What Grows On in Rhode Island ~ News Blog

Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off ~ October 10, 2009

From RI DEM:

The public is invited to the 16th annual Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Championship on Saturday, October 10 at Frerichs Farm in Warren. Unloading of the biggest pumpkins grown in the area will begin at 10 a.m. with the weigh-off scheduled for 1 p.m. In case of rain, the championship will take place on Sunday, October 11.

Celebrate West Greenwich ~ October 18, 2009

From West Greenwich Land Trust:

THE WEST GREENWICH LAND TRUST TO HOST 3RD ANNUAL “CELEBRATE WEST GREENWICH EVENT, OCTOBER 18TH
 
On Sunday, October 18th the West Greenwich Land Trust will, once again host Celebrate West Greenwich! This year’s venue will be in the field at Franklin Farm at the corner of Route3 and Congdon Mill Rd. Activities are planned from 1-5 PM, rain or shine. There will be a farmers market, live music, food, demonstrations, outdoor activities, award ceremonies and more. Stop by for a heartwarming and entertaining afternoon of community spirit. Bring your family and friends!

Weekend Environmental Update ~ September 19-20, 2009

From Little Rhody's Biggest Environmental Calendar:

SATURDAY's (September 19th) menu includes:

• International Coastal Cleanup in more than 80 locations
• 3 other afternoon cleanups
• Open Garden Day in Providence (the poster has the wrong date because this event was postponded from last week)
• United Plant Savers Conference in Coventry
• 36th Harvest Fair at Coggeshall Farm in Bristol
• Waterfire

SUNDAY (20th) choices include::

• Coggeshall Farm's Harvest Fair continues
• Buffer Planting & Restoration Project
• Bird Banding (Audubon, Bristol)
• Blackstone River Wilderness Tour
• Autumn Advent at Kettle Pond Visitor Center
• Fish Ladder Groundbreaking Ceremony at Slater Mill Park, Pawtucket
• Wild Mushroom Walk at Kimball Wildlife Sanctuary
• The Impact of a Green Municipal Building in Tiverton

You can also keep up with news through the RI Feeds website which retweets on the ProvGardener's  Twitter. For more environmental news see:

• Feed of What Grows On in RI News Blog 
• Feeds of other RI environment-related feeds available for

• FOOD
• GARDENING, FARMING, LANDSCAPING
• NATURE/OUTDOORS
• GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS

36th Coggeshall Farm Harvest Fair ~ September 19-20, 2009

The Harvest Fair at Coggeshall Farm is an annual event that began in 1973 and today attracts up to 5,000 visitors from across Southeastern New England.  Hours are 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, September 19 and 20, 2009.

Offerings at the Fair include quality vendors, traditional competitions, and unique entertainment.  At the heart of the Fair are live demonstrations of historic and traditional crafts and skills presented by artisans from across the Northeast.  It is this focus on artistry and craftsmanship that sets Coggeshall Farm’s Harvest Fair apart from other events, and makes it the valuable asset to the community it has proven to be for 35 years.

Admission

Adults $8.00
Member's, Seniors, and Children 6-12 $6.00
 Children under 6 - Free

Roger Williams Park Zoo Events ~ 2009-2010

What Grows On in Rhode Island Calendar now lists the upcoming events for toddlers through teens, plus lots of Halloween fun and Santa sightings for the holidays. Check out the Children's subcalendar and search through the events by keyword. The events link through to the zoo's website so you can find out even more details.

Programs for toddlers and preschoolers focus on animals, such as giraffes and bats. The big kids (ages 6-12) have lots of opportunities ~ Zoo Explorers, KidzArt, Roots & Shoots ~ but some of the clubs have very limited enrollments so sign up soon. Same goes for teens ~ Teenns for Planet Earth (ages 13-17) has a class size of 5 to 8, so if this interests your teen, sign up very soon.

FYI, Audubon Society of RI events are also in the Calendar through September, and they also require registration and experience high demand. Because both Audubon, Zoo, and other groups' events are integrated into What Grows On in Rhode Island, along with adult and general environmental activities, it helps families plan being more active outdoors.

Woonasquatacket River Paddle ~ July 12, 2009

From Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council:

On Sunday, July 12, 2009 at 11:00am the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) is leading a canoe/kayak trip through the downtown portion of the Woonasquatucket River. This easy two hour paddle from South Water Street to Atwells Avenue and back will give participants a new perspective on the city. We will travel past some of the old mills as well as through Waterplace Park and past downtown Providence where the Woonasquatucket River meets the Moshassuck River to form the Providence River. 
"While this is definitely an urban river, we have seen red-tailed hawks, great blue herons, peregrine falcons, and many other birds in this stretch of the river," says Bruce Hooke, WRWC board member and paddle leader. The complete round trip is about 3-1/2 miles. The WRWC has canoes and kayaks available but participants can also bring their own. Life jackets and paddles will be provided with WRWC boats but must be brought by the paddler if they use their own boat.
For participants who are using a WRWC boat, the cost is $20/person. For participants bringing their own boat, the price is $10/person.
This event is part of a series of paddling events called “Explore the Woonasquatucket,” organized by the WRWC this summer and fall throughout the Woonasquatucket River Watershed. Details on the full schedule of paddling events is available on the Watershed Council’s website: http://www.woonasquatucket.org .
To register or for more information, call or email Bruce Hooke at the Watershed Council at (401) 351-5747 or bhooke@woonasquatucket.org . Advanced sign-up is required so that we can determine how many boats we need and keep the trip from getting too large.

