What Grows On in Rhode Island News

From the Neighborhood Energy Challenge:

If you haven’t already had a chance to sign-up for the Neighborhood Energy Challenge, the deadline is February 1st to be eligible for prizes and awards. Do you know friends, neighbors, or family members that have been wanting to take the Challenge? Refer them to our website – remember, you get points for referring others! www.neighborhoodenergychallenge.org.
 
As always, thanks for your support for a healthier community!

Land & Water Summit ~ March 27, 2010

From the RI Land & Water Partnership:

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!!!

http://www.landandwaterpartnership.org/summit.htm
 
The 2010 Land & Water Conservation Summit has an excellent line up of workshops and a not-to-miss keynote address by Tom Horton, Award Winning Author and Chesapeake Bay Biographer who will speak on "Saving the Chesapeake Bay’s Land & Water: Lessons learned after 25 years."
 
Please send this notice to your friends and colleagues!
 
2010 Land & Water Conservation Summit
Saturday, March 27         7:45 am - 4:30 pm
 
Location: URI Memorial Union, Kingston Campus
 
Brought to you by the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, RI Land Trust Council and the RI Association of Conservation Commissions
 
Early Registration ends March 5
$40  Includes lunch and breaks.  After March 5: $55
 
Register on-line or download registration information at the Rhode Island Land and Water Partnership web site:  
http://www.landandwaterpartnership.org
__________________________________________
Meg Kerr
Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
Box 27, URI Bay Campus
Narragansett, RI 02882
(401) 874-6525 office
(401) 714-2313 cell
(web site: nbep.org)
Land and Water Partnership
(web site: landandwaterpartnership.org)
RI Blueways Alliance
(web site: ExploreRI.org)

Vacation Kids' Days at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center ~ February 15-19, 2010

From the URI Outreach Center:


Take the kids somewhere tropical this February vacation!  Join us at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center from February 15-19th for URI's Learning Landscape environmental field trip program or break out the paintbrushes for a kids' botanical illustration class.

February Vacation Kids' Days

February 15th - 19th, 2009
Located at the Roger Williams Botanical Center, Providence

ADVANCE RESERVATION ONLY    

Space is limited.  Call (401) 874-2900 or Email us to make a reservation today!
Monday, Feb. 15th and Wednesday, Feb. 17th
URI's Learning Landscape Program
1:00 pm - 3:15 pm

Travel from the tropics, to the desert to a rainforest this February vacation!  Kids have the chance to feel a coyote's fur, learn how to compost with red wiggler worms, examine a robin's nest, feed a venus fly trap and much more in our specially guided field trips. Each child will plant seeds in their own greenhouse, bring them home and watch them grow! This environmental science program is open to children 5 - 12 years old accompanied by their adult chaperones. The cost is $5.00 per person (cash or check accepted). Available by advance registration only. Space is limited. Call (401) 874-2900 or email [email protected] to reserve your spot today!


Tuesday, Feb. 16th, Thursday Feb 18th and Friday, Feb. 19th
Children's Botanical Illustration Class
10:00 am -11:30 am

Let your child's creative side shine! Artist and teacher, Victoria Carlton, will show your child the skills they need to craft their very own masterpiece in the stype of Georgia O'Keefe.  Inspiration will be provided by the lush, exotic atmosphere and colorful flowers and foliage of Roger Williams Park Botanical Center.  Each day will feature a different artist media such as watercolors (Tuesday) or pastels (Thursday or Friday).

You MUST register in advance by calling (401) 874-2900 (URI Outreach Center - Kingston) or emailing [email protected]

• The fee is $6.00 per child, per session - all materials are included
• Children MUST BE chaperoned by a parent or guardian AT ALL TIMES during classes.
• Classes are open to children 5 - 15 years old.
• Space is limited, so register early to reserve your child's place in class.

URI Outreach Center
3 East Alumni Ave.
Kingston, RI 02881
Phone: (401) 874-2900
Email: [email protected]
www.uri.edu/cels/ceoc

Find us on Facebook!
Stay up to date on all the newest classes and events. Search for URI Outreach Center today!

