What Grows On in Rhode Island News

Providence Street Tree Applications due January 15, 2013

Apply by January 15 for Spring 2013 Street Trees from PNPP

Contact: Liz Downing, Director 401.368-5380 [email protected]

8 Third Street Providence, RI 02906

If you are interested in planting trees in your neighborhood this Spring, now is the time to apply for a Neighborhood Street Tree Planting Award from PNPP. Applications are due Tuesday January 15, 2013 and require a bit of legwork in your neighborhood to complete, so act now to meet the deadline.

The Providence Neighborhood Planting Program (PNPP) is a partnership of the Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Street Tree Endowment, the City of Providence and Providence residents that plants trees in Providence neighborhoods along sidewalks. Since 1988, The Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Street Tree Endowment has matched Providence Parks Department funds to provide trees, soil, sidewalk preparation, and tree delivery at no cost to Providence residents who apply for and receive a Neighborhood Street Tree Planting Award. To date, PNPP has planted 9,530 street trees with the help of 753 neighborhood groups.

To receive street trees through the Neighborhood Street Tree Planting Award, neighborhoods will need a volunteer to complete the application and help PNPP organize the planting. Complete applications include: requests from at least five properties for at least one tree at each property within a one to two city block area and a commitment from the property owners and/or residents requesting trees to plant their tree on planting day, water the tree weekly and weed the area around the tree regularly. If a resident requesting a tree does not own the property, PNPP will need documentation of property owner consent to the tree planting.

 PNPP considers Elmwood, Federal Hill, Lower and Upper South Providence, Olneyville, Reservoir, Smith Hill, Valley, Washington Park and West End neighborhoods high priority planting areas and encourages applications from these neighborhoods especially. However, all Providence neighborhoods are eligible for tree awards.

This fall, PNPP facilitated the planting of 225 street trees in the following Providence Neighborhoods: Blackstone, Charles, Elmhurst, Elmwood, Federal Hill, Reservoir, Valley, and West End.

Trees 2020 (Trees2020.org) offers low cost trees for private property planting. When PNPP applicants order a minimum of 5 trees for private property through Trees 2020, PNPP will deliver all the trees together, helping their neighborhood to plant as many trees as possible in one day.

Please consider giving a tax-deductible donation to the Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Street Tree Endowment (MESSTE), an advised fund of the Rhode Island Foundation. Your donation will go toward street tree planting throughout Providence.

Rhode Island Water Resources Board ~ Slow the Flow ~ Summer 2011

Rhode Island Water Resources Board Launches
“SLOW THE FLOW THIS SUMMER” Campaign

Campaign aims to inform Rhode Islanders about
lawn watering guidelines and conservation efforts during the summer months

 

PROVIDENCE, RI (June 28, 2011) – The Rhode Island Water Resources Board has launched a public awareness campaign encouraging Rhode Islanders to follow simple watering guidelines this summer to keep lawns healthy while conserving water.

The “SLOW THE FLOW THIS SUMMER” campaign was developed to provide Rhode Island homeowners with year-round instructions on efficient water use for lawn watering both for lawn health and sustainability of our water supply.

“Water is a renewable but finite resource,” said Kenneth Burke, General Manager of the RI Water Resources Board. “Clean water is not always available when we need it and there is so much work and cost involved with producing clean, potable water – that it is truly wasteful to be applying it to lawns. The recent outdoor watering restrictions in both Narragansett and South Kingstown, and existing outdoor restrictions in North Kingstown emphasize the need to balance the use of these precious resources.”

Led by representatives from the Rhode Island Nursery & Landscape Association (RINLA), the University of Rhode Island’s Turf Program, and the RI Water Resources Board, stakeholders and experts worked for over a year to develop the State’s first lawn maintenance guidelines emphasizing water conservation.

“Working with the Rhode Island Water Resources Board to develop these important parameters was an innovative experience,” said Shannon Brawley, executive director of RINLA. “It brought together expertise from across the State to help educate about appropriate lawn watering and maintenance while conserving our critical resources.”

Conserving water reduces overall costs as both a home and business owner, according to the RI Water Resources Board – easing strains on water resource infrastructure such as rivers, streams, water towers, water lines, pump stations and treatment facilities. The new guidelines recommend that lawns get no more than one inch of water per week. Rhode Island gets between 39-54 inches of rain a year. To date, Rhode Island has received approximately 26 inches of rain.

“Your lawns should be healthy, but you can easily overwater and overfeed your lawn,” said Burke. “This is not only wasteful – but could also weaken your lawn and result in the runoff of nutrients into surrounding areas.”

