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Winter 2025 News from the Southern RI Conservation District (SRICD)

A person stands next to a moose statue wearing jeans and a hat, in a snowy urban setting.

Greetings from the National Association of Conservation District's (NACD) annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah!  We are halfway through the winter and the Southern Rhode Island Conservation District team has been very busy! In addition to working with our farmers, forest owners  and landowners preparing for the upcoming growing season, we are thrilled to be working in and serving our clients at our new officie space located at 9 East Avenue in Westerly, next door to our Fresh Harvest Kitchen!

We recently held the first of our "Eating Around the World" series with our recent pierogi tasting event at Fresh Harvest Kitchen where we featured three varieties of pierogi's handmade by local ""chefs," including one from yours truly from a family recipe.

Next week, week will be hosting a Local Working Group session to gather public input on programs and services we provide as well as an online survey that we hope you will complete so that can better meet your needs. Check out the details below.

We are also happy to be working with the Carrot Project to offer a free business coaching sessions for our farmers. Be sure to browse through this newsletter to learn more about what's happening at SRICD and visit our website at sricd.org as well as our social media channels for news and updates.As always, you can reach out to me  with any conservation questions or concerns you may have at gfuller@sricd.org.  

A cursive handwritten signature in blue ink.

 

 


Upcoming Events

Are you a farmer, forest owner or community gardener that has previously worked with our conservation planners on NRCS programs or activities in the past? We want to hear from you! Please join us for our upcoming Local Working Group session to help us identify key conservation needs in Washington and Kent counties and focus our efforts on the issues that matter most to the community.

This is an annual opportunity for you to have your voice heard and make a real impact on conservation programs offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) here in Rhode Island.  Details below!

An icon with text "ONLINE SURVEY" next to a checklist with green checkmarks.

 

Register here and complete our online feedback survey.

Local Working Group session ad for farmers in RI. Event on Saturday, February 22, 10:30 AM at Louttit Library, West Greenwich, RI.
Coaching for farm profitability, Feb 20, 2025, Southern RI Conservation District. Topics: bookkeeping, budgeting, business plans.
Savvy Shopper workshop by Rhode Island Community Food Bank on Feb 26, 6-7:30 PM at Fresh Harvest Kitchen, Westerly, RI.

Soil Steamer Use and Technical Assistance 

A portable steam generator on a red trailer in a garden setting, with a greenhouse in the background.


The Southern Rhode Island Conservation District offers rental services and technical assistance for the use of a Sioux Steam-Flo Soil Steamer. This innovative tool helps agricultural professionals and hobbyists alike prepare their soil for planting by organically eliminating harmful pathogens, weeds, and pests. Learn more about how the Sioux Soil Steamer works, why it's an essential tool for organic farming, and how you can access one. Click here to learn more!

"Eating Around the World" Tasting Series 

Check out photos from our recent pierogi tasting event at Fresh Harvest Kitchen. Look for more events to come this spring!

Three people smiling, one wearing a red hat and apron, another in a gray "Boston" hoodie. They're indoors near a counter.
Two women sitting indoors, smiling and holding plates of food.
A person in a red apron cooking sauerkraut and mushroom dumplings, with a sign reading "Baldyga Family Recipe."
Three people sitting at a small table with drinks and snacks, near taco products and wall decor.
Two trays of stuffed pastries with labels for cabbage and pork, sauerkraut and mushroom.
Two people in a kitchen; one is stirring food in a pot, smiling, and wearing an apron, while the other stands smiling in a beanie and hoodie.
Two people in a kitchen, wearing aprons, holding food. Smiling and standing in front of refrigerators.
Two people sitting at a table in a café with food and drinks, posing with thumbs up.
Three people smiling, one wearing a red hat and apron, another in a gray "Boston" hoodie. They're indoors near a counter.
Two women sitting indoors, smiling and holding plates of food.
A person in a red apron cooking sauerkraut and mushroom dumplings, with a sign reading "Baldyga Family Recipe."
Three people sitting at a small table with drinks and snacks, near taco products and wall decor.
Two trays of stuffed pastries with labels for cabbage and pork, sauerkraut and mushroom.
Two people in a kitchen; one is stirring food in a pot, smiling, and wearing an apron, while the other stands smiling in a beanie and hoodie.
Two people in a kitchen, wearing aprons, holding food. Smiling and standing in front of refrigerators.
Two people sitting at a table in a café with food and drinks, posing with thumbs up.

Welcome Ashlee Barrett!

Congratulations to our new board member Ashlee Barrett who was elected to the SRICD board of directors in November, 2024. Ashlee and her fiance Stanton Terranova own and operate Terranova Farm Livestock Sanctuary in Hope Valley, RI.

A person with glasses smiling indoors, with a snowy cityscape visible through the window behind them.


 

 

 


How Can We Help?

Need technical assistance? Have a conservation question? Contact any of our team members.

A collage titled "Our Conservation Team" featuring six team members with their names and roles.
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