2010 Eco-Depot Schedule for RI Resource Recovery Corporation

From the RIRRC Eco-Depot & e-Waste collection schedule pdf:

Rhode Islanders can schedule an appointment to bring household hazardous waste as described at the RIRRC Eco-Depot page on the following dates in 2010:

To RIRRC, 65 Shun Pike, Johnston, RI

• January 9
• February 6
• March 13
• April 10
• May 8
• June 12
• June 19
• July 10
• July 24
• August 21
• September 18
• September 25
• October 23
• November 6
• November 20
• December 11

The following off-site Eco-Depots are also scheduled for 2010:

• March 6, Barrington, location TBD
  March 27, Burrillville, Recycling yard 350 Whipple Ave
  April 3, Coventry, 1668 Flat River Road
  April 17, Middletown/Computer Middletown Second Beach
  April 24, Pawtucket/Computer, Jenks Jr. HS
  April 24, Block Island
  May 15, Narragansett Beach/Computer S. Pavilion
  May 22, Woonsocket, 1117 River Street
  June 5, Portsmouth, PHS, 120 Education Lane
  June 19, Lincoln, location TBD
  June 26, South Kingstown, 180 High Street
  July 17, Tiverton, 50 Industrial Way
  July 31, Charlestown/Computer, Cross Mills 1 & 1A
  August 14, East Prov/Computer, 60Commercial Way
  September 11, North Smithfield, location TBD
  September 25, Providence/Computer, location TBD
  October 2, Newport/Computer, 70 North Halsey Street
  October 16, Cumberland/Computer, 1464 Diamond Hill
  October 23, North Kingstown, location TBD
  November 6, Warwick/Computer, 925 Sandy Lane

*Please note that not all Eco-Depot off-site collections will accept e-waste. Only if the schedule specifically notes “Computer”, will e-waste be collected at that event. There may be other local e-waste recycling options. Please contact your municipal Department of Public Works or Recycling Coordinator.

E-Waste is accepted at the Central Landfill every day, Monday through Saturday, during our normal business hours, and at all Johnston collections listed above. No appointments are needed for e-waste drop-offs.

The Eco-Depot serves approximately 25 people every 15 minutes. Appointments are used to avoid everyone arriving at one time, thus reducing waiting times for all.

The Central Landfill is located at 65 Shun Pike, Johnston, RI, 02919. Please call 401-942-1430 ext. 241 to make an appointment for the Eco-Depot. [Or you can send email through the RIRRC website. -- ed.]

Funding for Farmers to Extend the Growing Season

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has funding available to help farmers extend the growing season while protecting natural resources through the use of high tunnels or hoop houses.  This pilot program will verify if high tunnels are effective in reducing pesticide use, keeping vital nutrients in the soil, extending the growing season, increasing yields, and providing other benefits to growers.
 

Passive House ~ NESEA Meeting

Ring in the the first Tuesday of the year with RI’s resident expert on Passive House, Paul Eldrenkamp.

Learn about the origin of the Passive House (Passivhaus) movement in Germany and how Paul, a leading green building expert and founder of Byggmeister, is promoting this standard in New England.

When:  Tuesday, January 5 at 6pm Where:  Everyman's Bistro - 311 Iron Horse Way, Providence RI

More about Paul Eldrenkamp Paul is president of Byggmeister, Inc, a residential design-build remodeling company he founded in 1983. He is a Certified Passive House Consultant, a graduate of Harvard University, a former board member of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, was the chair of the residential working group of the Massachusetts Zero Net Energy Buildings Task Force, a frequent speaker at a range of industry conferences and a contributor to the Journal of Light Construction. As a long time "green building" leader, Paul offers unique insights into the challenges and opportunities of quality building.

More about Passive House http://www.byggmeister.com/passive_house.shtml

For more information about NESEA RI, please visit http://www.neseari.ning.com

Remember, if it's the first Tuesday of the year, it's time for NESEA RI.

Hope you all can make it!


-- Jo Lee Green Machine PR NESEA Vice Chair Twitter: @GreenMachinePR http://www.greenmachinepr.com Cell: 401.338.5445