Tonight is a BEAUTIFUL full moon!

According to Farmersalmanac.com, this moon, the February full moon, is named....

"Full Snow Moon – Since the heaviest snow usually falls during this month, native tribes of the north and east most often called February’s full Moon the Full Snow Moon. Some tribes also referred to this Moon as the Full Hunger Moon, since harsh weather conditions in their areas made hunting very difficult."

It's a nasty cold day in February, which to me means it's time to start thinking about the garden!

I think gardening is way more fun in February than in July.  Because in July, it's TOO HOT to go outside and garden, and you sit inside in the air conditioning and feel guilty for not pulling weeds or something.  But in February, you can't do anything but plan and day dream, maybe start some seeds if you have a good window sill or a grow light.

 This year, I'm refining the plan from last year's garden.  Things got WAY too out of control.  I had plants EVERYWHERE, stringbeans hanging down that I couldn't even get to.  This year, I'm going to try a different variety of tomato.  It's gonna be GREAT.

I'm going to order some more heirloom seeds from the Victory Seed Company    - Click HERE for the link -   so I can get started.  I really like using heirloom seeds - they are old fashioned seeds that have been passed down from generation to generation, and not genetically modified or anything like that.  You can plant the seeds, and when you harvest the plants, you can save seeds from your harvest, and you don't have to buy them again the following year.  I ordered a whole lot last year, and I liked them all, and saved a bunch of seeds for this year.  All I need is that new tomato.  Although every time I read a garden catalog, I get greedy, and buy too much.

I'm thinking about putting more plants in huge pots on my patio. 

The following is from the VICTORY SEED COMPANY's web site, and it's the reason I'm into heirloom seeds, in case you were wondering:

Our Mission

Why Support the Victory Seed Company?

The primary reason for our existence as an organization is to help protect open-pollinated and heirloom seed varieties during a time when the diversity of plant life on our planet is quickly shrinking.

Regions of the planet that provided much of the genetic material for our domesticated crop plants is rapidly being destroyed or irreversibly damaged.  Additionally, in the past few years there has been a growing trend of mergers and consolidations among the seed industry.  With responsibility to shareholders as a motive, less profitable and similar seed varieties are being dropped from the seed lines of the combined companies.  In many cases, these plants are forever lost to us all.

As we witness the elimination of old varieties from other company's offerings, the emphasis of commercial unstable hybrids, and the proliferation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), we feel an urgency in our mission.

We have therefore dedicated our efforts to preserving and promoting the use of open-pollinated varieties -- old commercial releases as well as family heirlooms -- and working towards the protection of our genetically diverse horticultural heritage.  We truly believe in teaching these principals to all who have ears to learn.

 

(and NO, the Victory Seed Company isn't paying me anything for this publicity. I just felt like thinking about my gardening. That's it.) 

Anyway, C'mon, Spring! :)

 

The Iselin American Legion T. Nulty Post 471

The T. Nulty Post 471 of the American Legion commemorated Memorial Day with a beautiful ceremony at their post home on Brown Avenue in Iselin. “Memorial Day must never be forgotten,” said Commander Stanley Baum, shown here on the left. “It was an honor for us to participate in the ceremony for our brothers,” agreed his fellow Legion member Tony Orsini.


Times are tight for everyone, and the Iselin American Legion post is no exception. There have been discussions about whether the T. Nulty post can afford to keep their building. In spite of all the talk, they aren’t going anywhere yet. “We are still holding on,” said Second Vice-Commander Charles K. Paul, II. “But we need to raise money for the post to stay open, and to support the many programs we provide. We need to raise the public’s awareness, and we need new members.”

Through the years Post 471 has been an active community organization, contributing time, energy, and financial support to many worthwhile activities. Their efforts include a Blue Star Program to support veterans and the families of veterans currently serving on active duty, and volunteering at the N.J. Veterans Home at Menlo Park. The post has helped Woodbridge State School, Scouting organizations, Boys State, Girls State, and Legion Baseball; they distribute Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets to the needy of the Township, and provide scholarships for local students, and many more activities. The T. Nulty Post shows its support of the community in countless ways; and now, it needs the community to show its support of the Post.

Buy a Brick to Support the Iselin American Legion

The Post has started a “Buy a Brick” campaign. The bricks will be used to support the Post and the programs that the post provides. More information on the Brick Campaign can be found on the Post’s website HERE.

