The millions of shades of green visible from the gigantic windows of the train have inspired me to think up names for the colors. I always come back to the same shade to describe New Jersey's new leaves: Gaia Green. For about two weeks each year, this lovely lime-neon hybrid color pops out of the trees before darkening to a subdued Kelly green.
It’s Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. and I am riding the RiverLINE from Cinnaminson to Trenton, NJ for the Camp Out at the Capitol, organized by the NJ Keep it Green campaign. I keep my eyes open for other pilgrims, identifiable by their hiking boots, brightly-colored signs, and t-shirts, but so far I haven’t seen any. How many people will take the day off of work or school and come out in support of the parks? 12? 120? 1200?
As I write these numbers in the diary I cross my leg man-style over my knee. Noticing my flip flops reminds me of the Sierra Club’s request for all park supporters to wear their outdoor gear. I have:
2 Reefs flip flops made from hemp, bought at a surf shop in Deerfield Beach, FL
1 Sierra Club backpack [free gift with donation]
1 peanut butter and jelly sandwich
1 cell phone
1 Nikon digital camera
1 REI blue sweatshirt with embroidery
1 clear plastic thumb ring with chipped pink flowers, a gift from my three-year-old
3 bracelets: A one.org fundraiser bracelet, one green beaded bracelet from mom-mom, one Ashes and Snow Foundation bracelet (a.k.a. a brown rope marked by two red beads)
1 mint green Moorestown EMS t-shirt, a gift from a friend who works for the company
0 Kai, my three-year-old who usually goes everywhere with me
1 pair of green North Face cargo hiking pants
1 pair of very large sunglassesWeather report: 76 degrees, blue sky caressed by puffy white clouds.
Suddenly the train stops and three people board, dressed in hiking gear and bearing a large sign that reads SAVE NEW JERSEY PARKS. In a few more minutes, the train stops in Trenton and I fall into step with these folks and a park ranger and his son who came from Cape May. We chat about the issues as we walk through Trenton.
After about 15 minutes we approach the state house, where a very large spectacle is transforming Trenton into the scene of a peaceful revolution. The first thing I notice is the sheer mass of people – there must be 500 or 600 people here! On the lawn sits a tent and as I approach to snap pictures Mark Weed introduced himself to me. He’s an avid camper from Titusville who is making his way through all of New Jersey’s parks. He’s stayed at 8 of 36 so far.
Mark and I weave through the crowd of equestrians on horseback, revolutionary war buffs in colonial costumes, high school kids wearing clever t-shirts and cheering, families with two or three children in hiking backpacks searching for shade, union works with a monstrous rat, and groups of environmentalists with cheeky, attention-snatching signs. So many people care, I thought with pride and amazement.
The history buffs stood at the center of a massive circle, yelling into a bullhorn as the crowds cheer. They’re using the language of freedom to describe how Governor Corzine is overstepping his boundaries as governor in thinking he can close the parks. “These parks are for the people, by the people!” They shout and are answered with wild cheers. Somewhere speakers blast Bob Marley music as the sun blares down hotly.
There’s a really positive vibe here. Nobody is violent or angry, everybody is hopeful and inspired.
Jeff Tittel, the director of the NJ Sierra Club, feels that the vibe and the time are right to make a statement. Here are some excerpts from his speech:
-“The parks are our legacy, for the people, by the people!”
-“The parks belong to us and no one has the right to close them!”
-“These parks are our Yosemite. They’re our Yellowstone. New Jersey is the densest state in the nation. It’s denser per square mile than Japan and China. The only thing denser is the politician in this building who wants to close the parks!”
-“Our concern is that the parks will be sold. We don’t want a Marriot at Washington Crossing!”
-“If they close anything they should close Drumthwacket!”
Jeff’s speech uplifted the energy of the crowd. After nearly every sentence he was interrupted by cheers and shouts of support. Next spoke Hetty Rosenstein, the President of CWA 1037, who represents 10,000 workerss who steward state parks, forests and historic sites. Here’s what she said:
“Recently we heard that part of the money for the parks will be restored for passive recreation. [Boos!] That is not a solution and we’re not buying it. The parks have been underfunded for years and we’re not taking it!...They want to close down swimming and camping.
Does anybody believe New Jersey can’t afford to have you pitch your tent in a forest?”
“We the people value our outdoor recreation. It’s what makes us who we are. It’s the heart and soul of the human experience....We don’t believe that New Jersey can’t afford history.”
“We want more walking on trails, not cars. We want beauty, not concrete. We want camping without the glow of the lights all around.” 
Following Hetty was Tom Semansky, 17, who said, “Out of all the places we’ve been, our favorite place to camp is right here in New Jersey.” An Eagle Scout from Boy Scout Troop #16 in Point Pleasant, Tom also said, “The state should have more sense and compassion than to cut revenue and jobs from New Jersey.”
Brenda Wolzinger, who represents the NJ/NY hiking communities of 10,000 individuals, spoke next. She warned that “200 miles of Appalachian Trail would be closed” and explained that the outdoor enthusiasts from New York are in shock over this issue, since NY has been putting more money into its parks. She spoke about the need for a long term stable source of funding and the need for volunteers to maintain trails.
Her command to “Take a hike, governor!” was met with wild applause.
The next speaker was a Molly Pitcher impersonator who spoke from the first person, as if she was Molly Pitcher. “There’s talk that the thousands who come here to use the parks will arrive to find them closed. Should the government sacrifice its history to save a relatively small amount of money? NO!” She finished by saying, “The last royal governor of New Jersey who disagreed with the people was William Franklin and he was escorted to exile in Connecticut!”
So that's what I've been up to this summer, just spending time with my veggies and my family, and working at my book publishing company. I'm so very lucky that I work for a company that is publishing a green book in September. And it's the real deal - FSC-certified (you can't imagine how much extra work it is to print a book on sustainable paper - but totally worth it!, and printed with vegetable-based inks.
