What Grows On in Rhode Island News

What Grows On in Rhode Island is Little Rhody's most comprehensive environmental event Calendar and news service. We post press releases & event notices from anyone organizing public environmental events in or near Rhode Island.

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Resilience: Adapting for Man-Made or Natural Disasters ~ December 1, 2011

                         Special Seminar on Disaster Planning and Response through Resilience

5:00 to 6:15 p.m.
Thursday, December 1
Weaver Auditorium, Coastal Institute (Kingston Campus)
6:20 to 7:00 p.m. - Reception at the University Club
University of Rhode Island

Resilience: How do we learn to live with water, or earth, or wind, or fire? What is the theory? How do we measure resiliency? We can (and must) adapt to the changing environment. Learn about tsunami or storm surge mitigation and evacuation systems, floating cities, artificial barrier islands, land use restrictions, floodable environments and buildings. Examples are gleaned from work done in Christchurch, New Zealand, New Orleans, Chile and San Francisco. The speaker has done fieldwork in these locations and is in the forefront of resilience planning.

Doug Ahlers, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, founded the Harvard Kennedy School Broadmoor Project, a collaborative redevelopment effort between the Katrina-devastated Broadmoor New Orleans neighborhood and the Kennedy School. Ahlers has been a Fellow at the Preventative Defense Project at Stanford University¡¯s Center for International Security and Cooperation where he worked on a plan for San Francisco in preparing to recover faster after a disaster strikes. A Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science & International Affairs, and a Fellow at the Shorenstein Center for Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard, Ahlers teaches courses on the management of disaster recovery which blend case teaching with field-research (Community Recovery: Rebuilding Disaster Damaged Communities in Chile; Disaster Recovery Management and Urban Development: Rebuilding Cities After a Disaster). Mr. Ahlers is the cofounder of Modem Media (now Publicis Modem) and is on the Smithsonian Institution¡¯s National Board and the board of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs.

Are You Ready for the Future?
Find out on Tuesday nights: http://www.uri.edu/hc

15th Annual BUY NOTHING DAY WINTER COAT EXCHANGE ~ November 25, 2011

If you have a coat to give, please drop it off.
If you need a coat, please pick one up.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25 10-2PM                                                          

• State House lawn (directly across from Providence Place mall)  (rain location  St Johns Cathedral   271 N Main St Providence)
• Pawtucket Visitors Center, 175 Main St. Pawtucket

On November 25th 2011 – the busiest day in the American retail calendar and the unofficial start of the international Christmas-shopping season – thousands of activists and concerned citizens in 65 countries will take a 24-hour consumer detox as part of the annual Buy Nothing Day, a global phenomenon that originated in Vancouver, Canada.

Some see it as an escape from the marketing mind games and the frantic consumer binge that has come to characterize the holiday season and our culture in general. Others use it to expose the environmental and ethical consequences of over-consumption.  In Providence as part of International Buy Nothing Day, we hold a winter coat exchange on the lawn of the State House directly across from Providence Place mall. In Pawtucket the transfer of coats takes place at the Blackstone Valley Visitors Center. Events are also held at 4 other locations in Rhode Island. There are many partners for this event: community organizations, places of worship, civic, and environmental groups. Volunteers are needed to help with this life-affirming event.

Contact information:  Providence

 

• Greg Gerritt: 331-0529; gerritt@mindspring.com;
• Phil Edmonds: 461-3683; philwhistle@gmail.com

Pawtucket -  Arthur Pitt 396-1918; kingarthur02940@yahoo.com 

Other participating locations     

• Newport – St Paul's Church 12 West Marlborough St. 10 AM to Noon Maggie Bulmer   846-0966
• Wakefield --St. Francis Church, 114 High Street, 10AM to noon Tom Abbott 364-0778
• Barrington  Bayside Family YMCA  70 West St   Connie Ganley mcganley@comcast.net
• Warwick  Kent County YMCA  900 Centerville Rd  8218-0130

Pumpkin Take back program from ECORI

It's No Trick ecoRI News and Whole Foods Market Waterman Street Team Up to Compost Used Jack-O-Lanterns
 
PROVIDENCE — In the days after Halloween, many pumpkins, having burned through their 15 minutes of fame on Halloween night, are destined for the trash.
 
But, on Wednesday, Nov. 2, from 3-6 p.m., ecoRI News will be giving those pumpkins a second act. Staff members will be collecting used pumpkins at Whole Foods' Waterman Street and using them for compost.
 
"Carve them; smash them — just make sure to bring them down after you're done having some fun so we don't waste a valuable resource. We can use this year's pumpkins to make compost to grow next year's crop of jack-o-lanterns," ecoRI News executive director Frank Carini said.
 
Pumpkins of all shapes and sizes are welcome. Donors should just be sure to remove any candle holders and wax before dropping off their squash. At the end of the pumpkin take-back, ecoRI News will deliver collected materials to New Urban Farmers in Pawtucket.

