March 5, 2026
Nature Done Wright
Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs
Time to volunteer!
When I walk in the Celery Farm, I’m surprised how often people ask questions like, "When are they going to remove that fallen tree?" Or "Why don’t they trim back the old wild rosebushes?"
I always reply with another question: "Just who is the ‘they’ you’re talking about?"
My point is simple. There is no "they" at the Celery Farm — only "we." The Celery Farm, Flat Rock Brook, the Meadowlands — northern New Jersey has many nifty places that are only as terrific as the ordinary citizens who volunteer their time and hard work make them.
Over the next few weeks, you can help make these places shine by pitching in and volunteering your time for a cleanup.
Here are a few volunteer opportunities that I have come across.
If you know of more, let me know and I will post them:
April 14 (this Saturday), 9 .am. until noon
Celery Farm Natural Area Cleanup, Allendale
Meet at 9 a.m. at the end of Greenway (off the Franklin Turnpike near Crescent Avenue) for a few hours of active conservation. We hope you will join us to spruce up the preserve (many hands make light work). Deputy Marsh Warden Mike Limatola is the coordinator. Rain Date is April 21.
Contact: Mike Limatola (mike-limatola@accessig.com)
Overpeck Creek Cleanup, Leonia
April 21, 10 a.m. -2 p.m.
Help Hackensack Riverkeeper clean the trash out of the Overpeck Creek, a major tributary of the Hackensack River. All equipment, including canoes, will be provided. Children must be supervised and must be 15 or older to paddle a canoe. Participants should bring a bottle of water, dress for the weather and plan to get dirty. Breakfast and lunch will be served, compliments of Starbucks and Whole Foods Markets. Overpeck Park, Ft. Lee Road (north side), Leonia.
Contact: Lisa Ryan (LisaRyan@HackensackRiverKeeper.org)
Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, Englewood
May 20, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Nature Day)
Nature Day is the nature center’s big spring festival. The center needs volunteers to help with various tasks during that day. You can help in the morning, afternoon, or all day. For more information, call the nature center at 201-567-1265 or visit the center’s Web site and click on the volunteers page to fill out a volunteers application and mail it the nature center.
Link: www.flatrockbrook.org
Lorrimer Sanctuary, Franklin Lakes (New Jersey Audubon)
On-going
Senior Naturalist Patrick Scheuer writes: I’m always looking for help in the visitor center. Volunteers are needed to answer phones, help customers in the gift shop, and keep our doors open while I’m busy teaching school and scout programs (which are most of the day). Lorrimer hosts several special events throughout the year such as spring plant sale, bird seed sale day, and ciderfest that need volunteers. I’m also currently looking for assistant counselors to help with my summer day camp programs (great for high schoolers!).
Contact: Patrick Scheuer (lorrimer@njaudubon.org)




