What Grows On in Rhode Island News

Volunteer at Raptor Weekend!

September 8 & 9

Join the fun at Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s Raptor Weekend, the largest celebration of birds of prey in New England! Help with kids' games and activities, admission, parking, food table, crafts, face painting, and more. Volunteer shifts are 9 AM to 1 PM and 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Setup shift also available on Friday, September 7 from 2-5 PM. Groups of up to 15 people welcome. Volunteers are welcome to enjoy the event for free before or after their shift. Located at the Environmental Education Center at 1401 Hope St, Bristol, RI. Contact July Lewis at [email protected] or at 401-949-5454 x3044 to sign up! www.asri.org
 
* Volunteers must be at least 13 to participate, and 13-15 year old volunteers must be accompanied by an adult.

Arbor Day in Rhode Island ~ April 29, 2011

As with Earth Day, one day each year is set aside to celebrate Arbor Day, and that would be today, April 29th, the last Friday in April 2011. But also just like Earth Day, every day is Earth Day and Arbor Day!

All week long, Newport RI has been celebrating the establishment of the first city-wide arboretum in New England. Newport has many magnificent trees that are as worth a tour as the so-called "cottages" along Bellevue Avenue. Still to come is a major tree planting at Ninigret Park in Charlestown, on May 7th. The RI Tree Council, National Grid, and the Narragansett Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club are collaborating to plant 100 new trees at this state park.

Here are links to a couple of recent stories and articles regarding Arbor Day in case you haven't planted a tree yet this year and wonder what the fuss over trees is about:

• Froma Harrop: An urgent Arbor Day reminder to honor trees globally ~ Providence Journal, April 27, 2011
• Digging Rhode Island: Hug A Tree: Arbor Day in Rhode Island [URI Master Gardeners' Blog]

And by the way, do you know what the official Rhode Island state tree is? [Hint: The photo to the right can be found from the Arbor Day Foundation Rhode Island page.]

THINGS TO DO FOR THE TREES:

Check out the Arbor Day Foundation's website to learn all about trees in general and for suggestions for giving, planting and nurturing trees. One thing you can do is to check with your town or city hall to find out if you have a municipal forester, tree warden, and tree ordinances. The Arbor Day Foundation's RI page also lists our 11 Tree Cities/Towns. Is your town one of them? Twenty-eight towns and cities are missing!

Rhode Island Tree Council runs a twice-yearly tree steward training program. The next one begins May 3rd, and perhaps there is still room for more folks.

Providence residents can apply for free street trees through the Providence Neighborhood Planting Program. Application for fall planting is coming up in about a month.

RI Department of Environment has an entire division devoted to foresty and trees. Learn a little about where our tax dollars go to care for the forests in Rhode Island. Download and read a copy of the Forests of Rhode Island Report or the RI Forest Resources Management Plan.

Problems with trees on your property? Hire and/or consult with a certified, licensed arborist.

Happy Arbor Day!

Clean Water Action & Earth Day

Here at Clean Water Action, we're eagerly preparing for many environment- and action-focused events. Below is a list of our April and May offerings (followed by details)... if you have questions about any of these events, please feel free to contact us at the office!

April 22: Earth in Jeo-Party 6-9pm @ Local 121, 121 Washington St., Providence
April 23: Peace on Earth Day 10-1pm @ 37 Portland St., Providence
April 27: Students in Action 10-2:30pm @ the RI Foundation, One Union Station in Providence
April 27: Earth Day at the State House 2:00-4:30pm State House, Smith St. Providence
April 29: Breakfast of Champions 9-11am @ the Aspray Boathouse at 1 East View Street, Pawtuxet Village, Warwick
May 11: Draw it Out 4-7pm @ RiverzEdge in 68 South Main St., Woonsocket

Earth in Jeo-Party
Our 4th Annual Earth in Jeo-Party event will be better than ever! We'll be celebrating the good work of environmental and social justice organizations in RI, complete with a visit from the Mayor, an earth-centered Jeopardy game, free pizza and desserts, and a killer raffle.Tickets are $10, and can be purchased at the door.
Friday, April 22, 6-9pm @ Local 121, 121 Washington St., Providence

