Photo by Nelly Thiman Nunez / SOC Images.
The Jersey City community gathered at the Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery on Saturday, April 18 for their annual Celebrate Mother Earth Day Festival, which featured environmental activities and education about urban farming that focused on taking care of the Earth.
Music from Carol Lester, a children’s showcase of songs, played while Aly’s Farm Animals featured sets of goats, chickens and bunnies while surrounded by small children. Local vendors, and activists gathered in the space with singles, friends and families out in support.
The Celebrate Mother Earth Day Festival was created by previous director, Eileen Eisenhower more than 10 years ago. Today, it continues to gather and commemorate the small businesses that continue to put sustainability first.
The festival has become a staple in the Jersey City community, and even draws residents from nearby towns. Local and Earth-conscious organizations promoted healthy recycled consumerism, activities and awareness.
Mandy Egdecombe, organizer and caretaker of the cemetery, said that the one-day event is designed not only to celebrate Earth Day, but to inspire long-term commitment to sustainability within the community.
“You can tell how much Jersey City has changed within the years,” she said. “It is much more diverse. It’s why we’re here, to celebrate Earth Day.”
Throughout the years, the Harsimus Cemetery has partnered up with local organizations that focus on environmental sustainability, including the 4-H Urban Farming Club, The Harsimus Honey Bee Hives, The Feminist Bird Club and other Jersey City parks and gardening groups.
Art vendor and owner of Windowseat Press, Thia Horowitz, added that recycling is one of the most important things we can do for the environment.
“There is so much stuff here on the planet, specifically paper and printed things. There are materials everywhere,” she said. “We want to recycle and use whatever we can that’s already here.”
Horowitz, alongside her wife and business partner, Carmen Chiariello, create handmade print goods and stationary art. Sketchbooks that were set on their tables were made from salvaged, damaged and recycled materials.
For others, the event was an opportunity to learn more about how to commit to urban sustainability and to connect with like-minded individuals who share environmental responsibility.
“We live in a dense-urban environment so whenever you can get an opportunity to interact with nature outside of a very curated landscape, it’s nice to touch the grass every once in a while,” said Andrew, a resident of Jersey City who attended the festival with his wife and 5-month old daughter.
Another vendor, Suzanne, the owner of DecoDustrial, mentioned the possibility of data centers in Bayonne as another reason why care for the environment is crucial right now.
“I really believe that if we drive it, every single one of us drives that singular economy, whether it’s recycling, upcycling, repair or reinvent, then we won’t have to freak out when we hear about labor cost, gas prices or wars in developing nations,” Suzanne said, who received a degree in urban planning at San Francisco State University.
The setting of the historic cemetery added to the backdrop of the event, highlighting the importance that is not only about what you know but what you do with the information that truly matters.
“It’s why we are here. It’s for Hudson county and especially for this area, in particular, for the cemetery. This is a conserved area,” said Horowitz. “There is a lot to take care of here and part of that is reusing.”
As the push for more sustainability continues, staying informed is one of the most powerful tools communities have. Through small, intentional actions, residents can play an active role in protecting the environment.
For more information on recycling and how to get involved locally, check out the links below:
- Recycling in Hudson County
- Hudson County Improvement Authority: Recycling 101
- Department of Environmental Protection: Recycling Resources
