The Providential Gardener

Providential Gardener Environment Guides

At the recent 2010 RI Spring Flower & Garden Show, The Providential Gardener launched a new logo for What Grows On in Rhode Island, and a new series of Environment Guides. The Guides will cover different aspects of Rhode Island's environment and how to be in the Know about local green happenings. The first Guide also features the partners who joined us at the Show.

• Guide No. 1 ~ Our Common Good & Our Ecosystem

New Feature for What Grows On in RI ~ RI Environmental Feeds

Today I've published a quick and dirty demo site, Rhode Island Environmental Feeds. Even though it's incomplete, it may be useful to some of you, so I've made it go live. It's up to date today, although it might not update regularly each day hence without my pushing a button I may forget to push, but if you go to the actual blogs that interest you, you'll see the latest posts. I'm working on the glitch that's keeping the feeds from automatically updating on RI Environmental Feeds ~ for now this "is what it is."

There are so many news feeds that have to do with Rhode Island's environment that it's high time to make categorized feeds of these feeds. What is that, you say? Other people have explained this well, and Google and Wikipedia can help you find what others have written about RSS and "feeds" ~ but trust me, RSS is a GOOD THING! You'll usually see a little icon that means a website is RSS enabled.

Lots of groups, such as Blithewold, Projo, Audubon, and Save the Bay publish blogs, or blog-like websites. The URI Master Gardeners just started a blog called Digging Rhode Island, and I'm hearing about so many others ~ I can't keep up with the news myself! Having categorized feeds of the feeds is helpful to me, and I hope you find them useful. Send suggestions for making this service even more useful.

I am working on a new website, and I don''t have time to flesh all of this out right now, but if you know of feeds that should be added to this mashup, let me know and I'll get them in as soon as I can.

Meanwhile, if you have anything to do with any organization that covers Rhode Island's environment, look into enabling RSS on your own website so that others can subscribe and redistribute your info automatically and easily.

News from Providence Neighborhood Planting Program

 A True Environmental Steward Leaves Her Mark

After almost eight years of dedicated service, Jennifer Cole is stepping down from her role as Director of the Providence Neighborhood Planting Program this month and relocating to Virginia.  At a farewell party held in her honor this past Wednesday the 6th, the city awarded Ms Cole three commendations for her work. 

During her time at PNPP, Ms Cole organized the planting of at least 3000 trees, won a RI Tree Council award for community outreach, and worked through personnel changes in both the City Parks Superintendent and the City Forester positions.  Outside of her work at PNPP, Ms Cole has also helped to open the Conservation Law Foundation office where she worked for four years on urban environmental advocacy issues.  In addition, she served for five years as a Mayoral appointed member of the City Planning Commission.  Ms Cole has said that she is very proud of the impact she has had on incoming developers, who now frequently present their landscaping plan first to the City Planning Commission when making development proposals.  Here are her thoughts on leaving; "I’m not sure what I'll be doing next and I can only hope it is as fulfilling and valuable to the community as my time with the PNPP has been.  I am looking forward to a new city and new challenges but I will be leaving pieces of my heart in Providence, kept safe with friends and a legacy of important work.  I will miss the city, and its great potential, dearly."

New Director for PNPP

Stepping in as the new Director of PNPP is Liz Downing.  Downing grew up in Providence and received her BS in Environmental Science and Management from the University of Rhode Island.  She has run her own ecologically friendly garden maintenance, design and installation business for the past 5 years as a means of developing scarce wildlife habitat within the human habitat. Ms Downing is “excited to expand the scale of my work to citywide reforestation, honored to walk in the footsteps of those who created this program and to work alongside the Providence residents who join together to manifest our city’s full potential.”

