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here’s What you can do
...In Your YARD
Go native! Let the Island’s natural beauty shine through.
• Let rain sink into the yard. Don’t cover it with bricks and pavers.
• Landscape with indigenous plants, which require less water and fertilizer.
• Water plants sparingly.
• Get a soil analysis before you put any chemicals on your yard.
• Choose Bay-Friendly landscapers and products.
...In Your BOAT
Like sea captains of old, respect the waters.
• Never throw anything overboard.
• Secure bags, wrappers, and soda cans.
• If something does blow overboard, consider conducting a man overboard drill and go back for it.
• Stay away from shallows where the boat prop can tear up eelgrass.
• Remember that your boat wake can destroy fragile habitat found along the shoreline. Go slowly and enjoy the scenery.
...In your COMMUNITY
Take a walk.
• Pick up any trash or garbage you see.
• Clear out any storm drains that have collected debris.
• Talk to your neighbors about Bay-Friendly landscaping.
• Think of things that your local municipality could do. Jot them down and contact your officials.
• Ask your local grocery store to promote bring-your-own-bag programs by offering incentives.
• Refill your own water bottle. Millions of pounds of plastic are used by water bottlers. Millions of pounds of plastic go into landfills. Many of these bottles are dropped onto the land and some blow into the Bay and ocean.
• Stop junk mail.To remove your name from catalog mailing lists, go to www.dmachoice. org/consumerassistance.php or to www.catalogchoice.org
• Plan more and drive less. Make only one shopping trip per day! A recent study shows that the average family makes four dash-to-the-store trips a day, wasting millions of gallons of gasoline.
• Request and buy organically grown food.This helps encourage the many farmers who want to use nontoxic pest control techniques and fertilizers.
• Find out how open spaces such as medial strips, parks, golf courses, and retirement communities are treated for weed and pest control. Caretakers may be hurting the environment and not even know it. Research alternatives and suggest improvements.
• Put your tax dollars to work. Let governmental officials know that people who live and visit LBI want Barnegat Bay to be saved and preserved. Send a letter or email telling what you did, what you think could be improved, and why Barnegat Bay is important to you and your family. See email addresses in our Where to Get Help chapter. And don’t forget to send a copy of your email to islandbluepages@lbifoundation.org.
