Kinnelon Celebrates Earth Day at Pearl Miller School

Kinnelon Conserves held its sixth annual Earth Day Fair at Saturday. The event offered scientific exhibits, eco-friendly products and services by vendors throughout New Jersey, Karate demonstrations, refreshments and opportunities to help make the planet a healthier place to live.

Avery Hart, co-founder of Kinnelon Conserves, said her organization works to bring community awareness to environmental issues.

“We try to really boost people’s awareness of the small changes that they can make that make big changes to our big, hurting world,” Hart said.

Tables featured a variety of practical, beautiful and unusual crafts. Business owners included a mother of four who crochets baskets and pet items out of used t-shirts, a high school student who raises chickens as pets, and a mosaic artist who holds classes in her home.

A nonprofit group advocating for a ban on “fracking,” explained how this method of extracting gas and oil from the ground is linked to climate change and extreme weather. They invited the public to join an international day of action, called "Climate Impacts Day," on Saturday, May 5 at different locations around the globe. Information about this event, sponsored by 350.org, can be found on their website.

According to Hart, the Earth Day Fair is not about fundraising, but rather a day of awareness.  

“Our focus has never been on money,” Hart said. “Our focus is on the earth. We have no dues. We are 100 percent grass roots; volunteer run. We’re not a 501(c)(3). We’re just a bunch of people who like to promote eco-awareness.”