Exciting news to share! My "Parks, Plants, and Pollinators" bill has been picked up in the NJS Senate too...

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search

Assembly: A1253

Senate: S2859

Please show your support by contacting your legislators. See my earlier post for a sample letter/correspondence. Thank you!!!

Hello Fellow Beekeepers! I have been asked to provide a sample letter template you can use to contact your local Assemblyman/Assemblywoman. Please feel free to modify/tailor...

**Date**

Re: "Parks, Plants, and Pollinators" (A1253 and A1252)

Dear Assemblyman/Assemblywoman,

Native plants are an inseparable part of the natural beauty of the landscape of New Jersey and must be preserved. Parks, Plants, and Pollinators" is designed to prohibit the planting of non-native and invasive species and support the planting of native plants, shrubs, and trees in the landscaping of New Jersey State Parks and municipalities (A1253) and promote research on deer-resistant native plant species (A1252).

New Jersey has more than 2,100 native plants species that are well-adapted to NJ soils, temperatures, precipitation levels, and other environmental conditions; thereby, making these plants the best option for conserving and protecting the State’s environment. 

New Jersey’s native plant species provide food, such as nectar, pollen, seeds, foliage, and habitats, including essential shelter and nesting sites for various types of wildlife in the State. With their extensive root systems to control erosion, native plants also moderate floods and filter water to improve water quality.

Please cosponsor the Parks, Plants, and Pollinators Bills (A1253 and A1252) sponsored  by Assemblyman Alex Sauickie in the 2024/2025 session of the NJS Assembly.

The people of this State want to protect our native plants. We owe it to our children, and all future generations, to provide them the opportunity to enjoy native species and revel in the splendor of native biodiversity. As New Jerseyans, we need to secure these wonders for future generations.

I hope you will add your name to the list of cosponsors of Parks, Plants, and Pollinators (A1253 and A1252), if you have not done so already.  I urge you to cosponsor this important legislation today, and I look forward to hearing your position on this issue.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Organization]

[Address]

 

2023 NJ Honey Queen Katie Culbert

“Parks, Plants, and Pollinators”

2024/2025 NJS Assembly

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Bill A1253           Supports native plants and prohibits the planting of non-native and invasive species in landscaping at parks and municipalities

Bill A1252           Promotes research on deer-resistant native plant species

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1-Please Contact your local NJS Assembly Representatives

You can find your Assembly Representatives using the link below:

https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/publications/members/printable_roster.pdf

2-Please Also Contact the NJ Legislature Assembly Committee on “Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste”

 Kennedy, James J.(Chair)

District 22

1445 Main St.
Rahway, NJ 07065

(732) 943-2660

 Sumter, Shavonda E. (Vice-Chair)

District 35

21 Mill St., Suite 5
Paterson, NJ 07501

(973) 925-7063

Collazos-Gill, Alixon

District 27

39 South Fullerton Ave., 2nd Floor, Suite 7
Montclair, NJ 07042

(973) 509-0388

Hall, Garnet R.

District 28

511 Valley Street
Maplewood, NJ 07040

(973) 762-1886

Inganamort, Michael

District 24

One Wilson Dr., Suite 2B
Sparta, NJ 07871

(973) 300-0200

Katz, Andrea

District 8

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster/496/assemblywoman-katz/contact

Scharfenberger, Gerry

District 13

1715 Highway 35N., Suite 306
Middletown, NJ 07748

(732) 856-9294

 

Please show your support for the following "Parks, Plants, and Pollinators" bills by contacting your local Assemblyman!

• A1253: Prohibits planting of non-native species in landscaping at State parks and forests; establishes grant program to support use of native plants at local parks and forests; appropriates $250,000.

• A1252: Provides supplemental appropriation of $250,000 for Deer-Resistant Native Species Propagation at Agricultural Experiment Station.

Thanks fellow beekeepers and hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Happy New Year!!!

Just wanted to let you know that my Parks, Plants, and Pollinators bill was introduced in the NJS Senate as well as the NJS Assembly!

We have bipartisan sponsorship and support for our native plants and pollinators!

I am optimistic that both bills will be reintroduced in the 2024-2025 session, which starts next Tuesday.

NJS Assembly: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2022/A5764

NJS Senate: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2022/S4242

Inspired by my research this summer at MIT on native plants and honey bee forage, I am hopeful I can garner early support for my "Bill #A5764: Parks, Plants, and Pollinators" introduced by Assemblyman Alex Sauickie into the NJS Assembly.

Please click on this link to an article from my high school... https://www.trschools.com/community/student-led-bill-signed-by-nj-assemblyman

Please support our pollinators (especially our honey bees) and contact your NJS Assemblyman about your support of this bill (A5764: Parks, Plants, and Pollinators):

To find your district:  https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/publications/pdf/2023-NJ-Leg-District-Map.pdf

To find your Assemblyman and his/her email: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster

I am so excited to share this news!!!

