S.A.V.E.TM Birdseed Available Dec.4

On Saturday, December 4, New Jersey Audubon (NJA) will deliver additional inventory of its green, sustainable, Jersey Grown S.A.V.E.TM Birdseed to retailers, farmer's markets and NJA stores throughout the state of New Jersey.

(This is a follow-up article to the one posted earlier this month - the original posting is available here.)

NJA Nature Stores will also offer a number of new holiday gift specials and unique ideas – perfect for the beginner naturalist, bird-lover or hard-to-gift person on your list.

The S.A.V.E.TM Birdseed has been available for purchase since October 2, which was the NJA's first "Sale Day" for the seed. The time period surrounding these Sale Days is optimal for purchasing the birdseed, however, for best availability and freshness; as the seed being delivered for the December 4 Sale Day was harvested as recently as the end of October. December 4 will be the second of three seed delivery dates during the 2010-2011 growing season. The seed will be available while supplies last; however, due to the anticipated high demand for the product, especially during the holiday gift giving season, the NJA encourages consumers to purchase their birdseed as close to the December 4 date as possible. Online pre-orders, placed through www.njaudubon.org by November 20, will also be available for pick-up at designated NJA centers throughout the state on this Sale Day.

S.A.V.E.TM Birdseed is available for onsite purchase at NJA centers in Franklin Lakes (Bergen County), Ringwood (Passaic County), Bernardsville (Somerset County), Mount Holly (Burlington County), Cape May/Cape May Courthouse (Cape May County) and Plainsboro (Middlesex County).

The birdseed is also available for purchase at these participating retailers throughout New Jersey: Wild Birds Unlimited stores in Red Bank (Monmouth County), Sewell (Gloucester County), Cherry Hill (Camden County) and Toms River (Ocean County); Wild Bird Center in West Caldwell (Essex County); Agway in Raritan/Hillsborough (Somerset County); Greenland Landscape Company in Paramus (Bergen County); Sergeantsville Grain and Feed in Sergeantsville (Hunterdon County); and Pet Agree Pets in Manahawkin (Ocean County).

Brodhecker Farms in Newton, NJ (Sussex County), Raj Sinha of Liberty Farms in Sandyston, NJ (Sussex County), and Laine Farm in Hillsborough, NJ (Somerset County) are participating farmers who will also sell it from their farm stands.

The third and final "Sale Day" for the 2010-2011 S.A.V.E.TM Birdseed program is Saturday, February 12, 2011.

The sunflowers, from which this birdseed was harvested, were planted by New Jersey farmers who are cooperating with New Jersey Audubon to produce certified Jersey Grown birdseed – the first product marketed under the NJ Audubon's S.A.V.E.TM brand (Support Agricultural Viability and the Environment). The S.A.V.E.TM initiative promotes the production of agricultural products that are economically and ecologically sustainable. Revenue from the birdseed benefits New Jersey farmers and directly supports NJA's conservation mission. For every 5 acres planted for birdseed, NJA manages and maintains one acre of grassland habitat for threatened and endangered birds.

And, because it is grown locally, S.A.V.E.TM Birdseed eliminates the need for extensive use of fossil fuels in transit, thus reducing its carbon footprint. In addition, the project partners are using an experimental cultivation technique that may capture atmospheric carbon and lock it into the soil.

For all these reasons, this birdseed makes a great gift idea; while you're buying a gift to give, you're also giving back the birds, the local economy and the environment.

Other new and unique gift ideas are now being offered at NJA Nature Stores throughout the state including:

GET INTO BIRD WATCHING KIT– $89 ($70 savings-supplies limited-member discount does not apply; offer valid December 1-31, 2010)
Nikon Action 7x35 Binoculars
Kaufman's Field Guide to Birds
New Jersey Audubon Membership

BIRD FEEDING PACKAGE – $59 ($40 savings-supplies limited; member discount does not apply; offer valid December 1-31, 2010)
Droll Yankee Sunflower or Mixed Seed Feeder
Bill Thompson's 'Identifying & Feeding Birds'
25 lb. Jersey Grown S.A.V.E.TM Sunflower Birdseed
New Jersey Audubon Membership
(not available at Sandy Hook Nature Store)

THE NEW NJA GIFT CARD
New to the Nature Stores' offerings this year is the NJA Gift Card. Available in any value up to $250, the card can be redeemed for merchandise or programs at any NJA Nature Store. Additional money can be added to the card at any time. This is truly a gift of nature that will give all year round.

BUY 3 BOOKS AND SAVE 15% (December 1-31, 2010)

Nature books are in great supply at all the NJA Centers. This special offer will allow you to gift a great read to one or more people on your list and save.

For more information about the S.A.V.E.TM sunflower seed project, to see a full list of NJA centers, retailers and farmers or for a printable form for preorders of S.A.V.E.TM Birdseed, please visit www.njaudubon.org.