Greetings!
We are pleased to announce that the organization that brings you the West Milford Farmers Market, Organic Community Gardens, and the Native Medicinal Garden has shifted its focus from promoting sustainable living, to promoting our deep connection to nature.
In the last 16 years, so many things have changed. Back in 2007, when we began Sustainable West Milford, our community used tons of plastic bags and plastic bottles, did very little recycling, and the county was spraying herbicides along our roads. Now it’s a region where residents use their own shopping bags, drink from BPA free and stainless-steel bottles, recycle 50% of their waste, and the county is back to mowing instead of spraying along our local lakesides. We are so proud and humbled to have been an educator and contributor to many local sustainable solutions.
From SWM to The Nature Connection
As a way to address what’s happening in the world now, and how to better serve West Milford and its residents, we have shifted our focus to empowering residents and visitors to connect with nature. A connection to our environment reminds us that we are one and the same. Once we’ve forged this kind of deep connection to nature, the last thing we want to do is harm it…instead we want to protect it, enjoy it, and share it.
This is our upstream solution to getting more hearts and hands living in harmony with nature.
What the West Milford Nature Connection does
Nature Connection of West Milford creates hands-on and virtual opportunities for residents and visitors to recognize and experience our inherent connection to nature and to each other. Our farmers market, community gardens, and medicinal garden already use the environment around us to empower and teach residents to connect with, nourish and heal themselves and their communities. But there are so many more ways West Milford connects people and nature!
By compiling a comprehensive resource of community groups, locations, events and experiences in our region, our on-line resource portal will make it easier to discover all of the ways you can connect with nature. Our goal is to help you discover the best options for you and your friends and family—before, during and after your nature experience.
We’ve attached a document to provide a deeper dive on our new mission, vision, values, and the impact we hope to make within the community.
Make the connection with us!
So many families and retirees move to our area, yet many don’t feel comfortable engaging directly with nature, or they feel so overwhelmed they don’t even know where to start. In addition to our current hands-on programs and upcoming portal, we will be providing monthly education this year at the West Milford Library to support residents in “making the connection.”
On May 10th, join us at the West Milford Library from 7:00-8:30 pm to learn more about what we have planned, share what you would like to see happen, and find ways to get involved.
Learn more about us at www.natureconnectionwestmilford.org. We would love your reactions, thoughts, and ideas on how to make the connection even stronger. Look for monthly updates both on the site and in the new Nature Connection newsletter that will be arriving in your email box soon!
Luke Aaron - Executive Director
Wendy Watson-Hallowell - Board Chair