After conducting research on native plants and honey bee overwintering survival at MIT this summer, I was so inspired by the results of my investigation that I reached out to NJS Assemblyman Alex Sauickie (12th district).

Native plants are an inseparable part of the natural beauty of the landscape of New Jersey and must be preserved. This legislation is designed to support the NJ-DEP use of native plants in landscaping, land management, reforestation efforts, and habitat restoration in NJS Parks and Forests by establishing a grant program to prohibit the planting of non-native and invasive plants. 

New Jersey has more than 2,100 native plant species that are well-adapted to NJ soils, temperatures, precipitation levels, and other environmental conditions; thereby, making these plants the best option for conserving and protecting the State's environment. Unfortunately, 812 native plants in NJ are listed as endangered or species of concern and 39% of native plants in NJ are considered rare with 42 species that are considered globally rare.

NJ's native plant species provide food, such as nectar, pollen, seeds, foliage, and habitats, including essential shelter and nesting sites for various types of wildlife in the State. With their extensive root systems to control erosion, native plants also moderate floods and filter water to improve water quality.

It is necessary for our State to encourage the increased cultivation of native plants and improve public awareness of their importance and benefits. Please support Bill #A5764: Parks, Plants, and Pollinators.

Thank you! Please kindly forward to anyone else you think will be interested.

Below is a link to pictures/video of the signing....

link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11ROILZrC02CBe2CydkXyDVxMbJjB7x4H?usp=sharing

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Had two busy but wonderful weekends! Great to meet families at Thompson Park in the CJBA booth and join Stiles Honey at the Great Food Expo and try the "Blazing Honey!" 

Happy Fall! I am sorry I couldn't attend the NJBA Fall Meeting in-person this past Saturday. However, I did create the following video which was shown and highlights all of my activities so far this year. I hope to see everyone next time! Katie

https://youtu.be/XXUWSHGF7f8?si=fvuiAorhDQP4FELm

I hope everyone had an amazing summer and that you are all off to a great start to the fall season!

During July and August, I had the amazing opportunity to conduct honey bee research at MIT as part of the Research Science Institute | Center for Excellence in Education. I studied native plant forage and its effect on the overwintering survival of honey bees. I also had the opportunity to investigate the effect of natural disasters on honey bee forage. My research experience culminated in a presentation to the faculty at MIT, Harvard and Nobel Laureates.

Upon my return from Cambridge, I had another amazing honey harvest at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Bee Yard in Cream Ridge in honor of National Honey Bee Day! 4-H Teens from multiple counties throughout NJ participated in hive and laboratory instruction. I was also honored with the 2023 International Young Eco Hero Award. The day’s exciting events culminated in a honey extraction and all participants were able to harvest and bring home their own jar of honey!

In celebration of World Bee Day on August 19, 2023 , I invited  NJ News 12 to my hives at Jakes Branch County Park in Beachwood, NJ. I was interviewed by Brian Donohue to raise awareness about the honey bees' pivotal role in our ecosystem and food supply.

 

It has been a world wind National Pollinator Week! I had the pleasure of honoring all pollinators, including your favorite and mine, the amazing honey bee!

My week began with a visit from Natalie Duddridge from CBS 2 NY. Ms. Duddridge came to visit me at my hives at Jakes Branch County Park. She suited up and accompanied me on a hive inspection. We were fortunate enough to find the queen on my first try. It was such an incredible opportunity to talk about and provide some insight into nature’s most important pollinator! 

The next day I organized a Honey Harvest at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Bee Yard in Cream Ridge for 4-H Teens. The day began with Ms. Olivia Glenn from the EPA presenting me with the President’s Environmental Youth Award. Eighteen teens, along with their parents, from six counties throughout NJ attended the harvest. The students accompanied Chelsea Abegg from Rutgers to the bee lab to learn about different Hymenopterans, as well as to the hives for a hive instruction and the day ended with students extracting honey. I was honored to discuss my science research on Varroa mites and thymol-based essential oils with Secretary of Agriculture, Doug Fisher, Assemblyman Alex Sauickie, and Paul Hlubik from the Department of Agriculture. Jeff Burd and my mentor, Angela Juffey, from NJBA and Dr. Brian Schilling from Rutgers also accompanied me on the day’s events. Our State Apiarist, Meghan McConnell, and Ashley Kerr from the Farm Bureau also stopped by. Ms. Abegg and I have planned another Honey Harvest for 4-H Teens on August 16^th, in honor of National Honey Bee Day! 

On Thursday, I had a live interview at NJ12 Studios with Lauren Due. It was exciting to talk to her about honey bees, the honey industry,  the NJ Honey Queen Program as well as my research. As the Pollinator Habitat Ambassador for National 4-H and Corteva Agriscience, we also discussed the importance of Native Plants and pollinator gardens.  

This weekend I will be headed off to Cambridge. I was selected to attend MIT's Research Science Institute and will be conducting honey bee research for six weeks at the MIT bee lab. I am looking forward to this remarkable opportunity! See you in August!