library of things, sustainable things. We’re going to be showing off some of the equipment that folks can sign up to borrow, like electric landscaping equipment, induction burners, and gardening tools — all the stuff that you need but you might not want to buy.”

Berk, who joined Sustainable Princeton two years ago, reflected on the organization’s achievements and current enterprises. “One of the things that keeps me very hopeful in times of climate crisis is seeing the community act together,” she said. “These are all opportunities to connect with people about topics that are crucial — and doing it joyfully. This is a fun way to take action. We all need to do something if we’re going to beat this climate crisis, so this is a way to do it with joy and togetherness.”

She continued, emphasizing Princeton’s progress. “I love this town,” she said. “”The reason why we can offer so many of these sustainable events is because we have the community support.”  She pointed out that Princeton is “a model town” with “the resources and the ability to forge a path, to be first, and try things.”

And other towns keep an eye on Princeton, she noted. “We’re often asked by other towns if we can share resources or do some mentoring, for example by putting together a climate action plan. We’re one of the few towns that has one.”

She concluded, “Everyone has a place in this fight against climate change, and if they want to get involved, I hope that they reach out to us.” 

Visit sustainableprinceton.org for further information on Sustainable Princeton and their many upcoming events.