Edward Abbey

On my final day of class, my environmental science professor shared a quote by Edward Abbey that really pertains to my blog. I believe that it is so important to invest time and work into conservation but do not forget to appreciate the land as well.

"One final paragraph of advice: Do not burn yourself out. Be as I am-a reluctant enthusiast... a part time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it is still there. So get out there and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, encounter the grizz, climb the mountains. Run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, that lovely, mysterious and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to your body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much: I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those deskbound people with their hearts in a safe deposit box and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this: you will outlive the bastards" Edward Abbey

I love this picture of Edward Abbey. His face tells a story

Then & Now

In the Newport Daily News, there is a section at the bottom of the paper called "Then & Now". There are frequent images portraying Aquidneck Island as it was in the past and present pictures showing the changes that have been made over the years. Many of the images show new housing developments and construction but other times the past and present pictures look extremely similar. It always makes me so happy to see the areas that remain unchanged. When I am home can post a picture of one of the articles. They are one of my favorite parts of the paper.

I found this picture online and I really liked the quote from John Muir. John Muir has become known as the "father of preservation" and "father of the national parks". He was influenced by the wilderness and also by the work of Ralph Waldo Emerson. He even spent the day with him. Muir founded the Sierra Club and overall epitomizes what it means to be connected with the natural world.
Here is a site called the "John Muir Exhibit". Provides information about his life and mission.
John Muir Site

My other favorite John Muir quote is 

"Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean"

Relationship

I have been thinking a lot about how it is so important to appreciate all the things that we have.  We seem to realize how special they are when they are not there. The same can be said for our relationship with the environment. Once we give it up and let it go, we can never get it back. It cannot simply be restored, the beauty cannot be recaptured. It is so important to appreciate all the miracles around us because they cannot be taken for granted. May it be saying I love you to someone or taking the extra time to appreciate that beautiful tree in the yard, all it takes is a little extra care.

View of the water at Fort Adams in Newport

Ocean Drive

View of rocks and water

Ocean Drive is my favorite place on the island. The Drive is ten miles long filled with views of rugged cliffs, beautiful homes, areas for flying kites and picnicking, bike paths, and overall coastal beauty unlike anywhere else in the world. My favorite memory of Ocean Drive was when I was driving during a storm and my windows were down and a huge wave crashed against the wall and all the water sprayed into my car. It was so powerful and for some reason made me so happy. I will never forget it. My best friend and I also love to get ice cream and drive along the drive to simply take in all that this scenic road has to offer.

  

Picture of part of the road with benches overlooking the water

Ocean Drive is beautiful at all times but especially during sunset!

Ocean drive on the map. It is the white road that runs along the edge of the island.

Almy Pond on the Map

Shot of the Almy Pond Conservation Area. The brown on the left is the start of the water and wetlands. 

Almy Pond

Spouting Rock Drive, Newport Rhode Island
This land is extremely valuable because of the wetlands on this property. It is very important as a habitat for wildlife and also provides breathtaking views. 19.66 acres have been protected.

View of the water from behind some brush

ALT sign posted in front of the saved property 

Other Beauties!!

Newport is notoriously known for its beautiful coastline, especially the famous Cliff Walk. The Cliff Walk is a combination of spectacular ocean views along with seeing the elaborate mansions from the Gilded Age. It is a National Recreation Trail in a National Historic District. It started as just a path along the shoreline until improvements were made by funds from the National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund. It is a three and half miles long.

A picture of the coastline and path. Walls were added to help prevent erosion along the cliffs.

Surfers taking advantage of the local access to the water. The waves can get pretty big here, especially when hurricanes hit.

Shot looking straight out at the water, you can see parts of Newport and Middletown, if you look really closely you can see the St. George's chapel, the highest point of the island.

One of my favorite parts of the Cliff Walk, "Love is Life". Many people tap these letters before proceeding under the tunnel.

Gooseneck Cove

Gooseneck Cove-Ocean Avenue, Newport Rhode Island 02840 

Left side of cove, many people stop to take pictures of this area

This 58 acres of land has been restored with the help of the Aquidneck Island Land Trust and the City of Newport. This area used to be subject to algal blooms and was a poor environment for many species. After the restoration efforts, it is now a suitable habitat for many animals and also a picturesque landscape. 

Picture of the cove behind the land trust sign. 

Interview with Jan Eckhart

As I mentioned below, Sweet Berry Farm is an extremely important part of the local community. It offers produce, musical concerts, christmas trees, pumpkins, and so much more. There is such a friendly environment at Sweet Berry which draws so many residents in. I briefly interviewed Jan Eckhart, the owner of the farm to hear his view on the importance of ALT and open space in general.

Morton Park

Morton Park-Spring Street, Newport Rhode Island 02840
Morton Park is 12.1 acres of protected land that is perfect for sledding, picnicking, playing on the swing set  or walking the dog. It is a great place for children and families. I grew up playing on this park and getting dizzy on the tire swing.

