The Northern Rhode Island Conservation District works in partnership with private land owners, farmers, municipalities, state and federal agencies, as well as non-governmental agencies. NRICD is not a regulatory or enforcement agency, but rather provides assistance to those who desire to work as a team to face issues -- watershed by watershed.
This year we have a BRAND NEW seedling being offered, as well as your favorites from years past. Why get a bushel of roses when you can get a bundle of seedlings?
Ordering is now open!
Order link: https://northern-ri-conservation-district.myshopify.com/
Plog with us this spring, and help keep Providence beautiful!
When: Sunday, May 4, 2025
Time: Whenever you can make it!
Where: Courses start and end at Bold Point Park in East Providence
For the first time in NRICD history we are partnering with Rhody Races for their Providence marathon! We need volunteers to help plog; that is, pick up litter while jogging. Whether it's water bottles or confetti, marathons leave their mark. Help us keep the race running smoothly and join in the festivities for free!
Can't volunteer because you're participating in the race? Add us as your charitable partner to help support conservation efforts in Rhode Island!
To register for plogging:
Visit https://rhoderaces.com/volunteer/ and click on Providence. You will find plogging below Green Team sign ups. There, you can sign up to plog for the marathon, 5k, or half marathon courses. What section you choose is up to you! We're happy to have you when and where ever you can help.
Please contact Molly Allard, District Manager at mallard.nricd@gmail.com or call 401.934.0840 ext. 2 to set up an appointment.
Yearly Well Water Workshop Has Been Scheduled!
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 from 6 - 7 pm
Scituate Community House
546 West Greenville Road
Scituate RI 02857
Learn the importance of regular testing, how to protect your well water from pollution, proper well maintenance, and more!
Registration not required, but appreciated!
RSVP Here
Seed to Seed Program
To learn more or register, please visit:
https://bigtrainfarm.com/soil-plant-and-farm-methodology-courses/
To learn more or RSVP, please visit:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdBvt8K_R2LR0GyF4kXaH_JVrRocx3UtEu642iuST-2DG2mhA/viewform
Blackstone Parks Conservancy: Woods and Walking Trail Assistance
Blackstone Parks Conservancy is looking for volunteers to help us support the 40 acre Blackstone Park Woods on the Seekonk River and the Blackstone Boulevard Park, with its beloved walking path.
Volunteers are needed to help maintain trails and gardens and replace invasive plants with natives. Contact cdrake@blackstoneparksconservancy.org to get involved!
You can also find more information on the web at
https://www.blackstoneparksconservancy.org
Burrillville Land Trust: Trail Clearing, Clean Up
The Burrillville Land Trust is looking for professional help to clear fallen trees on their trails, as well as general public volunteers to assist in a future spring clean up of their parks.
Those interested, please contact burrillvillelandtrustfriends@gmail.com.
Are you a member of a land trust, community garden club, or other nonprofit group looking to recruit volunteers? Contact Outreach Specialist Jessamy at jlebeau.nricd@gmail.com - we want to help!
Save the date! Thursday, March 13th, RIFCO is having Fern Graves, Stewardship Forester with the RI Division of Forest Environment, presenting at an indoor and outdoor workshop to introduce and discuss the new RI Forestry BMP manual at Camp E-Hun-Tee, which is located within the Arcadia Management Area in Exeter, RI. More information to come!
Register here:
https://www.rifco.org/event-registration.htm
Join us on the 4th Tuesday of every month for our board meetings! We offer snacks for in-person attendance, and a virtual option on zoom and Youtube Live for those who wish to join at home. See below for upcoming dates.
To join via zoom, click on this recurring link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83772016080
Meeting ID: 837 7201 6080
To join on Youtube, visit our channel, Northern RI Conservation District.
https://www.youtube.com/@NorthernRIConservationDistrict
For more information about the following workshops or to register for the zoom link, please contact Paul Dolan, RI RC&D Director, at 401-500-0399 or rircd2283@gmail.com.
Next Envirothon Meeting:
Thursday, March 13th @ 3:30 pm
Want to learn more about Envirothon? Join us Thursday either online or in person to find out more about this year's competition, and how you can get involved!
To join us in person, please head to the Northern RI Conservation District office at 2283 Hartford Avenue, Johnston, RI 02919. To attend online, please join using the link below!
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83909717576?pwd=VTBUQy9QYmE1OFJzekVjUEZOYkpIQT09
Meeting ID: 839 0971 7576
Passcode: 894289
The theme this year is Roots and Resiliency: Fostering Forest Stewardship in a Canopy of Change.
