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This weekend I went home, back to rural and suburban New Jersey.  I went to a farm that was located near my house in a small town called Chester.  The farm was called Stony Hill Farm and featured a corn maze, fresh produce, and a petting zoo.  When I asked about the produce, the girl at the cash register was very informative.  She told me that Stony Hill Farms only grow certain vegetables and fruits seasonally, and sprays only in the beginning of each plant's season.  Rutgers University comes up every other week or so, I was told, to asses the health of the plants and tell the farm when to spray.  The plants are harvested at their peak and refrigerated for only one day before being transported to other farms within the county. Although not entirely organic, the farm did its part to be earth-conscious and friendly.

My personal carbon footprint was difficult to determine accurately.  I know that Septa Rail and New Jersey Transit run on electricity, but that electricity is derived, mostly likely, from coal plants.  Of course neither trains' site would answer any questions I had about energy efficiency.  Once arriving in New Brunswick, I commuted 49 miles back to Rockaway, NJ.  From Rockaway I traveled another 40 miles to and from Chester. And going back to New Brunswick was another 49 miles. So altogether, I traveled 119 miles. Unfortunately carbon footprint counters were unable to determine what my specific carbon footprint was for this trip, but I fear that it was quite hefty.