Green Jersey

Plenty Mag: Just 3 green hotspots in N.J.

Image via plentymag.com.

Plenty, the environmental magazine, has a guide this month to its favorite “green” hotspots from state to state — a resource for the cash-strapped ecophile who’s forgoing that “ecotourism trip to Costa Rica” for a staycation.

The article’s authors list 12 locales worth visiting in darling California, and 13 in New York. Texas — Texas! — tops the list with 15 must-see sites.

But in New Jersey, just three green spots are listed: Down to Earth, a Red Bank restaurant that has actually closed; the 132-year-old Chalfonte in Cape May; and the Nets, the first NBA team accredited as carbon-neutral.

There are so many others. We bet we could find three in a fair number of towns.

Here are some of Green Jersey’s recommendations.

The Willow School: The poster school for green building; a LEED-certified space in Gladstone that incorporates solar heating, geothermal heating and cooling, water recycling, reclaimed wood and more.

Glenmont: Thomas Edison’s estate in the Llewellyn Park section of West Orange. Sure, it’s gargantuan, but in his garage you’ll find a few of his electric cars.

The Raritan Inn: A bed and breakfast in Califon that incorporates solar, geothermal and wind energy and was born from an existing historic building.

The Camden Children’s Garden: Four acres of greenery on the Camden Waterfront courtesy of the Camden City Garden Club, which has been doing community gardening and horticultural education in Camden since 1985.

Mike Strizki’s house: A private home in the Sourland Mountains equipped with a solar-hydrogen system — the hydrogen is obtained from a solar-powered electrolyzer — that has powered the house and a hydrogen car.

Any of the state’s 4-H Fairs: Celebrations of animals, nature and agriculture.

The Whole Earth Center: Not Whole Foods (which is nearby), but Whole Earth — a place for organic, vegan and fair-trade foods and fresh veggies that’s been in Princeton forever.

The Bent Spoon: Best-tasting ice cream on the planet, and it’s made with organic and local ingredients. Also in Princeton.

The Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station: Among other things, learn how to solve your pest problems au naturale with Integrated Pest Management.

Verde Salon: The green-built beauty spot in Collingswood offers formaldehyde-free nail polishes and organic hair products served up in biodegradable, recyclable containers.

The Health Shoppe: An organic marketplace with a juice bar, free-range game (ostrich, bison, lamb, you name it) nutritional supplements and more. Biggest in Morristown, but also available in Montclair, Chester and Parsippany.

The Wetlands Institute: Promoting the conservation and protection of coastal ecosystems with programs and events. In Stone Harbor.

Wells Mills County Park: Nine hundred acres of pine and oak forest in Ocean County within New Jersey’s Pinelands. Offering hiking, a nature center and the annual Pine Barrens Jamboree in October.

Liberty State Park: The green, open backdrop for the Statue of Liberty.