Contact information:
Providence Neighborhood Planting Program c/o Groundwork Providence, Inc.
8 Third Street
Providence RI 02906
401-351-6440 x13

What's Happening ~ August 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Here's some of what's growing on in Rhode Island during the next few days:

Thu Aug 9, 2007

3pm	Providence Farmers' Market (Armory Park)
4pm	Warren Farmers' Market
6pm	Seeds of Hope Garden Tour
6pm	Wine and [David Austin] Roses
6:30pm	Festivities at Donigian Park

Fri Aug 10, 2007

9am	Warwick Farmers' Market
11am	Providence Farmers' Market (Downtown)
2pm	Bristol Farmers' Market

Sat Aug 11, 2007

8:30am	URI South Kingston Farmers' Market
9am	Ben Utter Trail in Late Summer
9am	Burrillville Farmers' Market
9am	Coastal Growers Market in Saunderstown
9am	Middletown Aquidneck Growers' Market
9am	Pawtuxet Village (Cranston) Farmers' Market
9am	Providence Farmers' Market (Broad St)
9am	Scituate Farmers' Market
9:30am	Propagating Roses: Rhode Island Rose Society Monthly Meeting
9:30am	Providence Farmers' Market (Hope High)
10am	Nature Walk
10am	Soil Testing Events ~ Rhode Island
10am	URI East Farm Veggie Open House
11am	332nd Annual Narragansett Indian Tribe Pow Wow
11am	Garden Insects for Kids
11am	Providence Open Market
12pm	Garden Design & Tour
12:30pm	New England Carnivorous Plant Society

Sun Aug 12, 2007

8am	Garden Guys Radio Show
9am	Narragansett Farmers' Market
12pm	Pawtucket Farmers' Market

Mon Aug 13, 2007

7am	Shorebird Trip
9:30am	Woonsocket Farmers' Market
10am	IPANE-Invasive Graminoid Workshop
4pm	Providence Farmers' Market (University Heights)
4pm	Providence Farmers' Market (Waterman St)

Tue Aug 14, 2007

8am	Audubon Bird Walks
2pm	Lincoln Farmer's Market
2pm	Providence Farmers' Market (Wickenden St)
5:30pm	Gardening with Wildlife Session

Wed Aug 15, 2007

	Washington County Fair
9am	Block Island Farmers' Market
2pm	East Providence/Barrington Farmers' Market
2pm	Newport Aquidneck Growers' Market
6pm	One Gardener's Obsession: An Intimate Tour of a Private Garden
6:30pm	Sierra Club Film Series
7pm	Greek Island Canapés ~ An Audubon Bay Cruise

What's Happening ~ August 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Here's some of what's growing on in Rhode Island for the next few days:

Fri Aug 3, 2007

9am	Warwick Farmers' Market
11am	Providence Farmers' Market (Downtown)
2pm	Bristol Farmers' Market

Sat Aug 4, 2007

8:30am	URI South Kingston Farmers' Market
9am	Burrillville Farmers' Market
9am	Coastal Growers Market in Saunderstown
9am	Middletown Aquidneck Growers' Market
9am	Pawtuxet Village (Cranston) Farmers' Market
9am	Providence Farmers' Market (Broad St)
9am	Salt Marsh Birding at Quonochontaug Breachway
9am	Scituate Farmers' Market
9:30am	Providence Farmers' Market (Hope High)
10am	Build a Stone Terrace or Path
10am	Cooking Workshop at Boesch Farm
10am	Preserving the Vegetable Harvest
11am	Providence Open Market
1pm	Preserving the Herbal Harvest
7pm	Fiesta Verde: Fundraiser for Aquidneck Island Land Trust

Sun Aug 5, 2007

8am	Birding on the Flats at Charlestown Breachway
8am	Garden Guys Radio Show
9am	Narragansett Farmers' Market
12pm	Pawtucket Farmers' Market
1pm	Art Show Opening and Auction to Benefit the Environment

Mon Aug 6, 2007

9:30am	Woonsocket Farmers' Market
4pm	Providence Farmers' Market (University Heights)
4pm	Providence Farmers' Market (Waterman St)

