Keeping It Green

The waves thumping on the pebbly shores of the Bluffs, the gulls singing from their dune perches, the swoosh of wind through the crooked shad groves: these sounds are the orchestra of island life. I am blessed to call home a place that is so loved by its residents and visitors alike for its natural beauty, and I have always been enchanted by both the visual and the sonic aspects of this island, known as “one of the last great places.” Block Island is a torch-bearer in the conservation world. It was established as such by the local conservationists who in 1972 acquired Rodman’s Hollow, and through the continued hard work of the local conservation organizations such as Block Island Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy, among others. Block Island has so much to enjoy, in community life as well; the arts have become an important staple of our summer activities. So much is available, from the excellent galleries and art shows to the farmer’s markets and fairs, from the Block Island Music Festival to the handful of superb nightclubs and music venues.

ConserFest was founded with these two important elements of island life in mind. It began with the idea of finding a new way to merge the island’s commitment to conservation stewardship with the c o m m u n i t y ’s love of the arts. The goal was to engage all ages of the local and visiting community, with a strong focus on our youngest generations. Through the organizing Cameron Greenlee.

www.blockislandinfo.com of our music and arts festival, ConserFest sought to bring folks together under the banner of conservation stewardship. As of 2020, the festival is entering its’ 12th consecutive year. Over 200 musicians have performed at the festival over the years. It has also been a fantastic opportunity for local businesses, artists, and entrepreneurs to come and showcase their work, products and services that are in line with the festival’s mission. Furthermore, each year, the festival strives to improve the organizing and running of the event, as we work towards making ConserFest environmentally impact-free. Funds raised from the festival have contributed to major land acquisitions, established an annual B.I. school scholarship, and supported the dune-grass initiative, amongst many other things.

Every day there is a new way to get involved in protecting and celebrating our natural environment on our beautiful island — our flora and fauna. It can be as simple as picking up litter off the ground, volunteering for one of the local conservation groups, riding your bike instead of driving a car, reducing the use of plastic by avoiding single use plastic bags and balloons, adopting reusable shopping bags for all your local purchases — the list goes on. Making sure that the younger generations understand the importance of these actions is paramount to what ConserFest works to achieve. One thing is for sure: if Block Island continues to be a small but mighty leader in the modern conservation movement, we will be enjoying the sounds of the island orchestra for generations to come. #embraceyourplace #musiconamission

For more information on ConserFest, the conservation movement on Block Island, and how to get involved, please visit: www.conserfest.org or www.biconservancy.org