Sustainable South Jersey

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Sustainable South Jersey

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Sustainable South Jersey's (SSJ) mission is to drive Sustainability in South Jersey to benefit our collective future.

An all volunteer 501c(3) non-profit community outreach and educational organization that fosters the global sustainability movement at a local level.

10/30/2026

Honoring Caren Kaufman During Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This October, we're remembering someone whose passion and dedication helped shape Sustainable South Jersey into the organization it is today.

Caren Kaufman was more than an environmental advocate. She was a leader, an educator, and someone who believed deeply in the power of community.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, Caren began exploring the connections between environmental health and personal well-being. That curiosity led her to Sustainable Cherry Hill, where she became a driving force behind environmental education, community engagement, and eventually the organization's expansion into Sustainable South Jersey.

Caren passed away from breast cancer in February 2023, but her impact continues.

In her memory, we established the Caren Kaufman Memorial Fund, which provides grants to local organizations and community members working to create cleaner, greener, and healthier communities.

In 2026 alone, the fund awarded $3,500 to four South Jersey organizations supporting wildlife conservation, native plantings, tree education, and community green spaces.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we invite you to learn more about Caren's story, celebrate the difference she made, and help carry her legacy forward.

Consider making a donation to the Caren Kaufman Memorial Fund. Every contribution helps support meaningful environmental projects right here in South Jersey.

Learn more: https://sustainablesouthjersey.org/caren-kaufman-memorial-mini-grant-program/

10/20/2026

Help shape a more sustainable South Jersey!
Visit https://sustainablesouthjersey.org/become-a-volunteer/, or scan the QR code to fill out the committee interest form 🌱

10/15/2026

A great day of stewardship at Tall Pines State Preserve with the Friends of Tall Pines () , a dedicated volunteer committee supporting the preserve in Gloucester County, New Jersey.

From removing mugwort in the pollinator garden and reopening a small walking path, to tackling Asiatic bittersweet, volunteers stayed busy throughout the preserve. The highlight of the day was bringing down a mature invasive Callery pear, a reminder that conservation work often requires equal parts education, teamwork, and elbow grease.

Volunteers from Sustainable South Jersey partner Veranova embraced both the environmental impact and the opportunity to strengthen connections as a team while giving back to the Gloucester County community.

Thank you to the Friends of Tall Pines and the Veranova team for investing time and energy in one of South Jersey's special natural places.

10/13/2026

What happens when an injured wild animal needs help? And what does it take to give that animal a second chance at life in the wild?

We recently had the opportunity to visit Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge in Medford, NJ, for a behind-the-scenes tour and conversation with Lisa Franco, Director of Development.

From rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife to connecting people with nature through education, Cedar Run plays an important role in protecting South Jersey's wildlife and natural habitats.

In our latest Community Spotlight, we're sharing what we learned about the refuge, the challenges of wildlife rehabilitation, and the dedicated people working to give wild animals the best chance at returning to their natural habitats.

🌿 Read the full story:
https://sustainablesouthjersey.org/cedar-run-wildlife-refuge-helping-south-jersey-keep-wildlife-wild/

10/10/2026

A clear storm drain means less street flooding and cleaner local waterways. 🌊
Neighbors in towns like Moorestown, Westfield, and Princeton are adopting a drain and keeping it clear. Is your town on the list?
If not, share this with your mayor or environmental commission.

Read about NJ programs here: https://bit.ly/478BO6L
Questions? ANJEC: [email protected] | (973) 539-7547

09/30/2026

🍂 Our October Community Events Roundup is here!

Explore conservation, sustainability and fall farmers markets across all eight South Jersey counties. From cleanups, nature walks and wildlife programs to composting, local markets and hands-on workshops, there are plenty of ways to get outside, learn something new and support your community this October.

🌱 Join us for the Sustainable South Jersey Book Club on October 7 from 7:30–8:45 PM at the William G. Rohrer Memorial Library in Haddon Township!

09/28/2026

Join Sustainable South Jersey and the Cherry Hill Environmental Board at a pollinator garden cleanup!

We'll be working together to cut back ground ivy, wild strawberry vines, and other unwanted growth that can take over the garden and crowd out the plants that support butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.

Starting at 6:15 PM
Pollinator garden is located at the end of Cleveland Ave in the Cherry Valley neighborhood of Cherry Hill

Please bring gardening gloves and a favorite weeding or digging tool if you have them. We'll have some extra gloves available.

Come lend a hand, enjoy the garden, and help keep this pollinator habitat thriving!

09/28/2026

Happy World Rivers Day!

Here in South Jersey, rivers are woven into some of our region’s most distinctive landscapes.

The tea-colored waters of the Pinelands wind through pine forests and Atlantic white cedar swamps. Farther downstream, freshwater gives way to tidal marshes and estuaries that provide important habitat for fish, birds, amphibians, and countless other species.

Some of these waterways are special enough to receive national recognition. The Great Egg Harbor River (pictured above) and Maurice River are both part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, while the Mullica River flows through the heart of the Pinelands before reaching Great Bay.

This World Rivers Day, take a moment to appreciate the waterways that help make South Jersey such a unique place, and the ecosystems that depend on them.

What South Jersey river, creek, or stream is special to you?

09/21/2026

Can trees talk to each other?

It might sound like something out of a storybook, but forests are full of complex relationships. Trees can respond to chemical signals, interact through their roots, and participate in underground networks involving fungi and other organisms.

These fascinating connections are among the ideas explored in Peter Wohlleben's The Hidden Life of Trees - our October SSJ Book Club selection.

What do you think: How connected are the trees in a forest?

Join us to discuss the science, stories, and ideas behind the book:

The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
Wednesday, October 7
7:30–8:45 p.m.
William G. Rohrer Memorial Library – Haddon Twp Branch

Whether you've finished the whole book or are still making your way through it, we'd love to have you join the conversation. All are welcome!

This event is free, but registration is encouraged so we know how many people to expect: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ssj-book-club-the-hidden-life-of-trees-tickets-2000351036799

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

09/10/2026

Building habitat for one of New Jersey’s smallest raptors!

Last month, Sustainable South Jersey joined the Field to Flight Foundation for an American Kestrel Nest Box Workshop at the Pinelands Preservation Alliance.

American kestrels are North America’s smallest falcon, but they face a big challenge: they can’t excavate their own nesting cavities. As suitable natural cavities become harder to find, properly designed and monitored nest boxes can provide important places for kestrels to raise their young.

Participants learned about kestrel conservation, explored the property to see how nest box placement and habitat selection work in the field, and then got to work assembling nest boxes that will support local conservation efforts.

We were especially proud to help make this program possible through Sustainable South Jersey’s Caren Kaufman Memorial Grant. Seeing grant funding translate into education, community participation, and real habitat improvements is exactly the kind of local impact we love to support.

A huge thank you to the Field to Flight Foundation for sharing their knowledge and giving our community the opportunity to get directly involved in wildlife conservation!

Address

PO Box 326 5 E. Bettlewood Avenue
Oaklyn, NJ
08107

Website

http://www.sustainablesouthjersey.org/, http://linktr.ee/sustainable_sj

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