Although a green, golf-course-worthy lawn has been a point of pride for many despite the challenges of irrigation and chemical weed prevention necessary to maintain it, today’s concerns about climate change and chemical exposure shift the focus from manicured lawns to nurtured greenways and drought-resistant native plantings.

The Merchantville School’s Garden Club has been making remarkable strides towards fostering environmental stewardship and education within our community. The group, led by fifth grade teacher Jennifer Smith, has engaged in several hands-on and educational activities.

This year, the Merchantville School’s Green Team is collaborating with the school’s Art Club to create an environmentally conscious art project. The team’s dedicated members have been hard at work collecting thousands of plastic bottle caps brought into each homeroom.

The idea is simple: instead of allowing these bottle caps to contribute to environmental

Electric vehicles, typically referred to as EVs, are making inroads into the automotive market, making up about 7.6% of current new car sales in the U.S. Merchantville resident Kerry Miller is an EV owner. In this article, she shares her experience as well as those of her neighbors who also drive EVs.

Existing urban and community areas are losing tree cover at a rate equivalent to approximately 36 million trees annually across the United States, according to The Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Closer to home, Merchantville continues to lose trees at an alarming rate due to flooding, drought, pests, cut roots, as well as intentional removal.

In a world where environmental concerns loom large, the most effective way to achieve sustainability is right here within our local communities. The Merchantville Co-op strives to do just that. This volunteer-led group is planning for a hometown grocery store with modern conveniences and organic options for Merchantville and its