Keeping it Green The waves thumping on the pebbly shores
of our music and arts festival, ConserFest sought
of the Bluffs, the gulls singing from their dune
to bring folks together under the banner of con-
perches, the swoosh of wind through the crooked
servation stewardship. As of 2020, the festival is
shad groves: these sounds are the orchestra of is-
entering its’ 12th consecutive year. Over 200 mu-
land life. I am blessed to call home a place that is
sicians have performed at the festival over the
so loved by its residents and visitors alike for its
years. It has also been a fantastic opportunity for
natural beauty, and I have always been enchanted
local businesses, artists, and entrepreneurs to
by both the visual and the sonic aspects of this
come and showcase their work, products and ser-
island, known as “one of the last great places.”
vices that are in line with the festival’s mission.
Block Island is a torch-bearer in the conservation
Furthermore, each year, the festival strives to im-
world. It was established as such by the local con-
prove the organizing and running of the event,
servationists who in 1972 acquired Rodman’s Hol-
as we work towards making ConserFest environ-
low, and through the continued hard work of the
mentally impact-free. Funds raised from the fes-
local conservation organizations such as Block Is-
tival have contributed to major land acquisitions,
land Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy,
established an annual B.I. school scholarship,
among others. Block Island has so much to enjoy,
and supported the dune-grass initiative, amongst
in community life as well; the arts have become
many other things.
an important staple of our summer activities. So
Every day there is a new way to get involved
much is available, from the excellent galleries and
in protecting and celebrating our natural envi-
art shows to the farmer’s markets and fairs, from
ronment on our beautiful island — our flora and
the Block Island Music Festival to the handful of
fauna. It can be as simple as picking up litter off
superb nightclubs and music venues.
the ground, volunteering for one of the local con-
ConserFest was founded with these two im-
servation groups, riding your bike instead of driv-
portant elements of island life in mind. It began
ing a car, reducing the use of plastic by avoiding
with the idea of finding a new way to merge the
single use plastic bags and balloons, adopting re-
island’s commit-
usable shopping bags for all your local purchases
ment to conser-
— the list goes on. Making sure that the younger
vation
generations understand the importance of these
Photo by K. Curtis
ship
stewardwith
the
actions is paramount to what ConserFest works
c o m m u n i t y ’s
to achieve. One thing is for sure: if Block Island
love of the arts.
continues to be a small but mighty leader in the
The goal was to
modern conservation movement, we will be en-
engage all ages of
joying the sounds of the island orchestra for gen-
the local and vis-
erations to come.
iting communi-
#embraceyourplace #musiconamission
ty, with a strong
For more information on ConserFest, the conserva-
focus
tion movement on Block Island, and how to get in-
on
our
youngest gener-
volved, please visit: www.conserfest.org or
ations. Through
www.biconservancy.org
the
www.blockislandinfo.com
organizing
Cameron Greenlee.
Close To Home, A World Away
27