With this fundraiser, which is already underway, personalized bricks will be installed along the walkway that leads to the front entrance of the building at 25 Brown Avenue. They will be among other honored plaques, monuments and markers, and very visible to anyone entering the building.

The brick is a standard size of 4 inches by 8 inches. It can be personalized with 3 lines of text with no more than 18 to 21 characters per line, including spaces and punctuation. The cost of each brick is $75.00.

For more information, contact Charles Paul at 732-634-4174 or by email at ckpaul2@comcast.net

Are You Eligible to be an American Legion Member?

Another great way to support the American Legion is by becoming an active member, if you are eligible. Membership requirements can be found on the American Legion website, located HERE.

If you are currently on active duty, serving the United States honorably, anywhere in the world, or have served honorably during any of the following eligible war eras, you are invited to become a member of The American Legion.

• April 6, 1917 to Nov. 11, 1918 (World War I)

• Dec. 7, 1941 to Dec. 31, 1946 (World War II)

• June 25, 1950 to Jan. 31, 1955 (Korean War)

• Feb. 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975 (Vietnam War)

• Aug. 24, 1982 to July 31, 1984 (Lebanon / Grenada)

• Dec. 20, 1989 to Jan. 31, 1990 (Panama)

• Aug. 2, 1990 to today (Gulf War / War On Terrorism)

Plan a Trip for Memorial Day to the Battleship NJ!

The Battleship New Jersey is a great place to visit, and what a good way to commemorate Memorial Day! We had so much fun there when my boys were little - we attended a "camp out" on the battleship...

If you want to check out their website, you can do that HERE.

Here is info from their website:
MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY
The Battleship will remember our military brothers and sisters who made the ultimate sacrifice with a special wreath ceremony on the ship's forecastle at 11 am on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31. Members of the South Jersey Knights of Columbus, as well as veterans, will participate in this stirring ceremony, which will be capped by the casting of a wreath into the Delaware River. This event is free to attend for anyone with a tour ticket.

CAMDEN WATERFRONT SHUTTLE LAUNCHES MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
The Camden Waterfront shuttle will launch Memorial Day Weekend.   Tourists and residents in Philadelphia can enjoy accessible and affordable transportation from Independence Visitor Center on 6th and Market Streets to the Battleship and Adventure Aquarium on the Camden Waterfront for just a $2 round-trip ticket! The shuttle will run on weekends thru June 18, and will then run daily through Labor Day. The shuttle will make loops from Camden Waterfront to the Independence Visitor Center beginning at 10:45 am until 6 pm.

East Coast Greenway

Have you heard of the East Coast Greenway? It's a pretty exciting project, and it runs right through Iselin!  It's a trail that people are trying to establish that will run about 3,000 miles, from Maine to Florida.  I think it's meant primarily as a bike trail, but that doesn't stop people from hiking it, and I like to hike.

The trail is just now being built, and there are gaps in it.  But they've marked the section going through our town, so it's pretty exciting.  So far, about 20% is actually done on off road trails, according to the FAQ on the web site.

If you are interested in more information you can take a look at the web site HERE.
... or go to Merrill Park, and take a look at the information board...

Support Our Troops

Soldier’s parents list the many ways to support our troops | Woodbridge, NJ

Matt and Julie Barany are Woodbridge residents who are members of the Blue Star Family and Support Group, made up of families of service members.  They wrote a nice article that was published on Woodbridge.InJersey.com; the link is above.



From the article on Woodbridge.Injersey.com:

In our last effort to mail packages to our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, we spent more than $700. We sent packages to 35 deployed soldiers. We cannot understand why members of Congress can have free postage privileges but our deployed servicemen can't. This is why we appeal to our neighbors for their assistance.

We have repeatedly seen how enthusiastically our neighbors have responded when we have informed them of a need for our troops. It is very encouraging. If you would like to help to defray the expense of sending packages to our troops, please feel free to contact the Blue Star Family and Support Group at www.tnultypost471.org or send check payable to the Blue Star Family Support Group, c/o T. Nulty Post 471, 25 Brown Ave., Iselin, NJ 08830.

Doesn't that sound like a great way to celebrate Memorial Day? I think I'm going to send a check in a thank you card today. How 'bout you?

Posted using ShareThis