Picture oft the playground at the park. Swings, slides, and benches

Picture of the left side of the park. In the winter, this area is a popular destination for sledding

Card in the Car

I found this card in my car and I believe it fits in nicely with the message of my blog.
The picture below is of Third Beach. There has been much debate over putting in a 200 foot boat ramp/pier at this public beach, which would disrupt the environment of this coastal haven. Because of this threat to the environment, this card is calling residents to speak out against this issue.

PROTECT WHAT YOU LOVE

O'Neill

Berkeley Avenue, Middletown Rhode Island
8.23 Acres of protected land. Important buffer for the Maidford River. Conserving this land not only saved the land itself but also helped protect the drinking water on the island.

Sign in front of the conserved property

Land behind the sign

Newport National Golf Club

Newport National Golf Club-Stretchs through Middletown and Portsmouth Rhode Island. Mitchell's Lane, Wapping Road, Wyatt Road (near Wyatt Fields)
This 300 acres of land includes 2.2 miles of the Sakonnet Greenway Trail. This trail is perfect for walking and enjoying the outdoors. It is free and open to the public. At the beginning of the trail, one can see the beautiful 18 hole golf course. It also provides a safe home for many endangered species, similar to the Norman Bird Sanctuary. Barn Owls, Northern Harriers, and Snowy Egrets are all species who need to be protected.

Map of the trail, property conserved by the ALT is in light green

Picture of the first stretch of the trail

Picture of the 18 hole golf course

Norman Bird Sanctuary/Third Beach

Red A is the entrance to the Bird Sanctuary

Norman Bird Sanctuary/Third beach-583 Third Beach Road, Middletown Rhode Island
The Norman Bird Sanctuary is a beautiful piece of land that provides a safe haven for endangered species. It also is a great place to hike, especially to "hanging rock", which is a rock that overlooks the reservoir and beaches. The Norman Bird Sanctuary also hosts a series of "Bird Camps" for children and an annual Harvest Fair for the local community. I love the Harvest Fair, especially the kettle corn. This 23.87 acres of land protected by the ALT also includes a cattail marsh and a small tidal estuary. Third Beach is a public beach located across from the cattail marsh. It is a popular place to swim, sail, and relax. I love going to third beach because it is usually less crowded and is a very calm atmosphere.

Third Beach
http://cozybeach.com/rhodeislandpics/middletown-beach.jpg

Students working in the marsh

This is site of the Harvest Fair. To the left is a much more wooded area

Demery Memorial Park

ALT sign posted below park sign. Partners in preservation!

Demery Memorial Park-Riverview Avenue, Middletown Rhode Island
There were many ideas surrounding how this piece of land should be used. Fortunately, with the help from the ALT, this 6.28 acre plot of land is a beautiful natural park perfect for walking, sitting, or enjoying the scenery. From time to time there are even wild, golden raspberries that grow!

View from the left side of the park, healthy green space

View from right side of the park, many benches to sit and relax 

Sign at the entrance on the park. 

Overhead shot of park

Wyatt Fields

Wyatt Fields-Wyatt Road, Middletown Rhode Island.
The ALT has conserved 13.98 acres to be used for local recreation among the residents. In season, this space is usually filled with various soccer teams and their families. I grew up playing soccer on the fields and I am so grateful to have this open space. It is a a great area for children to play outside.

This is a picture of just one of the fields. There are other fields to the left of this space as well. 

Here is an overhead shot of Wyatt Fields. You can see the faint lines of the soccer field. 

Sweet Berry Farm

It was such a beautiful day today so I decided to take pictures of some of the land that has been saved by the ALT.
Sweet Berry Farm-915 Mitchell's Lane Middletown Rhode Island 02842

This is one of the many stretches of produce growing on the farm

     The first place I visited was Sweet Berry Farm, a beautiful piece of land of about 80 acres. Sweet Berry Farm is a very popular place among the local residents, including myself. The farm sells everything; organic fruits and vegetables, christmas trees, flowers, ice cream, sandwiches, pumpkins and much more. It is always filled with people talking, laughing and simply enjoying all that Sweet Berry has to offer. In 2010 it was voted Best Locally Grown Food and Best Local Grower in 2011 by Newport Life Magazine. 
Here is the link to the Sweet Berry Farm home page. Sweet Berry Farm Website 

This is the main building. The farm used to sell its produce simply out of a tent but now it has expanded to accomodate more people and food.

I took a screen shot to show the land that is used at the farm. The red A is the entrance of Sweet Berry

What a Road!

 The image I found on google earth with the ALT sign is on this road. Because of the views and open space, this street is one of my favorites on the island. Thanks to the ALT, many are able to enjoy all the beauty this route has to to offer.

Here is a shot of the view from the top of the road. 

Here is another shot of the road before it leads to the water. 