This year’s 2025 Rhode Island competition will be on Friday, May 23, 2025, location and time TBA. The national Envirothon competition will be held at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta, Canada from July 20 - 26, 2025.
What is Envirothon?
Each year over 25,000 high school students across the United States, Canada, China, and Singapore take part in The Envirothon® . It is an environmental problem-solving academic competition for high school and middle school students. Students learn through lessons taught firsthand by professionals as well as outdoor field experiences in the areas of aquatic ecology, forestry, soil health, land use, wildlife preservation, and localized environmental topics. Teams with the best solution to the environmental problem presented move to regional competition, and then to the global level. Winners compete for scholarships and awards along the way, and become part of a global alumni network of researchers, scientists, politicians, and more.
The Envirothon is a program of the National Conservation Foundation (NCF) and supported by the NCF-Envirothon Operating Committee.
Read more about NCF here: https://www.nationalconservationfoundation.org/
RI Envirothon Website: https://www.rienvirothon.org/
Envirothon Global Website: https://envirothon.org/
Want to get involved in Envirothon?
It's not too late for your school to join the fun! Contact President Peter Stetson or Coordinator Paul Dolan at 401-500-0399 or rircd2283@gmail.com. Envirothon also welcomes community volunteers and is currently looking for board members. Please reach out directly for more information.
Envirothon is also taking gift card orders through RaiseRight as a fundraiser for next year's winning team to travel to Alberta, Canada for the international finals!
Check out the gift cards being offered and what proceeds will be donated to Envirothon here: https://www.raiseright.com/
To order your gift cards to benefit Envirothon, contact Peter Stetson at petestetson8@gmail.com
NRICD Farm of the Year: Basil Farm!
We are pleased to announce this year's farm of the year, Basil Farm! Basil Farm is operated by Lia Lee and Xeng Yang who have over 40 years of farming experience in many different environments- from Laos to America, from city to countryside. Basil Farm markets its produce at the Neutaconkanut Park and Sankofa farmers markets in Providence, as well as fulfilling special orders for small local markets. They also participate collaboratively in the Snake Den Farm Committee. Congratulations, Basil Farm!
To our valued Providence County farmers, growers, and forest managers:
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Providence County Team and Northern Rhode Island Conservation District (NRICD) are both in periods of unprecedented growth and change. Many of our longtime conservation planners are moving on to new opportunities, promotions, and new careers, causing us to welcome new members to our planning team. At the same time, record amounts of federal conservation funding were received in the 2024 fiscal year.... READ MORE
Farm, Forest, and Open Space program applications are signed by appointment only. To arrange an appointment, please contact Molly Allard at mallard.nricd@gmail.com or 401.934.0840 ext. 2. These appointments take 15-30 minutes, can typically be scheduled within the week, and a $100 fee to NRICD is due at the time of the appointment.
For more information about Farm, Forest, and Open Space, please visit the RIDEM Division of Agriculture or speak with your local tax assessor.
2024 RI Envirothon Winner!
Winner of the 2024 Envirothon is the Wheeler School!
Thank you to all those who made this year's Envirothon possible! Follow RI Envirothon on Facebook for more updates.
Our DM Molly is radio famous! Listen below to her interview on the Resiliency Radio Hour show, hosted by the Southern RI Conservation District (SRICD). Gina Fuller, SRICD District Manager, and Katie Keiffer, SRICD Board Member, host this weekly broadcast highlighting the latest in RI conservation news.
Listen to Molly's episode:
https://tinyurl.com/Molly-Allard
Learn more about Resiliency Radio Hour:
https://www.sricd.org/resiliency-radio-hour-17f616a
Thank you to all who came out to support us! We're hopeful to sell out again next year. Have any questions, comments, or concerns about this year's dinner? Reach out to Outreach Specialist Jessamy LeBeau at jlebeau.nricd@gmail.com.
Thank you to all who joined us on our fungi walk! We'll see you ghouls and goblins next year!
Gather Farm Tour — Monday, September 30, 2024
Thank you, Gather Farm, for having us! Check out our photos from this event below, and stay tuned for our next tour!
Are you a farm or land owner in Providence County and would like to host a tour of your property? Please email outreach specialist Jessamy, at jlebeau.nricd@gmail.com!
Our indoor oyster mushroom workshop with the RI Mycological Society, which was to be held Saturday, May 25 at the Knight Memorial Library in Providence, is in the process of being rescheduled.
If you are interested in attending, please fill out the Google form below!
Indoor Oyster Mushroom Workshop Interest Form
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