RI Water Resources Board Chairman Bill Penn said, “We take great pride in offering these simple dos and don’ts – and we hope that Rhode Islanders take some time during this summer season to appreciate one of our most abundant but delicate resources – our water supplies.”

“This new how-to delivers useful and insightful ways for Rhode Island homeowners to conserve our precious water,” said Dave Wallace, president of The Rhode Island Turfgrass Foundation.

A fully integrated marketing campaign is launching July 4 to build awareness throughout the state of Rhode Island including radio, print, and online mediums. For additional details regarding these watering guidelines and other water resource programs, please visit www.riwater.org.

 
About The Rhode Island Water Resources Board

The Rhode Island Water Resources Board is an executive agency of state government responsible for managing the proper development, utilization and conservation of water resources. Its primary responsibility is to ensure that sufficient water resources are available for present and future generations. The Board actively pursues new and innovative strategies for water resource protection and development on behalf of the State – and as part of its mission is committed to wisely conserving Rhode Island’s water resources.

Audubon: RI's air quality will be threatened if this Bill passes ~ Hearing June 16, 2011

From the Audubon Society of Rhode Island:

House Bill No. 5315, sponsored by Rep. Brien, entitled, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- ENERGY proposes to allow burning of garbage in Woonsocket. Air pollutants, including potential dioxins plus increased acid rain and fog accompany incineration. 
 
Burning garbage to generate energy is inefficient and unhealthy.
  
Air pollutants don't know town boundaries. This is not just a Woonsocket issue.

Current RI General Law says:  
 
R.I.G.L. §23-19-3 declares that the "ultimate solid waste management objective of the state is to maximize recycling and reuse of solid waste."  
 
R.I.G.L. §23-19-3(16) declares that it is a policy of the state that "incineration of solid waste is the most costly method of waste disposal with known and escalating costs that would place substantial and unreasonable burdens on both state and municipal budgets to the point of seriously jeopardizing the public's interest." (emphasis added).  
 
Air pollutants move.  
 
Your taxes or disposal fees are at risk.
  
Please call or email your State Representative to express your concerns. To find your state rep use the links in the right-hand column.
 
Use this sample letter/ talking points:  
 
Dear Rep. or Sen. _____________________:  
 
As your constituent, I am concerned about the H-5315, proposing a municipal waste incinerator for Woonsocket.  
 
Woonsocket claims it will help their finances, but I am concerned about my family's health.  
 
Incinerating municipal waste can create dioxins, increase the acidity of atmospheric moisture (rain & snow), and vaporize toxic elements in the trash.
 
I wonder whether there will be sufficient enforcement in DEM, given recent budget cuts, to protect air quality from this proposed facility. Air does not recognize town boundaries.  
 
We live in the "air shed" of a Woonsocket incinerator.  
 
I think about the transportation of toxic ash from this plant, potentially through our communities.   
 
Please oppose this legislation.    
 
Thank you, [your name]

---------

If you would like more information on this important issue or help in contacting your representative, please contact me directly.

Please share this information with friends and neighbors by using the "forward email" button below or spread the word on Facebook.
 
Sincerely,
Eugenia Marks
Senior Director of Policy
Audubon Society of Rhode Island

[email protected]

Contact your representative
 
Find the contact info. for your state representatives by clicking on the links below:
 
Your Representative

Your Senator
 
Just scroll down to "View general voter information", enter your address, and hit search. That's it! 
 
You can click on each official's name to get all their contact info and other details.
 
When you feel strongly about an issue, let them know-it really does make a difference.

-----

Ed. note: There is a hearing today on this bill in the House Committee on Municipal Government at the Rise of the House (after they meet in their session this afternoon), which will be somewhere around 4:30 or 5:00pm.

 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

---

 

NOTICE OF MEETING

 

DATE:    Thursday, June 16, 2011

TIME:    Rise of the House

PLACE:    House Lounge

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION


House Bill No. 5315
BY Brien
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- ENERGY {LC258}
02/09/2011 Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government
03/24/2011 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
03/24/2011 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
06/16/2011 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

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!

Woonsocket Eco-Depot ~ May 21, 2011

RESOURCE RECOVERY’S ECO-DEPOT TRAVELS TO WOONSOCKET FOR NORTHERN R.I. COLLECTION

May 21 Drop Off is Free For Rhode Islanders

 

JOHNSTON, R.I. – On Saturday, May 21, Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation will host a special collection for household hazardous waste  (HHW) in Woonsocket.  From 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. residents can bring their HHW to the Woonsocket Department of Public Works at 1117 River Street for safe disposal.