Peace on Earth Day
Join us as we unite with community members, non-profits, and earth-lovers to clean an abandoned lot in Providence! We'll also have some community art stations, education stations, and free t-shirts for volunteers (printed by RiverzEdge Arts Project). Come at 10am if you'd like to be picking up trash alongside Providence's Mayor, Angel Tavares!
Saturday, April 23, 10-1pm @ 37 Portland St., Providence

Students in Action
Join students and youth from around the State of Rhode Island for the 2nd Annual Students in Action Summit at the Rhode Island Foundation. The conference will provide a roundtable for all to connect about environmental happenings, as well as a crash course on lobbying and the environmental issues that currently have emphasis in Rhode Island. After the conference, head to the State House to join the Environment Council of RI's Earth Day at the State House to talk to policymakers about the issues you just discussed.
Tuesday, April 27, 10am-2:30pm @ the RI Foundation, One Union Station in Providence

Earth Day at the State House
Featuring Watershed Counts – A Report on the Narragansett Bay Watershed followed by the Presentation of ECRI’s Legislative Agenda with Governor Chafee, Senator Sue Sosnowski, and Representative Art Handy. Tell your Legislator that you care about our state's environment, that you are paying attention, and that you vote! Environmentally conscious citizens from across the state will be converging at the State House to speak out in support of the environment. Organizers will be on hand to support you and help you find your State Senator and Representative. All Rhode Island individuals and groups are invited to attend.
Wednesday, April 27th 2:00-4:30pm State House, Smith St. Providence

Earth Day Breakfast of Champions
At the ninth annual Earth Day Breakfast of Champions, Clean Water Action and Ocean State Action will honor four of Rhode Island’s environmental leaders for their work on initiatives such as mercury pollution reduction, working with community groups and decision-makers to clean up toxic dump sites and former manufacturing sites, and establishing a non-toxic personal care product line.  Breakfast will be provided by The Dinner Dame. Suggested donation of $40 dollars per person and $15 for students/low income supports the work of Ocean State Action and Clean Water Action. Call (401) 331-6972 to RSVP or for more information.
Friday, April 29 9-11am @ the Aspray Boathouse at 1 East View Street, Pawtuxet Village, Warwick

Draw it Out
Recent legislation introduced at the statehouse would overturn RI's ban on incinerators. What would that mean for our wallets, lungs, and communities? Come to RiverzEdge Arts Project for a community discussion, some political activism opportunities, and a charcoal drawing lesson by one of the RiverzEdge youth! Drop in hours between 4 and 7pm.
Wednesday, May 11, 4-7pm @ RiverzEdge in 68 South Main St., Woonsocket

Hope to see you at one (or more!) events, and please recruit your friends!

Sheila Dormody, New England co-director
Clean Water Action
[email protected]
 
741 Westminster St.
Providence RI 02903
(401) 331-6972 

 
Clean Water Action is a national citizens' organization working for clean, safe and affordable water, prevention of health-threatening pollution, creation of environmentally-safe jobs and businesses, and empowerment of people to make democracy work.

Ed note: All these events are in What Grows On in RI

Newport Arboretum Week ~ April 22-29, 2011

THE NEWPORT ARBORETUM IS A NEW PROJECT OF THE NEWPORT TREE SOCIETY

Help celebrate the launch of New England's first citywide arboreum.

Visit the Newport Arboretum website to view a full list of events including free guided tree walks, a free children's movie event and many other activities.

Note also that these events are being incorporated into What Grows On in Rhode Island's Earth Day & Arbor Day Calendar.

2011 Earth Day and Arbor Day Calendar for Rhode Island

Is there a cleanup or celebration for Earth Day in your Rhode Island community this year? Are you celebrating Arbor Day in Rhode Island this year?

Many groups have already added their events to the What Grows On in RI Earth Day/Arbor Day calendar, but I'm sure there are lots more! Add your event to the most complete listing of Earth Day and Arbor Day events in Rhode Island!