Home & Garden Competition ~ October 4-5, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lesley Muir, Norman Bird Sanctuary Development Associate, lmuir@normanbirdsanctuary.org, 401-846-2577 ext.17

HOME & GARDEN COMPETITION At the NORMAN BIRD SANCTUARY HARVEST FAIR
583 Third Beach Road
Middletown, RI 02842
Saturday, October 4th & Sunday, October 5th, 2008
Open to amateur gardeners, growers, canners, cooks, and bakers OF ALL AGES!

• Each entry must be grown or cooked from scratch, solely by the contestant.
• One entry per category per person.
• Entries must be registered at the Home & Garden Booth by 10 a.m. on the day of the judging, and must be removed between 5 & 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 5th.
• All entries should be labeled discreetly with the contestant’s name, address, phone number and competition category.
• Young grower or baker contestants must be 14 years old or younger.
• After judging, all food entries will be sold at the Country Store. Proceeds benefit the Sanctuary.

PRODUCE
Saturday Judging, 11:00 a.m.
Best Single Fruit
Best Single Vegetable
Best Collection
Biggest Pumpkin
Most Unusual Vegetable/Edible Plant
Young Grower-Best Produce
Jack-o’-lantern Contest (Judged on Sunday with Scarecrows)

FLOWERS
Saturday Judging, 11:00 a.m.
Best Single Rose
Best Single Dahlia
Best Fresh Arrangement
Best Dried Arrangement
Best Sunflower
Biggest Sunflower Face
Young Growers – Best Arrangement

SCARECROW CONTEST
Sunday Judging, 3:00 p.m.
Spook the crows with your original creation.  Bring your entry, or make one at the Fair.  Straw and a limited number of poles will be available at the Fair.  Great for a group, class or family activity.

FOOD
Saturday Judging, 11:00 a.m.
Best Apple Pie
Best Pesto
Best Salsa
Best Savory Relish/Preserves
Best Jam/Jelly
Best Quick Bread/Muffins
Best Cookies/Dessert Bars
Young Baker – Baked Goods

For more information, contact the Norman Bird Sanctuary office at 401-846-2577 or info@normanbirdsanctuary.org

Stillwater Pond Paddle & Walk ~ September 25, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bruce Hooke, 401-351-5747, bhooke@woonasquatucket.org

STILLWATER POND PADDLE AND WALK ON SEPTEMBER 25

On Thursday, September 25 at 5:30pm the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) is leading a canoe/kayak trip and walk on the Woonasquatucket River, Stillwater Pond and the Stillwater Scenic Trail in Smithfield, in the upper part of the Woonasquatucket River Watershed. This easy paddle and walk will give participants a chance to paddle the deepest valley in the Woonasquatucket watershed, under the historic Smithfield Viaduct, and into Stillwater Pond and then walk for a bit on the scenic trail, before returning to the boats to paddle back to the starting point.
The WRWC has some canoes and kayaks available but participants are encouraged to bring their own boat if they have one. Life jackets and paddles will be provided with the WRWC’s boats, but must be brought by the paddler if they use their own boat. For participants who are using a WRWC boat, there is a suggested donation of $10/person. For participants bringing their own boat, the WRWC would welcome a donation.
Please bring a flashlight as well for this paddle (at least one per boat). We will be getting back to the put-in at around sunset and regulations require that all canoes and kayaks on the water after sunset have a flashlight on board.
This event is part of a series of paddling events called “Explore the Woonasquatucket,” organized by the WRWC this summer and fall throughout the Woonasquatucket River Watershed. Details on the full schedule of paddling events is available on the WRWC website: woonasquatucket.org .
This paddle is also one of the events in the Greenways Alliance of Rhode Island’s “Rhode Island Trails and Greenways Month” series. For more information on this statewide program of events, see the Greenways Alliance website: http://www.rigreenways.org/ .
To register or for more information, call or email Bruce Hooke at the Watershed Council at (401) 351-5747 or bhooke@woonasquatucket.org. Advanced sign-up is required so that we can determine how many boats we need and keep the trip from getting too large.
The Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council is a 501c3 non-profit organization working to promote environmental, recreational, and cultural restoration and preservation in the Woonasquatucket Watershed.

Pumpkin Palooza ~ October 11, 2008

From RI Farmways:

Pumpkins + Lollapalooza = The Pumpkin Palooza!

If pumpkins are a given this time of year, Rhode Island's special treatment of our plump orange buddies is second to none.

Starting with: this year's Pumpkin Palooza at Frerichs Farm in Warren, September weekends of pumpkin fun, food and activities culminating in the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off, Saturday, Octtober 11th (rain dates the 12th or 13th).

If you have been living on another planet, then you might not know that the World's Largest Pumpkins tend to hang out here. Would you believe 1500 lbs and more? Right here in the Ocean (and now) the PUMPKIN State?

Check out all the Frerichs Farm Pumpkin Palooza activities right here on the FarmWays website and visit the Frerichs' direct.

And don't forget to visit other pumpkin patches that await you along Rhode Island FarmWays.

NFW Foundation Celebrates the Great Outdoors ! September 20, 2008

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Fifth Annual Celebrating the Great Outdoors Event

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's fifth annual Celebrating the Great Outdoors benefit will be heldin Greenwich, Connecticut on Saturday, September 20 from 6:00pm - 9:30pm. Celebrating the Great Outdoors is a truly unique evening. This year, over 600 guests may participate in a ropes challenge course, zip line, and our very own "leap of faith" in addition to fly-casting, archery, the Big Air Dogs, an ATV obstacle course, and other exciting outdoor activities along with top competitors from ESPN's Great Outdoors Games. Afterwards, guests will enjoy cocktails, delicious BBQ, and a live auction of adventure travel packages. The evening will end with a bang - a fabulous fireworks display set to music.

Contact Michelle Houston, Director of Special Events at (202) 857-5679, or via email: michelle.houston@nfwf.org.