Still Time for Joy

Do you know how maple syrup is made? Recently visitors to the New Jersey Forest Resource Education Center in Jackson Township, NJ, learned all about the fascinating process. At the Sugar Shack, Roger Smith, a seasonal naturalist at NJ FREC, talked about tapping sugar maples for sap, which is then boiled down on an evaporator.
Participants even sampled the pure, maple syrup on small pancakes, before embarking on an hour-long trek through the forest, to learn about wildlife, various tree species, and the importance of taking care of natural resources.
Visit the website of the New Jersey Forest Resource Education Center to find out about the many recreational opportunities and programs it offers: https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/conservation/forest-resource-education-center/
Sandra Levine Productions: https://sandralevine.com/

Watch "Still Time for Joy" as a video podcast on YouTube @SandraLevineProd

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, based in Denver, Colorado, celebrates Random Acts of Kindness Day every February 17th. A recent interview I did with the vice president of the foundation inspired me to create a list of 12 Kind Ideas for you to try today, or any day, that come from the foundation's 2026 Kindness Calendar. 
You can download the calendar--and lots of other resources--for free from the foundation's website https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/
Sandra Levine Productions https://sandralevine.com/

Watch "Still Time for Joy" as a video podcast on YouTube @SandraLevineProd

A random act of kindness can be as simple as holding the door for the person behind you, or writing a heartfelt note of gratitude. Brooke Jones is vice president of the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, based in Denver, Colorado. Jones explains the science behind the mood boost that comes with being kind: an increase in levels of the brain's feel-good chemicals, including dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin.  Not only does being kind make you feel good, it benefits the recipient of the kind act, and even people witnessing it.
The RAK Foundation's mission is to "Make Kindness the Norm" through three areas of focus: Kindness in schools, the workplace, and the home. The foundation's curricula and ideas are being implemented in countries around the world.
In this interview, Jones shares candidly about how acts of kindness during two traumatic times in her life, helped her tremendously.
Random Acts of Kindness week begins February 15th, 2026, and February 17th, 2026 is Random Acts of Kindness Day.
The RAK website is packed with free resources at https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/
Sandra Levine Productions https://sandralevine.com/

Watch "Still Time for Joy" as a video podcast on YouTube @SandraLevineProd

In late January 2026, large swaths of the United States were blanketed for more than ten days in snow and ice, making it difficult for wildlife to find food and water. In this episode of “Still Time for Joy”, we talk about the best ways to help songbirds with Josh Gant,  president of the Atlantic Audubon Society in New Jersey, at the Jersey Shore.
Gant, who is a naturalist at Wells Mills County Park, in Waretown, New Jersey, says while many birds will survive these conditions on their own, people who want to give them a little help can provide both food and water—the right way.
Black oil sunflower seeds, suet, and peanuts are all good choices for food. To keep water from freezing, try heated water bowls, or place a heating element in a birdbath. Keep the water shallow or partially cover the top to prevent birds from bathing in the water. If a bird's feathers are damaged, water can stick to its body and quickly freeze, making it difficult, if not impossible, for the bird to fly.
Supply fresh water daily. Birdbaths and feeders must be cleaned with water and a very light bleach solution—less frequently in winter, and at least once per week in warmer weather.

Atlantic Audubon Society https://www.atlanticaudubon.org/
Ocean County Parks https://oceancountyparks.org/
Sandra Levine Productions  https://sandralevine.com/

Watch "Still Time for Joy" as a video podcast on YouTube @SandraLevineProd

The Jersey Shore Chapter of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey held an informative workshop on Winter Sowing at Jakes Branch County Park in Beachwood, New Jersey, in January 2026.
Ellen Silverman, a member of both the Native Plant Society of New Jersey and the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Ocean County, provided expert tips on how to jump-start your garden with winter sowing.
Steps include gathering plastic jugs, creating drainage holes, cutting the jugs almost all the way around, adding soil and water, labeling the jugs, sprinkling on (ideally) native seeds, taping the jugs closed, and putting them outside for the winter.
The seeds used require cold stratification to bring them out of dormancy. The jugs protect the seeds from birds, chipmunks, mice, and other wildlife. 
In the spring, gardeners will separate the hardy seedlings and put them in pots or in the ground. Growing plants in this way is much less expensive than purchasing seedlings from a store.
Growing native plants both beautifies your yard and benefits local wildlife.
Native Plant Society of New Jersey  https://npsnj.org/
Sandra Levine Productions https://sandralevine.com/