I went on google earth to look at some images of the open space on the island and randomly zoomed in and ended up seeing a piece of land with an Aquidneck Island Land Trust sign on it! This piece of land has been saved by the organization and it will never be developed. What a nice site to see every day!

Appreciation

I have always been fascinated by how we as humans view nature. I believe that no two people have the same perceptions of the natural world and because of this, there are so many mixed views and opinions. I think that the environment we grow up in has a strong impact on the way we view certain topics. I know that my parents have influenced me greatly and my upbringing has caused me to really appreciate my natural surroundings.  I also think growing up on the island has caused me to realize how sacred the land and waterfront truly are. After hearing about the acres of land rapidly disappearing all over the globe, I have taken a little more time each day to notice and appreciate the beautiful scenery around me. After being home from school, I was driving along a road that I have driven millions of times, I could probably drive it with my eyes closes (but i won't!!). After being away for a few months, I realized that in the past I had taken this road for granted. It had become a routine part of my hectic life that I had failed to notice its ever-changing beauty. I had failed to notice the reddish orange leaves, the towering branches, and at the end of the road, the long stretch of sand and ocean waves. After that ride, I promised myself that I would never again overlook these works of art in my own backyard. It is so important to appreciate what is available to us as humans because if we do not at first appreciate the world around us, how are we expected to love and respect it? 

"Together saving the island we love"- ALT

To help save this land, there have been a series of fundraisers on the island. I have both taken part and    noticed this local action being taken. Every year there is a 5k run/walk race for open space. There is also the Aquidneck Island Paddle race which was founded by a family friend. Participants must raise 100 dollars to enter and either kayak, stand up paddle or traditional paddle all the way around the island with other members from their relay team. The teams work in shifts and take turns but one person must always be in the water. Another very popular event is the Fiesta Verde Summer Party. It is an eventful night filled with dancing, food, raffles, jewelry and other gifts! There is also a golf tournament at the Newport National Golf Club. What makes all  of these events so wonderful is that they help show the natural beauty of Aquidneck Island. The 5k race takes place on the Sakonnet Greenway trail, the largest nature trail on the island. The Fiesta Verde Party overlooks Cliff Walk, a beautiful winding path displaying Newport's coastline. The golf tournament takes place on property that is conserved by the land trust. These events allow the residents to see exactly what they are saving. I think it is a very wonderful thing. I strongly suggest visiting the website linked below. Here you can find more information about this worthy cause.

ALT Logo. Look for it!

Aquidneck Island Land Trust

The Aquidneck Island Land Trust (ATL) is a non-profit organization that was started by a group of passionate and committed local individuals in 1990. This organization is responsible for saving over 2,000 acres of precious land across the island. The members and trustees hope to “ save the natural character, environmental health and economic value of Aquidneck Island”.  Along with saving this valuable land, the ALT also promotes and protects

·      Clean drinking water,

·      Wildlife habitats and biodiversity

·      Agricultural resources

·      Reduced greenhouse gases and energy consumption

·      Scenic visits

·      Recycling

·      Green electricity

·      Educational opportunities

I will soon post some pictures of the land that has been saved to the efforts of these local people! 

Aquidneck Island Land Trust Page

Leopold Inspiration

"Think like a Mountain" 

Land Ethic

As Leopold discusses in A Sand County Almanac, we have an ethical obligation to treat the land with respect. All creatures, big and small, should be granted the right to simply exist. Leopold also talks about the importance of conservation and how has a human race we should preserve these natural wonders in our own backyards.

    "A land ethic, then, reflects the existence of an ecological conscience, and this in turn reflects a conviction of individual responsibility for the health of the land. Health is the capacity of the land for self renewal. Conservation is our effort to understand and preserve this capacity" (Leopold, 221).

I strongly recommend this book for anyone who wishes to learn about the importance of working with the land and not against it.

Aldo Leopold-"Conservation is getting nowhere because it is incompatible with our Abrahamic concept of land. We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect" 

View from above

Aerial shot of Aquidneck Island 

The definition of conservation as defined by dictionary. com is 

con·ser·va·tion

  

1.

the act of conserving;  prevention of injury, decay, waste,or loss; preservation: conservation of wildlife; conservation ofhuman rights.

2.

official supervision of rivers, forests, and other naturalresources in order to preserve and protect them throughprudent management.

3.

a district, river, forest, etc., under such supervision.

4.

the careful utilization of a natural resource in order toprevent depletion.

5.

the restoration and preservation of works of art.

The definition of preservation:

pre·serve

1.

to keep alive or in existence; make lasting: to preserve ourliberties as free citizens.

2.

to keep safe from harm or injury; protect or spare.

3.

to keep up; maintain: to preserve historical monuments.

4.

to keep possession of; retain: to preserve one's composure.

5.

to prepare (food or any perishable substance) so as toresist decomposition or fermentation.

as you can see, the definitions are quite similar. they both mention protection. 

Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land.
Aldo Leopold