National Food Day & RI Food Assessment Report Release ~ October 24, 2011

RI DEM Press Release:

“OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION” SUMMARY OF THE RHODE ISLAND FOOD ASSESSMENT TO BE RELEASED AT STATE HOUSE EVENT CELEBRATING NATIONAL FOOD DAY NEXT MONDAY
 
            PROVIDENCE – Department of Environmental Management Director Janet Coit will join First Lady Stephanie Chafee; Department of Health Director Michael Fine, MD; Senator Susan Sosnowski; Henry Herrera, MD, general manager for Dig Deep Farms & Produce, a project of the Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs Activities League; and others to launch the RI Food Policy Council and release a summary of the RI Food Assessment on Food Day – Monday, October 24.
 
            The 10 a.m. State House event is planned to focus attention on the importance of ensuring a healthy, affordable, sustainable, and locally-grown food supply.  Promoting healthy diets and increasing access to fresh, safe, and affordable food is critical to improving residents’ overall health, and benefits low-income populations in particular.

Bioneers by the Bay Early Bird Discount (30%) Ending September 30, 2011

Note: This is a highly regarded conference!

The 7th annual educational Connecting for Change conference, is set to take place once again in downtown New Bedford, on October 21-23, 2011.  The Connecting for Change: a Bioneers by The Bay Conference brings awareness of the importance of environmental activism and sustainability.  Connecting for Change is committed to affordable access for all to learn, grow, and connect with like-minded individuals. Discounted (30%-off) Early Bird Registration is available ONLY until midnight on Friday, September 30.
 

Beginning Farmer Rancher Development Grant

The Rhode Island Association of Conservation Districts (RIACD) has been awarded $148,853 in grant money by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The grant is called a Beginning Farmer Rancher Development grant. This type of grant is used to help beginning farmers or ranchers in ways that makes it easier for them to get answers to their questions as well as help them learn about the business of farming in today’s ever changing world.

The RIACD will partner with URI, UCONN, and a number of private and public entities to help beginning farmers in three basic ways. There will be a feasibility study done to determine if an equipment bank would be financially viable in the State of Rhode Island as well as Eastern CT and Southeastern MA. There will also be a web tool created that will allow beginning farmers to ask questions and be directed to places where they can access answers to those questions. Lastly, there will be a series of modules that will teach the beginning farmer about his or her business and how to create a financial plan.

For additional information, please contact:

Richard Went, RIACD President
2283 Hartford Avenue
Johnston, RI 02919
401- 934-0840 or 401-345-3974
dwent@verizon.net

Buzzards Bay Oil Spill Restoration Planning Public Information Meetings ~ September 21 & 22, 2011

State and Federal Officials Schedule Buzzards Bay Oil Spill Restoration Planning Public Information Meetings

Public Invited to Attend Meetings in Fall River and at Mass. Maritime Academy

The Natural Resource Damages Trustee Council (NRTC) for the Buzzards Bay oil spill has scheduled two public information meetings next week as part of the development of a Restoration Plan (RP) to restore, replace, or acquire the equivalent of natural resources injured by the April 2003 Bouchard B-120 barge oil spill and spill clean-up in Buzzards Bay. The development and implementation of the Restoration Plan will be funded by a May 2011 Natural Resource Damages (NRD) settlement of $6 million with Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc.

The public is invited to learn about the process for developing the RP and is welcomed to offer input on potential restoration projects addressing the injured natural resources. The following are the injury categories that will be addressed by the NRTC and discussed at the public meetings.

• Shoreline resources, including tidal marshes, sand beaches, rocky coast, and gravel and boulder shorelines;
• Aquatic resources, including benthic organisms such as American lobster and their habitats, and finfish such as river herring and their habitats;
• Ram Island shoreline resources, including marsh fringe, rocky coast, and gravel and boulder shorelines ;
• Piping Plovers (a federally threatened shorebird); and
• Lost uses, including coastal access, recreational shellfishing, and boating.

“We are excited to start this Natural Resource Damages process, an important milestone that will serve to restore Buzzards Bay’s precious resources,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan, Jr., who serves as Massachusetts’ Trustee for natural resources. “I urge residents in the Buzzards Bay area to attend one of these meetings and offer thoughts on how best to restore these valuable resources.”
 
“The State of Rhode Island joins Massachusetts and the Federal Trustees in looking forward to starting the restoration process,” said Janet Coit, the State of Rhode Island Director of Environmental Management.
 
A range of reasonable project alternatives will be included as part of the RP. Examples of projects that restore the injuries may include: tidal marsh restoration; fish passage projects such as dam removals and fishways; eelgrass bed plantings; enhancement of shellfish beds; acquisition of properties for public coastal access; installation of coastal boat ramps or access trails; and shoreline management for piping plovers. Restoration projects will be expected to address the natural resource injuries that resulted to both Massachusetts and Rhode Island shorelines and coastal waters.

The format of the public meetings will be as follows: The meeting will begin with an informal discussion at 6 p.m., followed by a formal Trustee Council presentation at 7 p.m., and concluded by a question-and-answer session. Following the public meetings, information obtained during the meetings will be used by the Trustee Council and technical agency staff to develop the RP and project alternatives. Once completed, a Draft RP will be released to the public for review and comment.

