What Grows On in Rhode Island News

Lost Ladybug Project

Remember the little red ladybugs (not those orange ones that are multiplying like crazy and plague homeowners in the fall and winter)? They love to eat the aphids that wreak havoc in the garden ~ great friends of farmers and gardeners. Apparently their numbers are in decline, though, and the Lost Ladybug Project is gathering data on where they are so we can try to figure out how to preserve our native ladybugs.

You can help! If you see any, photograph and submit the photo to the Lost Ladybug Project website. Rhode Island is way behind other states in reporting on ladybug sightings. To date (September 9, 2010), Rhode Island has only 39, while Massachusetts has submitted 308 and Connecticut 92. Colorado has the most sightings so far with 1637. The state totals are after the totals for species on this page.

Maybe the reason Colorado is so far ahead in the count is this YouTube video.

Who knew there were so many different kinds of ladybugs? So far, 96 species have been identified. There are ninespotted, twospotted, transverse, and multicolored Asian for starters, and the Project is counting how many of each of these are discovered.

The Project website has directions about how to participate. It's a great activity to do with children. 

Please spread the world throughout Rhode Island (click on Share This below for handy redistribution aids to post on Facebook, your Twitter feed, and so on), keep your eyes peeled when you're in the garden or out and about, and help us understand what is happening to the ladybugs.

Thanks!

BioBlitz Slide Show & Pot Luck Dessert Social ~ August 17, 2010

Survey members, friends, and the public are invited to join the RINHS staff,  event partner Roger Williams Park Zoo, and many of the BioBlitz 2010 Block Island participants for a Slide Show & Pot Luck Dessert Social!
 
If you are a BioBlitz regular but couldn’t make it this year… or have always wanted to get to a BioBlitz but haven’t been able to… or have never heard of a BioBlitz but are curious…  cross out what is already on your calendar and write us in!  You’ll be treated to fabulous photos of flora, fauna, friends, and foes! Art photos, science photos, panoramas, and macros!
 

Webcast ~ Be Out There: National Summit on Children and the Outdoors ~ April 10, 2010

Audubon to Host Live Webcast of the Summit

Be Out There: National Summit on Children and the Outdoors

Audubon Environmental Education Center;

April 10, 2010; 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Please join Audubon for a live webcast viewing of a national summit on children and the outdoors sponsored by The National Wildlife Federation (NWF).  Those interested in state and federal policy solutions to connect children with nature are urged to attend.

This free webcast will feature NWF President & CEO Larry Schweiger, US Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and other national experts. A panel discussion entitled "New Partners and Innovative Strategies to Address the Indoor Childhood" will be featured. For more information contact Audubon Senior Director of Education Kristen Swanberg at (401) 949-5454 ext. 3111 or by email at [email protected].
 

The Earth-Friendly Food Chain

Announcing the Publication of The Earth-Friendly Food Chain

Cosmick Press has just published The Earth-Friendly Food Chain, by Linda Riebel, a San Francisco Bay area environmental educator. Rhode Islanders interested in healthy eating, urban agriculture, community-supported agriculture, farmers' markets, local food, and slow food will find a great resource guide in this book.

The Contents include:

• Your 5 Most Important Decisions

    Eat Food, Not Chemicals
    Eat Lower on the Food Chain
    Eat Shorter on the Food Chain
    Eat Wider on the Food Chain
    Nude Food!

• Finding Earth-Friendly Food
• Meals at Home
• Join the Movement

    Sustainable and More Humane Agriculture   
    Food Professionals   
    Growing Your Food
    Spice Up Your Social Life

• Food for Thought

    Are the Dangers Real?
    Dueling Data: Trade-offs and the Learning Curve
    Help Endangered Species
    Animal Farm
    The Elephant in the Room
    Good Intentions

• The Win-Win-Win Situation
• Time and Money

Tisdale Environmental Education Awards Close November 20, 2009

From Environment Council of RI:

Attention RI Middle School and High School Science Teachers, Science Club Supervisors, and environmental organizations working in schools:

The Environment Council of Rhode Island Education Fund (ECRI Ed Fund) is pleased to announce the application period for the Fifth Annual Loraine Tisdale Environmental Education Fund awards.
 