Tue Aug 7, 2007

8am	Audubon Bird Walks
2pm	Lincoln Farmer's Market
2pm	Providence Farmers' Market (Wickenden St)
5:30pm	Healthy Vegetables Session
6:30pm	Blackstone River Advocacy Training

Wed Aug 8, 2007

9am	Block Island Farmers' Market
2pm	East Providence/Barrington Farmers' Market
2pm	Newport Aquidneck Growers' Market
5pm	Display Garden Soirée: A Feast for the Senses
6:30pm	Donigian Park (Providence) Garden Club
7pm	Summer Hors d’oeuvres from the Garden ~ An Audubon Bay Cruise

What's Happening ~ August 1, 2, 3

Here's what's growing on in Rhode Island during the next few days. Especially note Veggin' Out at the Farmers' Market at Haines State Park in East Providence/Barrington, and the Rhode Island Local Food Fest in Newport, sponsored by Farm Fresh Rhode Island at Castle Hill.

Wed Aug 1, 2007

8:30am	RINLA SUMMER MEETING
9am	Block Island Farmers' Market
9:30am	Worksite Partners Summer Program - Volunteers Needed
2pm	East Providence/Barrington Farmers' Market
2pm	Newport Aquidneck Growers' Market
3pm	Veggin' Out
4pm	Rhode Island Local Food Fest
7pm	Northern Rhode Island Conservation District Monthly Meeting

Thu Aug 2, 2007

3pm	Providence Farmers' Market (Armory Park)
4pm	Warren Farmers' Market

Fri Aug 3, 2007

9am	Warwick Farmers' Market
11am	Providence Farmers' Market (Downtown)
2pm	Bristol Farmers' Market

First Annual "Iron Chef" Competition

From Farm Fresh Rhode Island:

PROVIDENCE, RI – Farm Fresh Rhode Island is excited to host the 1st
Annual Iron Chef Competition. The event will be held at the Downtown
Farmers’ Market on Friday, July 27th from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. Chefs from
several area restaurants will compete for the title of Providence Iron
Chef 2007.      The secret ingredients to be used during the competition
will be locally grown, seasonal fruits or vegetables decided by Farm
Fresh Rhode Island. The produce will be donated by farmers with booths
at the Friday market. Chefs will only be told what the ingredients are
at the start of the competition. They will then have one hour to
prepare an appetizer, entrée, or dessert of their choice. The guest
judge is Jen from Jen’s Dish who broadcasts a weekly live radio show
all about food (www.wnri.com). A “People’s Choice” award will also be
determined by a ballot vote; everyone who attends the event is welcome
to sample dishes and vote for their favorite. Fresh fruits, vegetables,
and other locally produced foods are available each week at Farmers’
Markets. Apart from being delicious, these foods are key parts of a
healthy diet. Using Farmers’ Markets also helps preserve Rhode Island’s
agricultural community. Come see what it’s all about! For additional
information on the 1st Annual Iron Chef Competition or a list of the
day, time, and location of various Farmers’ Markets, visit Farm Fresh
Rhode Island at www.farmfreshri.org.  You can also email Jessica Gordon
at jessica@farmfreshri.org.

Projo Digest, July 16, 17, 18, 19

About This Series ~ What You Read or Missed in the Providence Journal Recently.... [you might find these articles at www.projo.com if you missed them]

Monday, July 16, 2007    

• A1 ~ Costs stymie efforts to cut gas emissions    Climate change. By Steven Mufson, Washington Post   
• A1 ~ Once facing extinction due to DDT, majestic ospreys making recovery Creature Chronicles: A summer serries. Also see DEM's Osprey newsletter and how to volunteer at www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf.ospr0407.pdf Bruce Landis   

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

• B1 ~ “CRMC boat designed to survey state's coast”
• E1 ~ “Langevin discusses farming, food legislation”

