Our Programs

The Northeast Earth Coalition five programs: Environmental Initiatives, Urban Growers, Community Outreach, and the Community Food Network.

This program provides complimentary workshops and training designed to inform the public about environmental issues, advance environmental stewardship, and support community-based educational initiatives. It also fosters the development and long-term sustainability of local projects, including the Montclair Backyard Habitat Project, the Northeast Pollinator Pathway, Montclair Monarch Butterfly USA, Montclair Bee City USA, the Brookdale Overlook Spring Restoration Project, the Crane Park Demonstration Garden, and the First Congregational Pollinator Garden. In addition, the program coordinates the annual conference, “Acting Locally for a More Sustainable World.”

New Jersey Pollinator Pathway

PLEASE CLICK ON THE BUTTERFLY TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROJECT AND TO REGISTER YOUR GARDEN

MONTCLAIR BEE CITY USA

Montclair Becomes a Bee City USA: A Milestone for Biodiversity

By: Jose German Gomez

NEEC Leads the Way in Pollinator Conservation and Community Engagement

On September 9, Montclair’s commitment to environmental stewardship reached a new height with the passage of the Bee City USA resolution by the Montclair Town Council. This landmark decision, strongly supported by the Northeast Environmental Education Center (NEEC), officially affiliates Montclair with the prestigious Xerces Society’s Bee City USA program—a network dedicated to fostering healthy pollinator populations and advancing ecological sustainability in communities nationwide.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR PAGE: HERE

BROOKDALE OVERLOOK SPRING RESTORATION PROJECT (BLOOMFIELD/MONTCLAIR, NJ).

Please click here for more details

COMMUNITY COMPOSTING PROGRAM

The NEEC Community Composting Program was established in June 2020 through an initial pilot initiative at the organization’s garden located at 94 Pine Street (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church). The program provides community education on composting practices and offers community members opportunities to participate in volunteer roles that sustain program activities. Composting stations have been installed in community gardens, faith-based institutions, schools, and gardening organizations. This volunteer-led initiative promotes social inclusion and empowerment, more environmentally sustainable neighborhoods, enhancement of local soil quality, enhanced food security, and greater public awareness of composting practices.

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CRANE PARK ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT

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Learn More About the Crane Park Environmental Project

The Urban Growers Program champions community vegetable gardens and local food production as powerful strategies for expanding access to fresh, healthy, organic produce for low-income families. By combining hands-on education, coaching, and ongoing support, the program equips volunteers with the knowledge and confidence to cultivate productive gardens that nourish both people and neighborhoods. Each garden also serves as an open learning space for community urban agriculture, where interns and volunteers gain practical skills in growing food while helping sustain these vital community resources. Through this work, the program supports three low-income senior residences in Montclair, with volunteers delivering fresh produce once a week and helping ensure that nutritious local food reaches residents who need it most.

This program serves as a catalyst for inclusive social engagement, bringing together environmental advocates, community groups, public schools, elected officials, public servants, and partner organizations around a shared commitment to sustainability. Through strategic partnerships, educational support, free workshops, and public presentations, the program creates meaningful opportunities for residents to connect, learn, collaborate, and take collective action. By strengthening civic participation and expanding community service, the program helps build a more informed, united, and empowered community. It also advances local advocacy by supporting legislation that protects the environment and promotes a more sustainable future for all.

The Free Little Food Pantry Project is grassroots, community-powered response to immediate local food needs, offering both a source of nourishment for neighbors and a meaningful opportunity for residents to give. Through a growing network of mini pantries, the program helps feed individuals and families, strengthens neighborhood connections, and builds a culture of care and shared responsibility. Launched in October 2020 as an initiative of the Community Outreach Program, the project was inspired by the urgent food insecurity experienced by individuals and families during the pandemic. As the program expanded, NEEC developed partnerships with houses of worship and now collaborates with 14 churches and synagogues to operate this vital service. Today, the program reaches thousands of people facing food insecurity, relying entirely on individual donations rather than public funding. Each year, more than 225 volunteers help distribute over 300,000 pounds of dry and canned food through 18 locations across five towns, with pantries available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For additional information about the pantry project and locations, please follow this link: FREE LITTLE PANTRY PROJECT

Interested in knowing more about our programs? Please contact us at: Info@neearth.org