Chatham Borough Environmental Commission

06/05/2026

06/05/2026

Thank you, Chatham Jaycees, for your support of the new Biodiversity Garden at Borough Hall and the Borough Police Department.

We were honored to be recognized last night at the Jaycees annual dinner, alongside so many other groups making a positive difference in our community.

This project replaces traditional, landscaping with native trees, shrubs, and grasses that reduce turf, lower maintenance needs, support birds and pollinators, and create a more attractive and educational public space for residents and visitors. The grant money will be used to provide signage and plant markers at the garden.

06/03/2026

BE QUIET THIS SUMMER!

Four local towns are launching a Quiet Summer initiative from June -September 2026. (See details below).

Let's sit outside and enjoy ourselves this summer, breathe deeply, relax in nature, and allow our children and pets to play quietly and safely.

Please join our voluntary program designed to reduce noise pollution and exhaust emissions by pausing gas-powered leaf blowers June through September in the Chathams.

One of your neighbors posted in Neighbor News. Click through to read what they have to say. (The views expressed in this post are the author’s own.)

06/03/2026

https://patch.com/new-jersey/chatham/enjoy-sounds-summer-quiet-summer-chatham-township-borough-environmental-commissi-nodx?utm_source=share-link&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=share

One of your neighbors posted in Neighbor News. Click through to read what they have to say. (The views expressed in this post are the author’s own.)

05/30/2026

A giant of local environmental activism, John Landau shared his wisdom and passion for conservation with so many of us. John’s impact in revitalizing Foote’s Pond and the establishment of the GSWA Native Plant Sale are part of his legacy. Our condolences to Susan Landau and John’s family and friends.

Naturalist, mentor and retired telecommunications executive helped transform local habitat preservation efforts.

05/28/2026

Do you have this on your property? Garlic Mustard is in bloom now and is taking over our local ecosystem.

It comes up easily, because it has a small root system so please pull it and bag it as trash - do not compost or take to the mulch area.

05/28/2026

Last year, the EC wrote and was awarded a grant from NJ Board of Public Utilities for Chatham to prepare a Community Energy Plan.

One of the action items is a survey asking residents a few questions about the adoption of clean energy.

There are a few days left to take the survey and I'm writing to ask you to do so - if you are a Borough resident.

It's a bit clunky, especially with the way the text wraps left - but we would really appreciate 5 minutes of your time!

Help shape our clean energy future!The Environmental Commission is seeking input on which clean energy actions should be prioritized in our community.
Take the survey today: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N2PRHPK --

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

05/18/2026

The spring ephemera and other early bloomers’ time is over for this year, the Trout Lilies are gone, the May Apples have finished flowering, and the Virginia Bluebells and Jacob’s Ladders are going over, but…

In the native garden, the spring dance of bold colors is attracting bees and hummingbirds with many more about to burst into flower. And yes! New Jersey has a native cactus - the Eastern Prickly Pear.

Native plants support the biodiversity of our environment by attracting butterflies, which breed caterpillars, which feed birds, which feed raptors, and so on.

You can help nature find its equilibrium by reducing light pollution outside, don’t spray chemicals, leave the leaf litter under your trees, avoid over mowing, and pull out the invasive plants.

05/15/2026

Take our community survey to help shape our clean energy future. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N2PRHPK

05/12/2026

Join us this Saturday for our 20th Season — New Hours!

This is a soft opening as the Silver Lake Farms will be joining us when the produce is ready. But Zell's Farm will be here with fresh mushrooms along with other new vendors and old favorites!