Eco-Depot is a free service of Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation and available to Rhode Island residents.  To reduce time waiting in line, appointments are necessary.

Safely disposing HHW is important to protect R.I. waterways, soil and households from accidental contamination.  By using the Eco-Depot program, Rhode Islanders can also extend the life of the Central Landfill and reduce the toxicity of trash deposited there.

Any product that is flammable, combustible, explosive, toxic, corrosive, poisonous and hazardous to health qualifies as HHW.  Examples of the most common HHW are oil-based paint, fluorescent light bulbs, lawn chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, antifreeze, motor oil and used filters, driveway sealer, propane gas tanks and fire extinguishers.  Caution needs to be exercised when handling and disposing of these special wastes.

For a complete list of eligible Eco-Depot products, visit www.rirrc.org.  To book an appointment, click on the Eco-Depot button at the bottom of the page or call 942-1430 x241.   Follow on Twitter @RIRRC.
 
Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation is the quasi-state environmental agency dedicated to providing the public with environmentally sound programs and facilities to manage waste. The agency helps fund and promote the state’s recycling program, and owns and operates the Materials Recycling Facility and Central Landfill in Johnston.

Press Release. Contact: Sarah Kite, 401-942-1430 x112.

Practical Composting ~ April 23, 2011

Learn how to turn leaves and  yard debris into rich soil amendments through composting or processed into landscape mulch.

This workshop will emphasize large scale home composting (up to 5-10 cubic yds/yr), using oak leaves and yard debris as the principal components.  Various methods of composting with worms including the production and use of compost tea will also be discussed.
 
Health issues associated with gardening and composting will also be discussed.
 
Participants are encouraged to bring a empty gallon container so that they will be able to take home 1 gallon of freshly brewed actively aerated compost tea to use on their garden!

"Practical Composting"
by Reinhard Sidor
DATE: April 23, 2011
TIME: 9 am - 12:30 pm

LOCATION: Cowesett section of Warwick
Price: $25.00 (Coffee, tea, o.j. & cookies will be provided)

RAIN OR SHINE
Please dress appropriately for turning/making compost piles

REGISTER TODAY!

National Grid Deep Energy Retrofit Pilot: Project Update ~ April 5, 2011

NESEA RI MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT:

 The bad news - residential energy use accounts for 21% of US usage and 75% of those houses will still be standing in 2050.
 
The good news - National Grid is offering a limited pilot program to help RI homeowners and future generations live in healthier and sustainable homes - that save money.
 
Please join us at the next NESEA RI meeting for an update on RI's Deep Energy Retrofit Pilot Project by Dave Legg, principal analyst and residential building science specialist at National Grid.
 
When:  Tuesday, April 5 at 6pm
 
Where: BRAVO (Downtown PVD)
123 Empire Street
Providence, RI 02903
 
Get ready to discuss:
- National Grid’s Deep Energy Retrofit Program in other states and what is in store for Rhode Island.
- National Grid’s other energy efficiency programs available to Rhode Islanders.
- What's next for National Grid and energy efficiency in the residential sector.
 
This event is free and open to the public.  Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

RI Coverts Cooperator Class [Wildlife Habitat Preservation] ~ April 15-17, 2011

FOREST OWNERS NEEDED TO MANAGE FOR WILDLIFE HABIATAT

[Press Release]-- RIRC&D President Harriet Powell announced that the 4th annual RI Coverts Cooperator Class will be held at URI’s W. Alton Jones Whispering Pine Conference Center, April 15 - 17, 2011.

The RI Coverts Project is a program of the RIRC&D and its partners designed to educate woodland owners on sound forest management practices that can make wildlife healthier, more diverse and abundant. Its goals are to create a network of landowners and opinion leaders who are able to work on wildlife and forest management issues and serve as a source of information to other landowners, their organizations and communities.

A “coverts” (pronounced kuh-vert) is an old English word that refers to a thicket that provides sheltering cover for wildlife. This year, up to twenty woodland owners will be chosen to participate in the two and onehalf day workshop that focuses on forest ecology and stewardship, wildlife management and land conservation. The training consists of both indoor and field sessions, as well as informal time to learn from fellow participants. In addition, each participant is given materials to take home. All costs of the seminar including meals, lodging, and reference materials, are covered with the exception of the registration fee which is only $100.00. In exchange, we will ask participants to return to their communities and share what they’ve learned with others and to become part of a state-wide coverts cooperator network. Participants will be kept supplied with reference materials that allow them to either answer questions on forest and wildlife management, or direct the questioner to the proper professionals.

