What Grows On in Rhode Island News

Audubon Winter Big Day ~ January 2011

Audubon's Winter Big Day is such a hit that the program has filled up and the waiting list is so long that there are almost enough people to hold a second one!

What is Winter Big Day? This popular program has become a Rhode Island tradition. Set out with Audubon and cover many of the state's winter birding hot spots during this day-long van trip in search of our feathered winter residents. Barrow's Goldeneye, Eurasian Wigeon, Short-eared Owl and Snow Bunting are among the birds we hope to find. Dress warmly and pack a lunch and optics.

See the What Grows On in RI calendar for details of the January 15 trip for cost, length, etc., and let Audubon know you would like to go when they schedule a second trip. Call (401) 949-5454 ext. 3041.

Things to Do in Rhode Island Besides Eat and Shop ~ November 2010

Nothing wrong with eating and shopping, but there are other things to do around Thanksgiving!

At least four "Turkey Trots" are listed in Rhode Island, one on T-Day itself (in Middletown), and the other three on Saturday in Barrington and Block Island, with one in Westerly organized by AMC (call to register). These are all listed in What Grows On in Rhode Island.  If you know of any others, let me know! Maybe someone will organize a Turkey Trot near Providence next year.

Audubon has lots of special activities at the Bristol Environmental Education Center on Friday. And RI Families in Nature take their monthly hike on Sunday in beautiful Wilcox Park in Westerly. Again, these events and more are in What Grows On in Rhode Island, the state's most comprehensive environmental calendar.

We've already noted in the news blog that Coat Exchanges are being held around the state on Friday. Need I say those are also in the Calendar?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Fall Happening on Neutaconkanut Hill ~ October 24, 2010

Twilight on the Hill
Join us for a Fall Happening on Neutaconkanut Hill
Saturday, October 23
Public Walks at 1 and 2 p m
Meadow event from 3:30 - 6:30 p m
Rain Date, Sunday, October 24

Enjoy a Magnificent Sunset & Views of the City
Meet at the Meadow at the Top of the Hill on Legion Memorial Drive. Parking on Circle Road - attendants will assist
• Walk the forest trails to the King Monument
• Return to the Meadow for the Festivities
• Pumpkin Painting for the Children
• Story Telling (Join in with your own Tales)
• Providence Fire Engine
• Providence Mounted Command
• Roast Marshmallows on the Open Fire
• Hot Cider & Donuts
• The Grand Finale - a Magnificent Sunset on the Hill
• Dress for Walking Forested Trails • No Masks or Costumes please. Bring a Flashlight.
Questions? Call 946-6594 or 943-1219 or e-mail <[email protected]> or <[email protected]>

Directions: Go to nhill.org

Sponsored by the Providence Parks Department & the Neutaconkanut Hill Conservancy Inc.

Providence Hill Climb Challenge ~ October 3, 2010

From US Open Cycling:

Summer is over. School's in. The colleges throughout our beautiful state are bustling and you're back to work.  Time to start storing nuts in preparation for a hard winter ahead? 

Not quite! 

Time, instead, to stay toned just a bit longer before the cold and dark of winter seals us up until March. 

Time for the Inaugural Providence Hill Climb Challenge!

It's just over 1,000 feet long and only 63 feet up, but Providence's Capitol Hill will generate miles of smiles as bicyclists young to old, novice to expert climb it to raise money so U.S. Open Cycling can continue to help people - and the environment - be healthier.  Our mission is to reduce overweight and obesity by helping people integrate bicycling for fitness, fun and transportation into their daily lives.

One solution to America's weight, environment and oil dependence problems is, simply, the bicycle.  But it takes you to pedal it!  We have designed the Providence Hill Climb to be challenging - not daunting - to everyone with a bicycle and a heartbeat.

So please join us, and put your mettle to the pedal, on October 3rd between 11:30 and 3:00pm at the corner of Canal and Smith Streets in Providence. 

Parking is free along Canal and Main Streets on Sunday. The US Open Cycling website has registration and other info. Sign-in will be at the Roger Williams National Memorial opposite the start line.

If you cannot come, please show your support by donating to our cause! 

Thank you!  Your health, America's health, depends on you.  We're here to help!

Green Building Tours throughout RI ~ October 2, 2010

Several green buildings will be open for touring in Rhode Island as part of NESEA’s Green Buildings Open House – many designed to the USGBC’s LEED™ standard and others that feature high efficiency, net zero energy systems.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) of RI and NESEA are partnering to bring the Green Building Open House to RI.  This event will give Rhodies a unique opportunity to tour over a dozen green buildings and renewable energy projects across our state.  Just to name a few:

• A Gold LEED BioTech Center at URI
• A wind turbine in Narragansett
• Jamestown’s Environmental  Packaging, Inc eco‐friendly facility.

The complete list of sites in RI is searchable by building type and energy type. You can also reset the state field and see the list of sites in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and other northeastern states.
 

