| Caring for God's Creation Some of the displays at St. Mary’s Environmental Expo: Environment-friendly gardening: Master Gardeners of Monmouth County gave information regarding alternatives to toxic chemicals used in the home. They advised using homemade cleaners instead of using toxic sprays. For example—to get rid of ants use dried hot chili peppers or cream of tartar or to create your own copper clean, combine vinegar, lemon, juice, and salt. Composting: Rutgers University Cooperative Extension Service and Brookdale Community College provided informational handouts for home gardeners who want to make safe compost heaps. Know your watershed: St. Mary’s Environmental Committee made this display with the help of the Freehold Soil Conservation District. The district provided fact sheets illustrating how water runs down into the local lake and picks up all kinds of debris along the way. Backyard birding: This display featured various kinds of birdhouses, types of seed that different birds eat, and a telescope for bird watching at a great distance. Testing the Waters: This display informed parishioners about a program that St. Mary’s volunteers do in conjunction with the Monmouth County New Jersey Volunteer Water Quality Testing Program. These volunteers collect regular samples from streams and bodies of water to help monitor the water quality throughout the county. |