In 1971, the local chapter of The Nature Conservancy bought its first Rhode Island property — the 50-acre Ell Pond Preserve in Hopkinton for $20,000. The Audubon Society of Rhode Island owns 218 acres.

About 85 percent of the old-growth forests in North America’s Pacific Northwest have been cut down.

Installing a storm door can increase energy efficiency by 45 percent, by sealing drafts and reducing airflow. Storm doors also offer greater flexibility for letting light enter your home.

What: Two Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) public meetings regarding permanent noise monitoring act.  
When: Wednesday, Feb. 10, 12:30-1:10 p.m.; Thursday, Feb. 11, noon-1 p.m.
Where: William Hall Free Library, 1825 Broad St., Cranston; Mary Brennan Board Room, second floor, TF Green Airport, Warwick.
About: RIAC officials will present reports and findings from 2009 regarding airport noise.
Info: Call 401-691-2297 or visit pvdairport.com.

What: “Improving Our Stewardship of Creation: Where are the Resources We Need?”
When: Thursday, Feb. 11, 4:30-9:20 p.m.
Where: La Salle Academy, 612 Academy Ave., Providence.
About: The conference will have workshops on climate change, permaculture for sustainability and environmental education. The event also will include a panel discussion on the resources and programs available to help consumers become more energy efficient. Rhode Island Interfaith Power and Light is sponsoring the event.
Cost: Suggested donation of $10.
Info: Call 401-267-0029 or visit riipl.org.

What: “The Economical Historic Home: Energy Efficiency Workshop for the Old House Owner.”
When: Tuesday, Feb. 16,
12:30-4 p.m.
Where: 29 Touro St., Newport
About: Enhancing the energy performance of an older home doesn’t require spending lots of money on cutting-edge furnaces, pricy replacement windows or the latest insulation. Old-time Yankee frugality makes sense in this economic climate and can guide decisions about how to make an old house more “green,” saving money and energy without damaging its historic character. Sponsored by Preserve Rhode Island and the Newport Restoration Foundation.
Cost: $25 per person; $20 per person for members or with a winter festival button.
To register: Visit newportrestoration.org.

What: Scituate Reservoir Watershed Public Field Tour.
When: Saturday, Feb. 20,
9 a.m.-noon.
Where: Meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot on the south side of the road across from Trinity Church, 251 Danielson Pike, a half-mile west of the intersection with Route 116.
About: Providence Water is beginning a series of seasonal field tours. Each of these tours will visit a different part of the property and combine an outdoor walk with information on topics including current land management projects, natural history and the environment, and past settlement and land-use history. The first of these tours will take place in the forest on the west side of the Horseshoe Dam near the village of North Scituate. A sugar bush has been established here to collect maple sap for making maple syrup. At this time of year the sap will be flowing.
Cost: Free and open to the public.
To register: Visit provwater.com or call Forest Supervisor Christopher Riely at 401-521-6300, ext. 7313.

Farmers have sought ways and means to extend their growing season for generations.
    Traditionally, this was achieved through the construction of greenhouses, or hotbeds, both of which can be labor and dollar intensive.
    In recent years, the development of the high tunnel or “hoop house” has given farmers a relatively low-cost alternative to the traditional methods of extending growing seasons.
    They are used year-round in more temperate parts of the country, and have been a boon to farmers, and farmers’ market customers, in these regions. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting grant applications from Rhode Island farmers for the construction of high tunnels through the “Know your Farmer, Know your Food” initiative. Rhode Island is one of 38 states participating in the three-year high tunnel pilot program, which is funded through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program.
    High tunnels are built by stretching plastic sheeting over ribs — or hoops — made of metal or plastic pipe, and they modify the climate underneath them to allow for a lengthier growing season in the natural soil. Given the low weight — compared to the glass used in greenhouses — and the increased heat created — compared to the heat generated by hotbeds — high tunnels are easy and inexpensive to build and maintain.
    Adding high tunnels to Rhode Island farms would allow for the cultivation of greens, beans, tomatoes, summer squashes and many other “summer” vegetables much later into the growing season. Imagine having the option to buy locally grown arugula, tomatoes or zucchini in December, at winter farmers’ market.
    Twenty-five Rhode Island farms already have applied for the grant, and the NRCS expects to award 50 such grants. The money will provide for tunnels that cover less than 2,200 square feet, and, though the dollar amount has yet to be determined, could provide up to $1 per square foot.
    Farmers interested in the grant can find application materials at usda.gov or by calling the Rhode Island office at 401-822-8848. Applications must be received by the close of business Feb. 15.

The petroleum and trucking industries recently sued to block California’s first-in-the-nation mandate for cleaner, low-carbon fuels.
    The National Petrochemical & Refiners Association and the American Trucking Associations filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Fresno. It is the third suit filed in the past two months challenging the regulations, adopted by the California Air Resources Board in April.
    The groups say regulators violated the federal Commerce Clause by enacting rules that interfere with interstate commerce, favor biofuels produced in California and do little to reduce the nation's greenhouse gases.
    Air Resources Board chairwoman Mary Nichols issued a statement chastising the groups for challenging a regulation she said would save Californians $11 billion over the next decade. The board has said the low-carbon mandate will reduce California’s dependence on petroleum by 20 percent and account for one-tenth of the state’s goal to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 2020.