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

• B5 ~ “Keeping an eye on lizardfish” ~ The Bay Window program tracks the various populations of fish in the Bay, which included 1.5 million tropical lizardfish in 2006.
• D1 ~ Street vendors along Dexter and Westminster Streets, Providence, sell typical South American and Cambodian fruits and vegetables daily [not an “official” Farmers' Market]
• D1 ~ North Providence “Developer sets sights on land being used by Camp Meehan” that the city wants to buy to enlarge John Notte Park
• E7 ~ Hydrangea hype

Thursday, July 19, 2007

• A1 ~ “Industry had a major role in shaping of energy policy”
• A6 ~ “Panel established to study food imports”
• B6 ~ Commentary ~ “Rhody's out of step: Walk-on-left bike-parth rule is perilous”
• B7 ~ Commentary ~ “A skyscraper on Federal Hill?” by David Brussat
• C1 ~ “State orders closing of beach at Notte Park [North Providence]” ~ E. coli detected at unacceptable levels. Article includes list of beaches that have been closed this year so far.
• C2 ~ “State set to begin clearing trees and brush at airport” to comply with federal safety regulations
• C6 ~ “A day at the zoo” ~ photos of kids at a recent farm event held at Roger Williams Park Zoo
• C6 ~ Metro Notes ~ Neighborhood (From Broad to Friendship Streets) Cleanup ~ Meet at Crossroads Rhode Island parking lot, 160 Broad St., Providence, 9am Friday, July 20.
• E1 ~ Six of the things in Mark Patinkin's “18 things to see in R.I. Before you die” concern the environment, if you include Waterfire, and don't include Old Guy's Hardball, Polo, and Ski Rhode Island, all of which require well-kept outdoor spaces.
• E7 ~ Nature ~ List of activities, many sponsored by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island.

What's Growing On in Rhode Island ~ July 19-25

This is only some of what's "growing on" in Rhode in the coming week. Note that groups such as The Audubon Society of Rhode Island sponsor many activities for children as well as adults. Check out some of the organizations listed in the sidebar and find your favorite activities, or maybe some new favorites!

Would you like your event listed here? Add the Providential Gardener to your distribution list by email or snailmail (PO Box 2556, Providence, RI 02906).

Thu Jul 19, 2007

3pm	Providence Farmers' Market (Armory Park)
3pm	Veggin' Out
4pm	Warren Farmers' Market
5pm	Providence Green Drinks
6:30pm	Prescott Farm Tour: Middletown
7pm	Piping Plover Lecture

Fri Jul 20, 2007

9am	Warwick Farmers' Market
11am	Providence Farmers' Market (Downtown)
2pm	Bristol Farmers' Market

Sat Jul 21, 2007

8:30am	URI South Kingston Farmers' Market
9am	Burrillville Farmers' Market
9am	Coastal Growers Market in Saunderstown
9am	Middletown Aquidneck Growers' Market
9am	Pawtuxet Village (Cranston) Farmers' Market
9am	Providence Farmers' Market (Broad St)
9am	Scituate Farmers' Market
9:30am	Providence Farmers' Market (Hope High)
10am	Beautiful Butterflies
10am	Environmental Awareness Day
10am	Nature Walk
10am	RI Indian Council Pow Wow
10am	Wonders of Wetlands
11am	Providence Open Market
12pm	Carnivorous Plant Walk at the Great Swamp

Sun Jul 22, 2007

8am	Guided Birdwalks
9am	Narragansett Farmers' Market
12pm	Pawtucket Farmers' Market

Mon Jul 23, 2007

9:30am	Woonsocket Farmers' Market
4pm	Providence Farmers' Market (University Heights)
4pm	Providence Farmers' Market (Waterman St)
6:30pm	Nature Walk

Tue Jul 24, 2007

2pm	Lincoln Farmer's Market
2pm	Providence Farmers' Market (Wickenden St)
6pm	Donigian Park (Providence) Garden Club
7pm	Charlestown Bike Route Meeting

Wed Jul 25, 2007

9am	Block Island Farmers' Market
9:30am	Worksite Partners Summer Program - Volunteers Needed
10am	Veggin' Out
2pm	East Providence/Barrington Farmers' Market
2pm	Newport Aquidneck Growers' Market