Now in its 4th year, the project has trained 57 landowners from across the state through its two and one-half day workshop that focuses on forest ecology and stewardship, wildlife management and land conservation. A model of a successful conservation, the participating landowners cumulatively own and manage 1,771 acres and manage another 6,199 acres for other people and/or groups.

Powell said that,”We hope that more woodland owners will participate in the project and serve to promote the sustainability of Rhode Island forests.”

Anyone interested in participating in the program, or who would like more information, should contact Paul Boisvert, RI Coverts Project Coordinator, at: 401-822-8878 or email at [email protected].

The RI Coverts Project is sponsored by the Rhode Island Resource Conservation & Development Area (RIRC&D), the University of Rhode Island - Department of Natural Resources Science (URI), the RI Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS), the RI Department of Environmental Management Division’s of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), and Forest Environment (DFE), USDA-NRCS, and the RI Forest Conservators Organization (RIFCO).

Recyclopedia, and Eco-Depot Collection Dates for the Year ~ 2011

Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation is the place to go to get rid of all the stuff that somehow accumulates in the cellar, the garage, under sinks, and other ignored places. The website is full of useful information. For the Central Land Fill, there is a sign-up form to prevent long wait times for bringing your household hazardous waste for disposal. This page also explains what Household Hazardous Waste is and why it's important to dispose of these things carefully. Hazardous waste includes mercury, which is found in thermometers, thermostats, and fluorescent bulbs, including the CLFs.

One of my favorite sections is the Recyclopedia. It tells whether or not the item can be recycled, and if so, where it's welcome. All too many things don't have safe recycling options yet, though. We can consider not using these things, or else dream up businesses that would reuse them somehow. RIRRC wants suggestions to improve the Recyclopedia, and you can suggest other places to recycle stuff. I suggested to them that garden hoses could be used by RiverzEdge Arts Project to make lawn furniture and now that's in the Recyclopedia.

All of the following dates are now mixed in to What Grows On in RI to make it easier to GET THAT STUFF OUTTA THERE safely! It's FREE to Rhode Islanders.

Central Landfill Eco-Depot Dates:

• January 8, Johnston 65 Shun Pike
• February 5, Johnston 65 Shun Pike
• March 5, Johnston 65 Shun Pike
• April 9, Johnston 65 Shun Pike
• May 7, Johnston 65 Shun Pike
• June 11, Johnston 65 Shun Pike
• June 18, Johnston 65 Shun Pike
• July 9, Johnston 65 Shun Pike
• July 23 , Johnston 65 Shun Pike
• August 20, Johnston 65 Shun Pike
• August 27, Johnston 65 Shun Pike
• September 17, Johnston 65 Shun Pike
• September 24, Johnston 65 Shun Pike
• October 22, Johnston 65 Shun Pike
• November 5, Johnston 65 Shun Pike
• November 19, Johnston 65 Shun Pike 
• December 10, Johnston 65 Shun Pike

Outlying Eco-Depot Dates:

• March 12, Warren - 21 Birch Swamp Road
• March 26, Glocester -91 Chestnut Hill Road
• April 2, Coventry- 1668 Flat River Road
• April 16, Middletown / Computer Middletown Second Beach
• April 23, Foster -181 Howard Hill Road
• April 30, Richmond – 51 Buttonwoods Road
• May 14, Narragansett Beach / Computer S. Pavilion*
• May 21, Woonsocket - 1117 River Street
• June 4, Portsmouth – PHS 120 Education Lane*
• June 18 Smithfield – 3 Spragueville Road
• June 25, South Kingstown - 180 High Street
• July 30, Charlestown - Cross Mills
• August 13, East Providence - 60 Commercial Way
• August 27, North Providence - NPHS 1828 Mineral Spring
• September 10, North Kingstown -2050 Davisville Road
• September 24, Tiverton – 50 Industrial Way
• October 1, Newport -70 North Halsey Street
• October 15, East Greenwich - 2 Bear Swamp Road
• October 29, Westerly - Transfer Station Larry Hirsch Drive
• November 5, Warwick 925 Sandy Lane*

** NOT CONFIRMED YET

E-Waste is collected at all Johnston collections, no appointments are needed.

We serve approximately 25 people every 15 minutes. Appointments are used to avoid everyone arriving at one time, thus reducing waiting times.

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.