"Not in my river. Not on my watch."

- declares the Hackensack Riverkeeper's motto.

Canoes getting ready to pick up trash in the Hackensack River at the Riverkeeper's latest clean-up in Johnson Park in Hackensack.

I believe in being an activist in your own microcosm. Luckily for the Hackensack River, and its people and wildlife that depend on it, we have Captain Bill Sheehan and his crew of defenders.

Volunteers cruising the river for trash.

I walked the shoreline. What did I find? The usual: beer bottles, water bottles, soda cans, candy wrappers, plastic bags, even a battery (learn more about battery recycling). What a let-down that Seattle voters rejected a 20 cent tax on disposable bags (get the full story).


Just a few feet away from the river...

Reduce your plastic consumption. If you're already bringing your reusable totes to the store, and have a reusable water bottle and coffee mug, bring it up a notch. Take your own take-out containers to restaurants for leftovers. There's even a Facebook page to discourage plastic straws at restaurants. For water and soda, there just seems be no need for them.

At work, I've sworn off making coffee or tea with the extremely wasteful Keurig cups. I get my java fix in the morning at home with organic coffee from Old Hook Farm made with unbleached coffee filters, and stick to drinking tea (bags or loose-leaf) in a cheerful teapot and cup instead. I've decided free office coffee comes with a too high a price for the environment.

Some of the species of ducks that depend on the river.

What human or dog wouldn't love take a stroll on this walkway, especially with the leaves about to change?

Learn more about the Hackensack Riverkeeper's Meadowlands Festival of Birding, this Saturday and Sunday, September 12-13.

Meanwhile, our friends at Bergen SWAN are hosting a tour of environmentally-friendly sites throughout the watershed on Sunday, September 13. Learn more.

The Hackensack River was in the news recently. Hundreds of gallons of raw sewage were deliberately pumped into it from the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Secaucus weekly for 18 months. Read the horrifying story. Meanwhile, a federal study of mercury contamination that tested fish from nearly 300 streams across the country found the substance in every fish sampled. Get the story. Learn more about mercury.

Want to become an activist? Find a local chapter of the Sierra Club, or start your own. Become a role model, at your school, your workplace, or your town. Someone introduced me to her daughter by saying, "she cares a lot about the environment," and it's one of the greatest compliments I could have received.

After the clean-up, I hit the C.A.T.S. Resale Shop to donate a few items, and was thrilled to see vegan goodies were for sale outside the shop for their bake sale. Eating brownies to help homeless cats and dogs? Must I? Oh, okay....

Chocolate chip cookies too! Make your own at home and enjoy with organic non-dairy 'milk.' I favor Pacific Natural Food's organic almond beverage, just $1.69 for a 32-oz. container at my local Trader Joe's.

Eating Vegan Food for A Good Cause

I went, I ate, I mingled, all for a great cause: supporting local environmental groups. If only I could figure out a way to nap for a charity...I'd make millions.

First, I hit Blue Moon Mexican Cafe in Wycoff to support the Community Night to benefit Hackensack Riverkeeper. This place is no Pancho's. The manager came over when I had questions for the waiter about what was vegan, which was a perfect opportunity for me to mention they should consider offering soy cheese and tofu sour cream. She didn't even know tofu sour cream existed.

A virgin peach margarita and a cup of black bean soup. Both $4, and both just okay. The margarita was a bit slushy.

A house salad with corn, black beans, cucumbers, tomatoes and tortilla strips, $6.95. This salad was just screaming for an avocado. Next time, I'll just dine at Pancho's and write a check to the Hackensack Riverkeeper. Sorry, Blue Moon!

Then I hit Bergen SWAN's fundraiser at the Hillsdale, NJ borough hall, with tasty food supplied by Veggie Heaven and my favorite, Trader Joe's. There were a few preparations of Trader Joe's meatless meatballs, including two vegan (BBQ and chili sauce) and non-vegan (vodka sauce).

There were also river poems recited and a silent auction, where you could bid on, among other items, cute reusable totes filled with eco-friendly cleaning supplies. Why the reusable grocery bag trend has yet to catch on is beyond me. They sell them for as little as 99 cents at major supermarkets, and everyone in suburbia where I live has a car where they can easily store them.

As a young teenage activist, I participated in a fundraising walk to support Bergen SWAN's efforts to protect land surrounding the local reservoir...a dream that was realized. They have been working to maintain this land and promote environment education for over two decades. Learn more about Bergen SWAN.

Learn more about Hackensack Riverkeeper, which offers paddling activities, bird-walks, and many volunteer opportunities for river clean-ups.

Be a Valentine to Mother Earth

Feast on vegetarian food to support two of my favorite local environmental groups? Okay, if someone needs to make the sacrifice. Sign me up!

Bergen SWAN, whose mission is to preserve the natural lands surrounding the drinking water supply reservoirs in Bergen and Rockland counties in New Jersey, is hosting a "Valentine for the Watershed" to help raise funds for a professional office and support ongoing environmental education programs.

When/Where: Friday, February 13 at the Hillsdale Borough Hall, Hillsdale, NJ
How much?: A minimum donation of $25 per person is requested.
The details: Enjoy vegetarian morsels from Veggie Heaven and other local establishments, hear river poems and essays, and bid on a silent auction, which will include a vegetarian candle-lit dinner for two at Mark Becker's historic home in Hillsdale, prepared by the SWAN Co-Directors.
Learn more: http://www.bergenswan.org/happenings.aspx

The event: Blue Moon Community Night to support the Hackensack Riverkeeper
When/Where: Tuesday, February 10, visit Blue Moon Mexican Café in Englewood, Old Tappan, Woodcliff Lake or Wycoff, NJ
The details: 20% of your check (excluding tax/tip) will benefit the Hackensack River Keeper when you bring along this coupon: http://www.hackensackriverkeeper.org/BlueMoonCard.pdf

Never too early to start perusing the menu! The guacamole, fried plantains, vegetarian chili and vegetable fajitas all look delicious. While I'm there, I think I'll tell the manager what a great addition tofu sour cream and soy cheese would make to the menu! http://www.bluemoonmexicancafe.com/

But back to the Riverkeeper. This amazing organization hosts bird walks, eco-cruises, and my favorite springtime activity...river clean-ups. Get out your old clothes, bring your reusable water, and pick up trash from local parks on foot or via canoe. You won't believe what we find! Their first clean-up is Sunday, April 26 in Leonia. It will definitely get you thinking about your waste...and where it all ends up. Learn more:
http://www.hackensackriverkeeper.org/river_cleanups.html

Not in the area? Seek out your local environmental groups. The Sierra Club can get you pointed in the right direction: http://www.sierraclub.org/my_chapter/choose_chapter.asp
In my neck of the woods: http://newjersey.sierraclub.org/North/