Scituate Environment Community Night ~ April 4, 2011

Scituate High School Science and the Environment Community Night

Monday, April 4th from 5:45 pm – 8:15 pm

Press Release

 

Please join Scituate High School at our Science and the Environment Community Night on the evening of Monday, April 4th from 5:45 – 8:15 as our physical science and chemistry students join forces to bring you loads of information about energy conservation, renewable energy, well water quality, and ground water protection.   The night will include poster presentations about energy resources, and a slide presentation revealing the latest results of our well water analysis and a discussion of this data for homeowners in Scituate.

Scituate High School students are working together to increase the awareness, understanding, and

interest in water resources within the Scituate Reservoir Watershed by participating in the GET WET! Program

developed and provided through the University of Maine and implemented under the direction of the Northern RI Conservation District with funding from Providence Water. GET WET! is an acronym for Groundwater Education Through Water Evaluation and Testing.

Approximately 120 chemistry and applied science students from Mrs. Denise Collin’s and Mr. Brian Wentworth’s classes tested their own well water to screen for several indicator parameters in the school chemistry lab.  The results were recorded and several professionals from entities including Richard Blodgett and Christopher Riely of Providence Water, Patrick Craft of RI Department of Health, Christopher Modisette of RI Resource Conservation and Development and Gina DeMarco and Elizabeth Berg of Northern RI Conservation District dedicated their time to help one of Mrs. Collins’ classes research issues to consider in analyzing water quality.  The students used the information to develop a presentation to assist their own community in understanding and protecting their drinking water wells.

Fifty students in Ms. Donovan’s Physical and Earth Science classes and student leaders in the SHS & SMS NEED Project will be presenting posters and children’s activities related to energy conservation and renewable energy. They hope that some of the information provided to members of the community through this event will help our community reduce energy waste and encourage increased production of renewable energy.

We thank you in advance for attending this event – for your presence demonstrates that the education of our young leaders is something that you value.  We at Scituate High School appreciate your assistance in providing quality educational experiences.  The opportunity that the students involved in this event have to discuss their work with adults who are not their parents or teachers is a valuable experience that can help them improve important communication skills.  Your anonymous written feedback will be used by students as they reflect on this experience and the effectiveness of their communication so that they can grow as communicators, problem solvers and leaders.

RI Spring Flower & Garden Show ~ February 24-27, 2011

The gardens are ready and the doors to the Flower Show are opening at 10am Thursday. Ah, the smell of soil, mulch, evergreens, and flowers! The RI Wild Plant Society has a fantastic beaver habitat set up (no live beavers, though), and Ecotope has an attractive vegetable garden, plus a live chicken and some bunny rabbits.

More than most recent shows, this one will give us usable ideas for our own gardens that are beginning to be visible again as the snow slowly melts. See some photos taken Wednesday as the garden builders finished their handiwork.

What Grows On in RI has all the seminars and demonstrations mixed in with everything else that's happening this busy weekend. We've even made a special page for the Flower Show! We have a booth at the end of Aisle 500 ~ please drop by and see us!

Carrot City: Designing for Urban Agriculture ~ February 25, 2011

Exhibit Hosted by Southside Community Land Trust

in Honor of its 30th Anniversary
 

Who:            Southside Community Land Trust (SCLT)
What:          Official Opening of Carrot City: Designing for Urban Agriculture
When:          Friday, February 25th, 5:00-7:30 p.m.
 
Where: The American Institute of Architects Gallery at 158 Washington St. in downtown Providence (located at the corner of Washington and Snow)
 
Why: Inspire urban design that promotes community food security
 
Southside Community Land Trust invites the public to attend the official opening of Carrot City: Designing for Urban Agriculture, a traveling exhibit showcasing innovative architectural and horticultural projects that enable the production of food in urban areas across the U.S. and Canada, at 5:00 p.m. this Friday. The event is free and is the first in a lineup of events planned for 2011 to celebrate Southside Community Land Trust’s 30th year of helping people grow food in Providence.
 
Last shown at Parsons/The New School for Design, the Providence installation of Carrot City will incorporate local projects, such as the fruit and nut orchard planted in Providence’s Locust Grove Cemetery and various urban agriculture installations planned by the New Urban Farmers in Pawtucket/Central Falls. At 6:00 p.m., two of the exhibit’s curators—faculty members in Architectural Science and Food Security at Ryerson University in Toronto—will give a talk on strategies for city planning, building design, and landscaping that can nourish local food systems.
 
