Sustainability in the community

You’ve got garden questions, we’ve got answers!

Reach out if you need help with:

• vegetable or fruit gardening
• tree care
• plant pests and diseases
• weed and insect ID and control

Email: mastergardeners@co.middlesex.nj.us or call 732-398-5220 with your name and town of residence. Include a detailed description of the problem in the email and any photos that would be helpful.

Our July Sustainability Spotlight is Mark Lesko, a 50 year Highland Park resident and member of SHP, who for for over 14 years has organized community clean-ups across town. Read more.

Have a resident, business, or organization you think should be featured for next month’s Sustainability Spotlight? Nominate them here.

Our June Sustainability Spotlight is Emma Shannon, a junior at Highland Park High School. Read more.

Have a resident, business, or organization you think should be featured for next month’s Sustainability Spotlight? Nominate them here.

We are heartbroken by the passing of our former Chair, Tina Weishaus. Tina dedicated her life to pushing the world toward justice with heart, persistence, and vision. She passed peacefully on May 28, 2025, surrounded by family. We honor her extraordinary legacy of sustainability, equity, and community. She will be deeply missed. Tina was honored by Sustainable Jersey as a Sustainability Hero for her impactful leadership with Sustainable Highland Park. Read the full piece here.

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve been awarded the Highland Park Park Partners Grant for our Raritan Avenue Rain Gardens Revitalization Project, submitted by Mark Lesko, Josephine O’Grady, and Chris Perez! This grant will help us restore the rain gardens’ ability to manage stormwater, add beautiful native plants, and create hands-on volunteer opportunities for our community. Thank you to everyone who supported this effort. We can’t wait to get started and share more!

Thanks to a partnership between Sustainable Highland Park, the Highland Park Public Library, the Good Earth Community Garden, and Raíces Cultural Center EcoCulture, the Seed Library is now open for donations and free seed sharing. Donate or pick up seeds from native plants, fruits, and vegetables at the library or during SHP tabling events. Learn more and see donation guidelines.

Our first sustainability spotlight is the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership (LRWP), a non-profit organization whose mission is to restore, enhance, and conserve the natural resources of “New Jersey Watershed Management Area 9” (the Lower Raritan Watershed) through science-based stewardship, education, and innovation. Read more.

Have a resident, business, or organization you think should be featured for next month’s Sustainability Spotlight? Nominate them here.

Members of Sustainable Highland Park, the Board of Health, and the Environmental Commission have joined together to form the Borough’s Gas Leaf Blower (GLB) Task Force. The group is exploring community and environmental concerns related to gas-powered leaf blowers and identifying ways to promote healthier, cleaner, and quieter landscaping options. The GLB Task Force held one public information session at the library and is planning additional public meetings. The Task Force encourages residents to fill out this survey to provide feedback on this issue. For more information, please email us.

There are several reasons to skip the gas-powered leaf blower. More information and alternatives here.