Welcome!

We are excited to share with you the first Green Team newsletter, planned as a quarterly publication. The Westfield Green Team’s mission is to help improve our quality of life, set an example for future generations, and support a more sustainable community.

Through these newsletters, we will share updates on local opportunities to get involved, take action, and help you live greener. We believe that all of our small individual efforts will have a substantial impact on climate change. Changes in our own community — neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and homes — can help build a better future.

-- The Westfield Green Team 

Take Advantage of Earth Month Events!

Celebrate the earth and environmental progress all month long by spending time outdoors with family and friends and participating in local events that focus on sustainability and climate solutions.


Great Swamp Native Plant Sale
April 1-22
Native plants are critical to supporting the ecosystem, especially birds and beneficial insects like bees and butterflies. To support wildlife in your own backyard, buy native plant species through the Great Swamp organization. This sale offers garden kits that suit a variety of typical garden conditions, as well as 28 individual plant species. Pick up conveniently at Brightwood Park in Westfield. View the online catalog and order here.


Spotted Lanternfly Free Webinar
Tuesday, April 19, 7:00PM - 8:00PM
Attend a presentation by Rutgers Cooperative Extension that will include information on the life cycle, food preferences, potential damage, and management of this new invasive species. Register here to attend. 


Live Greener Fair
Sunday, April 24, 1:00-4:00, North Avenue Train Station Lot
Learn about opportunities for residents to live greener through hands-on games and crafts, demonstrations, and vendors that support local green initiatives. There will be educational activities for all ages, music, and giveaways, while supplies last. For full details on the day's activities, visit the Town website.

 
Free Market
Saturday, April 30, South Avenue Train Station Parking Lot
Donations: 8:00AM - 11:00AM
Browsing: 11:30AM - 2:30PM

Donate or take home (at no cost) yard sale quality items such as clothing, kitchen items, garden tools and small furniture pieces! This is a great way to share still-usable items instead of discarding them, which helps limit what is sent to the landfill. Please pre-register for a time slot to drop off your items. 

 
Community Parks Clean-Up
Sunday, May 1, 10:00AM - 12:00PM
Tamaques Park: Meet at Tennis Courts
Brightwood Park: Meet at Parking Lot (off of Prospect Street)
The Woods at Myrtle and Grandview 

Spend the morning at one of three locations helping to beautify Westfield’s parks and wooded areas. Families, teens, Girl/Boy Scout troops, and others are welcome. Please bring your gardening gloves. Sign up is recommended.

Act Locally

Rethink Your Energy Options
We are already feeling the effects of climate change. Have you noticed stronger storms, and as a result more storm debris or loss of power? While we need action at state and federal levels to reduce CO2 emissions by roughly 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2050, according to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, we should also look for ways we can do our part now. Take advantage of some of these local opportunities:

• Get a house energy audit to improve efficiency and comfort. The Westfield Home Energy Savings Program offers residents an energy audit at a discounted rate of $49.
• Check to see if your roof is a good candidate for solar panels by visiting Project Sunroof.
• If your home is not a good candidate for solar panels or you live in an apartment, enroll in NJ’s Community Solar program and save 20% on your electric bills. Spots are limited for Westfield residents, so act fast with code “GTWES.” 

BYOB (Bring Your Own Bags)
On May 4, 2022, one of the country’s most progressive bag bans will take effect in New Jersey to help reduce plastic pollution. The law encourages the use of reusable bags by no longer allowing single-use plastic bags at grocery and retail establishments, as well as paper bags at larger grocery stores. It also bans polystyrene foam takeout food containers and other products such as plates, cups, food trays, and utensils. To learn more, view this video from NJ Clean Communities.

Need more reusable bags? Visit our Live Greener Fair on April 24, and be sure to check out the Westfield Girl Scouts’ hands-on activity that teaches how to transform t-shirts into reusable bags!

Act Against the Dangerous Spotted Lanternflies
The Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive species of insect that has the potential to do damage to trees and plants, as well as impact our enjoyment of the outdoors. As the insects feed, they secrete honeydew (a sugary substance) that can damage understory vegetation and any property stored outdoors. Their egg masses will likely hatch between late May and early June, with a projected population growth over last year. To learn more, read spotted lanternfly information from Rutgers University.

 What can you do?

• Destroy spotted lanternfly egg masses before they hatch (see pictures and videos).
• Setting traps on trees in your yard can be easily done, and there are several designs you can make at home. Visit our Live Greener Fair on April 24 to learn more about trap construction. 
• Although not too common in Westfield, remove Trees of Heaven (aka ailanthus), as this is their preferred host. It's also an invasive plant, so it's a win-win!
• Check your vehicle thoroughly before going out of state, as eggs are sometimes laid on hard to see spots such as tire rims.
• Carry a plastic bottle (yes, you heard right!).

Take Steps for a Naturally Healthy Lawn
Your yard is a valuable part of nature’s ecosystem, and you can help make it more welcoming for all inhabitants, while still looking great. The Westfield Green Team’s Organic Lawn Care Calendar includes practices to achieve a yard full of healthy grass with the least toxic methods, minimizing risks to pollinators and other beneficial insects.

Find this Information Useful?

Sign up to receive our quarterly newsletters via email or text if you haven’t already! Or encourage family and friends who would be interested in hearing about local green opportunities to enroll. It’s easy:

• Visit westfieldnj.gov/townupdates.
• Enter your email address, and click "Sign in."
• Select the email or text icon for the Green Team under "Notify Me," as well as for any other topics of interest to you. 
• Confirm your selection(s) by clicking the confirmation link sent to your email.