Sustainable Urbanism: A European Perspective ~ September 25, 2010

Meet RI's Green Cos & Orgs at NESEA Annual Meeting, THIS Saturday
 
You’ve probably heard that the NESEA Annual Meeting will include a presentation by one of Europe’s leading sustainable urban thinkers, Joachim Eble, a tour of the new $85M Providence Technical & Training Academy building, a mentoring table manned by NESEA luminaries, and a post-event party at JJ’s award-winning Wolcott Building.
 
But you might not have seen the stellar list of companies and organizations that will be exhibiting.  These are the entities that are reimagining and creating a more sustainable RI, America and world. 

Open Garden Day ~ Self-Guided Tour ~ August 28, 2010

Providence Community Gardeners & Friends!

Join us this Saturday, August 28th for Open Garden Day! Here's your chance to celebrate the harvest of Providence's 700+ community gardeners & peak inside their beautiful gardens. Spread the word...

OPEN GARDEN DAY, 3-5 PM
Take a self-guided tour of 6 community gardens. Gardeners will be waiting at each gate to show you around. This year's tour includes all kinds of gardens- from recently excavated lawns to gardens that have been growing strong for 30 years! These are gorgeous green spaces that grow a whole lot of food! Take a look at the map (attached) & come for a visit...

The Pearl, 236 Pearl Street
Sycamore Street, 130 Sycamore Street
African Alliance, 32 Diamond Street
Peace and Plenty, 83 Peace Street
St Michael's Church, 239 Oxford Street
Potters, 155 Potters Avenue

WANT TO BIKE?
Recycle-a-Bike is leading a bike tour of Open Garden Day. Meet at The Steel Yard, 27 Sims Ave, at 2:45 pm to join the caravan. Please bring your bike, your helmet & water. You can also bring your dish for the Harvest Potluck- it will be transported to Potters Avenue Park by car.

HARVEST POTLUCK, 5-7 PM
After the tour, head over to Potters Avenue Park at 155 Potters Ave. Bring a dish to share from the bounty of your garden! Bring a blanket! Gardeners will be playing live music from around the world & there's a playground for kids.

Open Garden Day August 26, & Plant Providence Workshops September - November 2010

Saturday evening is the Open Garden Day and Harvest Party in Providence, organized by the Urban Agriculture Task Force, Plant Providence, and Southside Community Land Trust.

OPEN GARDEN DAY, 3-5 PM
Take a self-guided tour of 6 incredible community gardens! Visit 1 or all 6! Gardeners will be waiting for you at each gate, ready to show you around.

HARVEST POTLUCK, 5-7 PM
After the tour, head over to Potters Avenue Park at 155 Potters Ave. Bring a dish to share from the bounty of your garden! Bring a blanket! Here's your chance to celebrate the hard work of Providence's 700+ community gardeners.

Also check the What Grows On in RI Calendar for upcoming Plant Providence workshops. All are in Providence and are free to all.

• Food Preservation ~ Sept 1
• Extending the Season: Growing Winter Greens ~ Sept 11
• Fall Crops, Mulch, Putting Gardens to Bed, Sept 15 and repeated on Sept 18
• Gardening with Youth ~ Oct 2
• 3rd Annual Biggest Squash Contest ~ Oct 30
• Soil Testing Demo ~ Nov 3
• Raising Urban Chickens ~ Nov 13

By the way, Providence residents are urged to contact their city council person in support of the new chicken ordinance, which will be voted on by the Council twice, on Thursday September 2 and Thursday September 16. More information is available from Leo Pollock at Southside Community Land Trust (401-273-9419 x 28)

Audubon Events ~ September 2010 - January 2011

All the Audubon events for September through January are now in What Grows On in RI. I also maintain Audubon's online calendar so you can see them there as well.

Many of these events require registration and they fill up fast, so check either What Grows On in RI Calendar or Audubon's calendar for dozens of children & family events, walks, classes such as Taking the Mystery out of Mushrooming, and special events such as Raptor Preview Photo Session (opportunity to photograph Audubon's raptors). Sign up soon!

There are several popular tours. To find them quickly in the Calendar, limit to the Tours subcalendar and type in the keyword search box Audubon). This will list the Block Island Birding Weekend, the Fall Photo Tour, the Winter Waterfowl & Seabird Caravan, Winter Big Day, and Winter Photography Exploration. Also note there are classes, walks in refuges that are usually not open to the public, and much more! Lots of interesting things to do ~ Thank you, Audubon!

[P.S. Peregrine Falcon reminds us that Raptor Weekend is September 11 & 12 at the Audubon Environmental Education Center in Bristol.]

RI Resource Recovery Open House ~ July 31, 2010

Rhode Island residents are cordially invited to attend the RIRRC open house July 31, 2010, from 8:00am to 11:00am, which will boast more than just a facility tour— also providing an opportunity to speak with our engineers, recycling experts, and RIRRC’s Executive Director.    Those wishing to take a guided tour must reserve a spot in advance by calling 942-1430 ext. 241 or by emailing [email protected] with their name, the names of the people in their group, and their contact info.  Come on by!