Projo Digest ~ July 12, 13, 14, 15

About This Series ~ What You Read or Missed in the Providence Journal Recently.... [you might find these articles at www.projo.com if you missed them]

Thursday, July 12, 2007

• A1 ~ “Report seeks to bring home impact of global warming” by Peter B. Lord. See www.climatechoices.org for the report called “Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast – Science, Impacts, and Solutions.”
• A8 ~ “Bill aims to help climate without hurting economy” U.S. Senate bill would limit carbon emissions.
• A9 ~ “EPA director defends new anti-smog regulations”
• B4 ~ Editorial ~ “Bike Path Etiquette” See www.railtrails.org about building more bike paths
• D6 ~ Climate Awareness/Global Warming program, Rochambeau Library, July 19, 7:30pm
• F2 ~ “Public hearing set for Maine wind farm”

Friday, July 13, 2007

• B1 ~ “Fishermen's group appeals decision that state can withhold addresses” ~
• B2 ~ “Smithfield bridge [over a wetland] proposed”
• B2 ~ “Bristol residents petition council about development next to cemetery”
• B2 ~ “Woonsocket [wastewater treatment] plant curbs foul smells”
• D2 ~ “Landfill spared medical waste”

Saturday, July 14, 2007

• D1 ~ “Farmers' market offers surf and turf: Coastal Growers' [Market] sells shellfish to the community for the first time” [Also note that scallops are now being sold at the Hope Street (Providence) farmers' market on Saturday mornings - sk]
• F1 ~ “Bryant conserves energy with 'green data center'”
• F1 ~ Cranston ~ Neighbors opposed to retail project on Mulligan's Island golf complex. Save Cranston's Open Space continues to fight a modified proposal
• F1 ~ “New plan for [Providence] Waterfront” ~ Section on waterfront development in the Comprehensive Plan has been rewritten
• F1 ~ “[Charlestown] officials: Keep Route 1 rural” Workshop on proposed land use guide ordinance August 7.
• F2 ~ Editorial ~ “Republic of Portsmouth” ~ about the big-box store moratorium
• F3 ~ “Even under protection, plovers still at risk” by Ken Weber

Sunday, July 15, 2007

• A5 ~ “Food-labeling law revived amid tainted-import reports”
• B1 ~ “Menhaden fishing limits causing rift in the Bay” ~ Controversy involving DEM, the legislature, RI Saltwater Anglers Association, recreational and commercial fishermen and lobstermen.
• B2 ~ Environmental Journal ~ Peter B. Lord
  • “Public asked to comment ton East Providence project” at Roger Williams an Bourne avenues. See www.nae.usace.army.mil or call 978-318-8131, or 800-343-4789. Comments accepted until August 3.
  • “Volunteers needed for cove cleanup” at Brush Neck Cove, Warwick, Wed., July 25, 10-1pm.
  • “Woonasquatucket group honored” [Woonsasquatucket River Watershed Council]
  • Access site on the Pawcatuck River in Richmond dedicated to John M. Cronin.
  • “Brownfield sites about to [be] assessed” DEM hearing Wednesday, July 18, on sites in Woonsocket, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Warwick, West Warwick, Cranston, and Coventry. State will award money. Successful proposals are online at www.brownfields.ri.gov.
  • “Plans for Route 1 aired Thursday” July 19, 8:30am, Kettle Pond Visitor Center, Route 1, Charlestown.
• G1 ~ “Neighborhood of the Week: Warren's Beach Terrace”
• G2 ~ “R.I. homeowners face phaseout of cesspools”
• J3 ~ “Lily lovers' mecca in Rehoboth” [Tranquil Lake Nursery] ~ Great place to visit in July
• J3 ~ “Rain barrel bargains”
• J7 ~ “Making scents in the garden”
• J8 ~ “Retailers see a grass-roots move to push mowers”
• J9 ~ “Making your garden nice to nose around ~ Plants with fragrant flowers”