In addition to the opening ceremony, the exhibit will run through March 10th and be open for viewing at the following times:

• Tuesday, Mar. 1       11:00-2:00
• Thursday, Mar. 3      11:00-2:00
• Saturday, Mar. 5       10:00-1:00
• Tuesday, Mar. 8        11:00-2:00
• Thursday, Mar. 10     11:00-1:00

Find out more about Carrot City on their website.

Southside Community Land Trust is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Southside Community Land Trust (SCLT) provides access to land, education and other resources so people in Greater Providence can grow food in environmentally sustainable ways and create community food systems where locally produced, affordable, and healthy food is available to all. For more information, please visit www.southsideclt.org.

Urban Agriculture Spring Gardening Kick-Off ~ February 26, 2011

Join us Saturday for the Urban Agriculture Spring Kick-Off at the Botanical Center at Roger Williams Park! We're hosting a full afternoon of gardening workshops, cooking demos, a seed swap, silent auction & local music. The popcorn machine will be cranking! Come trade extra seeds for seeds you need! There will even be a Kids Corner for young green thumbs!

Urban Agriculture Spring Kick-Off
Saturday, February 26th, 1-4 pm
The Botanical Center at Roger Williams Park
1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence
Free for Community Gardeners and Kids. $5 for General Public.

Workshops at the Kick-Off will be taught by community experts from around the state. Topics include Seed Starting, Vegetable Garden Planning, City Chickens, Collecting Rainwater, Alternatives to Miracle Gro, How to Tap Maple Trees, Home Composting and more! Plus, you can pick up a free 2011 Plant Providence Calendar, your guide to this year's events related to growing food in the city.
 
If you're one of the 250 gardeners who joined us last year, we look forward to kicking off another season with you. If this is your first Kick-Off, don't miss it. Questions? Call Erika, at 401-273-9419 ext: 30.

[Press Release]

See a Beaver Family Garden at the Flower Show ~ February 24-27, 2011

The 18th Annual Rhode Island Spring Flower & Garden Show
 
THE RHODE ISLAND WILD PLANT SOCIETY Invites you on a walk into the HEART of a changing native woodland!
 
Come see “A Beaver Family Garden”
 

In the heart of our woods you can find evidence of a dedicated creator of change, the beaver. The Rhode Island Wild Plant Society would like you to experience this change. A walk in nature is excellent exercise for your health and the element of discovery is always present!
 
As you meander you will first encounter an ‘upland’ woodland habitat. Then begin to notice changes. Beaver have cut trees, dammed this stream; creating a pond. This altering the water level creates a wetland; a new habitat for plants and animals. Some species benefit from this change, others do not.
 
Can you find some plants from each habitat; the higher ‘upland’ where Bayberry and White Pine grow and the lower, wetter, ‘pond’ areas where Clethra, skunk cabbage and Royal ferns thrive?
 
Through the years, RIWPS has received many accolades and awards for its display gardens, including viewers’ choice awards 5 times, the Alan Haskell Award in 2007, the Massachusetts Horticultural Award in 2009, and many others.
 
The flower show committee chairman is Jules Cohen.  Judy Ireland is again serving as the as the designer – having served in that capacity since the start of these Shows.  Frances Topping, a naturalist and artist, has provided much of her work and creativity as well.  Other members of the committee include: Richard Dalidowitz, Lynn Feiner, Chris Kalina, Debbie St. Pierre, Susan Shuster, Sally Shwartz and Barney Webster.
 
The Committee has been supported by efforts and finances of their business partners Audubon/Fisherville Brook Refuge, Bartlett Tree Experts, Blue Moon Farm Perennials, Central Nurseries Garden Center, Clark Farms, Farmer’s Daughter, Koszela Lumber, Morningstar Nurseries, Nelumbo Water Gardens, Tranquil Lake Nursery and Weston Nurseries.  Particular thanks to the folks at Rhode Island’s DEM – Division of Forest Environment and Division of Parks and Recreation.  Also thanks to the Audubon folks at the Fisherville Brook Refuge.
 
For more information about the RI Wild Plant Society visit their website www.riwps.org or contact them at 789-RIWP(7497).