Watch "Still Time for Joy" as a video podcast on YouTube @SandraLevineProd

Do you want to help butterflies, birds, and bees thrive, and help mitigate some of the damage we've done to Mother Earth? Master Arborist, Basil Camu, wrote "From Wasteland to Wonder: Easy Ways We Can Help Heal Earth in the Sub/Urban Landscape" to provide practical ways everyone can do their part to help the planet. He is so committed to this work, he is offering the book to everyone for free. 
After Camu began working in his family's tree service business, Leaf and Limb, in Raleigh, North Carolina, he realized cutting down trees was doing massive harm to the environment. He and his father, Colin, made the radical decision to stop cutting down trees, and concentrate on structural pruning, instead.
In this interview, Camu explains the difference between dirt and soil, and offers tips on improving soil health, reducing the size of lawns, creating meadows and pocket forests, and substituting compost for harmful chemicals.
Project Pando, a nonprofit Camu founded, engages people in collecting native seeds, which are then grown into saplings, and given away for planting.
Camu calls himself a "treecologist" and a "Wizard of Things"; through extensive reading and taking action, he's working to do his part to preserve nature for his children and generations to come.
Project Pando https://www.leaflimb.com/project-pando/
"From Wasteland to Wonder" https://www.leaflimb.com/wonder/
Sandra Levine Productions https://sandralevine.com

Watch "Still Time for Joy" as a video podcast on YouTube @SandraLevineProd

Working in law enforcement can be among the most stressful jobs: police respond to traumatic situations including fatal motor vehicle accidents, suicides, shootings, fires, domestic violence, and much more. For more than 25 years, a peer support program called Cop2Cop has provided expert help to New Jersey police officers and their families. The phones are staffed by men and women who have retired from careers in law enforcement, so they truly understand callers' concerns. 
In this episode, we talk to Retired Correctional Police Captain David Weiss, who has worked for Cop2Cop for 11 years. He has found his calling as both a peer support specialist and peer recovery specialist, helping officers deal with the trauma of the job, as well as addiction issues.
Help can also be received via chat and email.  Visit https://njcop2cop.com/
The 24/7 hotline is 1-866-COP2COP, or 1-866-267-2267.
Cop2Cop is housed at the Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care National Call Center, along with several other hotlines.
Sandra Levine Productions https://sandralevine.com/

Watch "Still Time for Joy" as a video podcast on YouTube @SandraLevineProd

Working towards protecting the environment, feeding the hungry, and taking care of our loved ones, not only does good in the world, so often it makes the person helping feel good, too.
As the new year begins, take a look at this episode of "Still Time for Joy", full of wisdom from some of our favorite guests of the podcast during 2025. They talk about finding purpose and meaning in pitching in to work towards addressing a variety of issues. Guests represent HorseSense Therapeutic Center, Best Friends Animal Society, Move for Hunger, dementia caregiving, American Littoral Society, Cattus Island County Park, A Walk On Water, Atlantic Audubon Society, Rutgers Master Gardeners of Ocean County, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County, and CAREing for Children.
Sandra Levine Productions https://sandralevine.com/

Watch "Still Time for Joy" as a video podcast on YouTube @SandraLevineProd

CAREing for Children is a small, nonprofit in Ocean County at the New Jersey Shore, that provides food and toys around the holidays to families in need. CFC President Barbara Farley says if you see a problem in your community that needs addressing, just start! 
CFC, like many nonprofits, holds a yearly golf outing to raise funds to support its mission. This year, CFC had just 8 weeks to organize its event, that remarkably netted more than $22,000. In this podcast, Farley provides tips on making this type of fundraiser successful.
Established organizations, like the Salvation Army and church food pantries that deliver the food and toys provided by CFC say they are very grateful for the supplies. The groups all note that in recent years they've seen tremendous growth in the need.
CAREing for Children is a 501(c)3 started by members of the Ocean County Business Association, a business networking group at the New Jersey Shore.
CAREing for Children https://careingforchildrenj.com/
Ocean County Business Association https://oceancountybusinessassociation.com/
Sandra Levine Productions https://sandralevine.com/

Watch "Still Time for Joy" as a video podcast on YouTube @SandraLevineProd

Tina Coetzee was looking for a way to keep her 77-year-old father, Chris Taylor, who lives with Alzheimer's disease, happily occupied. She handed him a paint brush and changed his life. Taylor, who had been struggling with severe emotional outbursts in recent months, now paints every day, and, with the help of new medications, is feeling much better.
     Taylor's vibrant paintings are attracting a lot of attention, with some fans even expressing interest in purchasing them. Selling the artwork was never the point; the idea is to help Taylor find peace and purpose. Coetzee creates outlines on canvases with permanent marker as the basis for her father's paintings. She encourages other caregivers to give artwork a try, as a calming activity for people living with dementia.
     Coetzee took early retirement to become a full-time caregiver for her parents, living in the Free State province in South Africa. In this interview, she talks openly about the intense challenges of caregiving.
     Still, she considers helping her parents to be a privilege; they immediately came to her aid a few years ago when her fiancee was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, and helped her until he passed away eight moths later.

Sandra Levine Productions  https://sandralevine.com/

Watch "Still Time for Joy" as a video podcast on YouTube @SandraLevineProd