For the current settlement, the Trustee Council is composed of representatives from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, represented by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection; Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management; United States Fish and Wildlife Service, representing the U.S Department of Interior; and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, representing the U.S. Department of Commerce. The spill also affected tribal resources, and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head previously settled separately with Bouchard.
 

The meetings will be held at:

Wednesday, September 21st   6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Admirals Hall, Harrington Building
101 Academy Drive  
Buzzards Bay, MA 02532

 

Thursday, September 22nd   6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Heritage State Park
Visitor’s Center
200 Davol Street
Fall River, MA 02720

Volunteers Needed for Beach Cleanup ~ September 17, 2011

Audubon Society of Rhode Island and local beach cleanup leaders are seeking volunteers for the International Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, September 17, 2011. Interested participants should contact Audubon at 949-5454 or the local beach cleanup leader to sign up for the event.
 
Beach cleanups especially in need of help are:

• Aunt Carrie’s Beach, Narragansett: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Contact Heather Biben at heatherbiben@hotmail.com
• Barrington Beach—West Side: 2:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Bill & Deb Dwyer at 245-2684 or wtd@cox.net.
• Warwick City Park: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. William Quirk at 952-8967 or billjwq@verizon.net

Fall Fishing Classes ~ September - October 2011

DEM'S AQUATIC RESOURCE EDUCATION PROGRAM OFFERING SALTWATER AND FRESHWATER FLY-FISHING WORKSHOPS, A FLY-TYING PROGRAM, AND FLY-FISHING TRAIN SAFARI ON AQUIDNECK ISLAND THIS FALL

 
            PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Fish and Wildlife will hold several fishing programs this fall. Hosted by the Division's Aquatic Resource Education program, the fee-based programs include an introduction to saltwater and freshwater fly-fishing, a fly-fishing trip via train around Aquidneck Island, and fly-tying. Pre-registration is required for most programs.

            The introduction to saltwater fly-fishing program will be held on Saturday, September 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Kettle Pond Visitors Center in Charlestown.  Premier fly-fishing instructors will teach participants fly-tying, casting techniques, and knot-tying. All materials and equipment are included with the $35 per-person registration fee. Lunch is not included, so participants should pack a lunch. The program is open to adults and children age 10 and older.
 
            The introductory workshop on freshwater fly-fishing will be held at Addieville East Game Farm in Mapleville on Saturday, October 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Whether you are a beginner or need a refresher course, this workshop will cover all the basics on freshwater fly- fishing. Top Rhode Island fly-fishing instructors will teach casting techniques, fly-tying, tackle needs, and knot-tying. Participants will also put their skills to work on the water.  The workshop is open to everyone 10 years of age and older.  All materials and equipment are included with the $35 per-person registration fee. Lunch is not included, so participants should pack a lunch.

            A fly-fishing safari around Aquidneck Island on the Old Colony Train will be held on Saturday, October 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The train will stop at several remote public access fishing areas around the island. Fly-fishing instructors will offer advice on the best flies and fly- fishing tactics. The program is designed for advanced beginner, intermediate, and advanced fly- fishing anglers, and is perfect for those who have already participated in the Introduction to Saltwater Fly-Fishing workshop and would like to hone their fly-fishing skills while fishing.  Pack a lunch and your chest waders and join other anglers on this fishing adventure.  All other equipment, including flies, is provided with the $35 per-person registration fee.

            From October 27 to December 8, fly-tying classes will be held each Thursday (except November 24) from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the North Kingstown Community Center. Professional fly-tyers will teach beginning and intermediate fly-tying techniques for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. Cost of the program is $6 for each class or $30 for all six sessions. Pre-registration is recommended, although walk-ins are accepted.

            For additional information and for registration materials, contact Kimberly Sullivan in DEM’s Aquatic Resource Education program at 539-7333 or via e-mail at kimberly.sullivan@dem.ri.gov.

Buy All You Can at the Farmers' Markets and Farm Stands before Irene Barrels In!

From Coastal Market Manager, Bevan Linsley (Casey Farm, Saunderstown)

As Irene blows up the coast your farmers are working frantically to harvest everything they can just in case she really does hit us hard.  If she does, the damage to crops here may be substantial and our guys are already pretty tired at this time of the year.  Now, at the height of the harvest season, they have to stop their usual work, store everything away, tie everything else down, make sure the animals are safe and then harvest, harvest, harvest just in case there is nothing left next week. And then what to do with all that fresh produce if we don't come to market?  This is where we understand what local and sustainable really means, for this is the time for us to come to the aid of our farmers and share the risks of the weather and the season with them.

So, what they need from us now is our support on Saturday morning at the market. Come early, come often and buy as much as you can possibly afford to cook, can, freeze and eat while you are stuck inside during the storm this weekend!  The forecast currently anticipates Irene arriving here later on Sunday, so we are likely looking at a stormy morning on Saturday with wind and maybe a little rain but the [SOUTH COUNTY] MARKET WILL BE HELD AS ALWAYS!

See What Grows On in Rhode Island Sales Subcalendar for an easy-to-see summary of times and locations of upcoming Farmers' Markets. Full details about what's for sale when and where, and who sells what in addition to lists of farm stands, are on the Farm Fresh RI website.