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Rutgers Volunteers Also Will Ready Newark Conservancy Gardens

For the seventh year, Earth Day will bring together volunteers from the Rutgers community in Newark for two days of “green” service to the campus and the city. WHAT/WHEN:  

  • On WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20 (rain date: Wednesday, April 27), volunteers will weed and “prep” gardens on the Norman Samuels Plaza, in front of the Aidekman Research Center, then plant native flowers and plants that are wildlife-friendly. They will work under the direction of Rutgers Associate Prof. Claus Holzapfel, a plant ecologist who specializes in the creation of urban “wildlands.”  12:30 – 2 p.m. and 2:30 – 4 p.m.
  • On THURSDAY APRIL 21 (rain date: April 28), volunteers will pitch in to weed, rake, plant and prepare compost at the Greater Newark Conservancy’s Urban Environmental Center, 10:30 a.m. –noon and 1 – 2:30 p.m.

 WHO: Volunteer students, faculty and staff 

 WHERE:

  •  Wednesday, April 20: Norman Samuels Plaza, with entrances from University Avenue and from the Paul Robeson Campus Center at 350 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
  • Thursday April 21, Greater Newark Conservancy’s Urban Environmental Center, Springfield Avenue and Prince Street, Newark.   

BACKGROUND: Earth Day allows the Rutgers family to give back to the community by making Newark more “green.”  Rutgers volunteers planted these gardens on past Earth Days to help demonstrate sustainable gardening and create bird- and butterfly-friendly habitats on campus, a green oasis in Newark’s concrete canyons. Students also learn how to become environmental stewards. 

INFORMATION: http://www.newark.rutgers.edu/earthday