The Loraine Tisdale Fund honors a woman whose energy for a just and healthy environment is legendary. Mrs. Tisdale held an undergraduate degree in chemistry and a degree in nursing. For many years she led an organization that addressed safety and health issues concerning pesticides.

We are pleased to offer 3 grants of up to $250 to teachers or environmental organizations for support of projects that
1.      Have student participation
2.      Lead to measurable improvement in the environment
3.      Involve the community beyond a school in some way

The application deadline is November 20, 2009 and awards will be made in January 2010 for projects to be undertaken in the Spring of 2010.

Please see http://www.environmentcouncilri.org/tisdale10.html for further details.

Loraine Tisdale Environmental Education Awards Deadline ~ November 20, 2009

From the Environment Council of RI Education Fund:

Announcement of Application for Environmental Education Awards

Dear RI Middle School and High School Science Teachers, Science Club
Supervisors, and environmental organizations working in schools,

The Environment Council of Rhode Island Education Fund (ECRI Ed Fund) is
pleased to announce that we are opening the application process for the
Fifth Annual Loraine Tisdale Environmental Education Fund awards.

The Loraine Tisdale Fund honors a woman whose energy for a just and healthy
environment are legendary. Mrs. Tisdale held an undergraduate degree in
chemistry and a degree in nursing. For many years she led an organization
that addressed safety and health issues concerning pesticides.

We are pleased to offer 3 grants of up to $250 to teachers or environmental
organizations for support of projects that
1. Have student participation
2. Lead to measurable improvement in an environmental condition
3. Involve the community beyond a school in some way

The application deadline is November 20, 2009 and awards will be made in
January 2010 for projects to be undertaken in the Spring of 2010
.
Applicants should complete the below application and attach a one page
description of the project including the cooperative components of the
project, what the participants will gain, and how the success of the project
will be measured. Applicants should note that a final report with at least
one photograph of the project in progress must be produced at the end of the
project and presented to the Environment Council by July 15, 2010.
Applications should be sent to the Environment Council of Rhode Island
Education Fund .

We would prefer that applications be emailed to us at
[email protected] but will also accept applications by mail
to:
ECRI Ed Fund
PO Box 40568
Providence RI 02940

The Environment Council is more than willing to answer any questions you
have about the program and to discuss potential projects with you. We can be
contacted either by email at the address listed above or by phone at
621-8048.

Sincerely,
Greg Gerritt
for the ECRI Ed Fund


Application for the Loraine Tisdale Fund Environmental Education Awards
1. · Name of Applicant
2. · Address
3. · Phone/ email
4. · Name of Project Leader/ Director/ Responsible Person
5. · Name of group/ school sponsoring the project
6. · Town in which project will occur
7. · Number of persons carrying out project
8. · Purpose of project
9. · Budget for the project, including sources of funds and
whether those funds are in hand
10. · Completion date for project

Please include a one page description of the project including the
cooperative components of the project, what the participants will gain, and
how the success of the project will be measured.

We would prefer that applications be emailed to us at
[email protected] but will also accept applications by mail
to:
ECRI Ed Fund
PO Box 40568
Providence RI 02940

RI Sustainable Schools Summit ~ September 24, 2009

From Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living:

There is still room at the 2nd Annual RI Sustainable Schools Summit Thursday, September 24th 8:00am - 4:00pm at the URI Shepard Building at 80 Washington St., Providence, RI

 

Rhode Island Schools: Taking Strides to Sustainability
Attention Superintendents, Administrators, Teachers, Students, School Board Officials, Facilities Managers, Principals, Parents, School Green Teams and Community Members:
 
Join the Apeiron Institute for this FREE program as we take an in-depth look at some green initiatives in local schools and discuss ways to integrate environmental sustainability in school environments, school food systems, & curricula. 
Register for free at www.apeiron.org