Oct
08
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Wednesday, 08 October 2008 |
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Lisa Sussman, NNN's Natural Mom, finds that a love of nature can be expressed in many different ways.
The green gene comes from unexpected places.
People sometimes ask me where I get my love of the outdoors from. And I surprise myself by replying, “My mother.”  Let’s be clear. Mom definitely wasn’t a really a nature person. Oh, she had her moments. She actually met my father at a summer camp in the Adirondacks. He was a lifeguard, she was a guest. A mutual friend had asked my mother to deliver a note to my father. Dad, who is also a magician (!), made the note disappear although he was wearing only a swimsuit. Mom spent the rest of the day trailing him trying to find out what happened to the piece of paper. The rest, as they say, is history.
But while Dad loves the mountains, the ocean and the scent of pine (the real kind - not the kind that comes in a spray), mom would sooner go to the ballet than watch the birds cavort in the backyard. For her, the only grass and trees she wanted to spend time with were the kind painted as scenery in a play. Mom wouldn’t even venture outside without five layers of SPF50, a hat and a parasol and a fan. Going for a stroll to get some fresh air meant walking down a busy city street. Fresh flowers came in a bouquet. And as for ants, bees and other insects – it was fight or flight. Really, as far as mom was concerned, the best bug was a dead one.
Click on "More..." for the rest of Lisa's story.
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Oct
08
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Wednesday, 08 October 2008 |
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Was Columbus a hero explorer or a brute invader? History, as they say, is never really past -- that we find ourselves where we are today, and that we are who we are, and that we live in this particular place, is all tangled up in what happened hundreds and thousands of years ago. But while we struggle to untangle the misty past, it's the future that remains for us to choose. Will we make a newer, greener, more hopeful world? A holiday weekend seems as good a time as any to start.  Among our neighbors who make that choice every day -- to make a newer, greener world -- are RI's hardworking local farmers. Fall is a crucial time for them to generate the income they need to survive, and we all can help... and have some fun and get outside, too. Visit a farm, take your kids to a corn maze, go buy a pumpkin or two, or tag your Christmas tree. The folks at RI Farmways have all the info, you'll find hay rides and winery tours listed too. Also, many local farmers markets are still open, Farm Fresh has all the details. And on Saturday, Frerichs Farm in Warren hosts the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off, click here for details.
CoastWeeks events continue with lighthouse tours and cruises in Newport Harbor. Saturday, Audubon leads a bike ride on Prudence Island, a great opportunity to explore this unique place at a perfect time of year. The trip leaders are careful to protect you from ticks -- which in any case, you should be careful of anywhere in RI -- so get out there and enjoy! Go to the CoastWeeks site for details on these events.  Also coming up starting Saturday is the Restore America's Estuaries conference, a national gathering right here in Providence through the 15th. Click here for all the info. Lots of options not only for eco-professionals but for citizen scientists, educators, and volunteers too. Next Tuesday evening, URI continues its awesome global-change speakers series, click here for info.
Check out NNN's Community Calendar for lots more listings, kid events, art exhibits, workshops, and lots more. Pumpkin photo courtesy of Frerichs Farm.
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Oct
08
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Wednesday, 08 October 2008 |
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A bunch of events are coming up in the next couple of weeks. Here's a preview so you can mark your calendar now.... Kettle Pond Soup and Stories Fundraiser, in Charlestown, Oct. 16. Bioneers by the Bay, in New Bedford, Oct. 24-26. The RI Tree Farm Program Fall Tour, in West Greenwich, Oct 25. RI Wild Plant Society Annual Meeting, in Bristol, Nov. 8. Save The Bay, Bay Bash fundraiser, in Providence, Nov. 15.
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Oct
08
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Wednesday, 08 October 2008 |
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We can all learn how to more efficiently use the energy we need to power our homes, and a new program from URI aims to help move us in that direction. The Master Energy program, modeled after the school's popular master gardener program, comprises five sessions that will provide you with practical information about how to save money and the environment by optimizing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and alternative fuels in your home.
This course will be taught by Robert S. Cerio, who has 25 years of experience in environmental and energy conservation management. Classes start Oct. 20 at the URI Kingston Campus, and the full program costs $75. For more info, click on "More...." 
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Oct
07
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Tuesday, 07 October 2008 |
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Wednesday night, Oct. 8, you can find out all about green building, at this Save The Bay program at the Westerly Public Library. In Part II of their speakers series, Mindful Design: Progress and Nature in Harmony. Tom Weber, builder for South County Post and Beam, will be talking about the first LEED-rated house in Rhode Island. The house, which is under construction in Narragansett, is a candidate to achieve a GOLD rating under the United States Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED-H rating system. The residential project will become the first of its kind for Rhode Island, marking a significant step forward in rethinking residential design and construction. The resulting home will have significantly reduced energy consumption, increased indoor environmental air quality, and an overall diminished impact on the environment. Be there, 7 to 8 pm, the event is free and open to all. For more info, contact Rebekah Kepple at STB, (401) 315-2709, Email:
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Click here for a map to the library. 
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