Introduction to the Island Culture & Conservation Efforts

Our first task from Corrie Heinz (the owner of Pond and Beyond Kayaks and internship leader for the summer) was to explore the island’s culture, geography, and just observe; comparing the differences from it to any other place I had ever been. During the winter the island’s population drops to around 900 people, making it a cozy small community where everybody is interconnected; while summer it spikes to around 12,000.

Coming from life in the city, I first had to acclimate to riding my bike everywhere; on the island majority of people don’t have cars, so biking or walking places is common. My first week I explored the 5 most visited trails and preserves on the island: Clay Head Preserve, Fresh Swamp Preserve, Hodge Family Wildlife Preserve, Nathan Mott Park & Turnip Farm, and Rodman’s Hollow; in total there are over 30 miles of public walking trails on the island.

In addition to hiking and trails, what has kept this island’s charm is its locality of businesses including stores, accommodations, and Victorian hotels. It is one of the only places I have ever visited that does not allow chain/corporate owned business (besides one Ben & Jerry’s in town). All of the island’s businesses are locally owned and operated, including stores, B&Bs, inns, hotels, and landscaping, contracting, and building companies.

Tips that the Block Island Information Center has on all pamphlets and maps in order to maintain a clean environment and preserve the island’s well-being include: if you bring trash, you leave with it, avoiding dunes to preserve nature’s work in creating and restoring them, for boaters-use of the pump-out service on the Great Salt Pond, and precaution against deer ticks.

Lastly, I want to mention what I’ve learned about the Block Island Wind Farm (Deepwater Wind). The Block Island Wind Farm is the first offshore wind farm in the United States, providing the island its power (reducing electric rates by around 40 percent) and reducing air pollution across Southern New England as a whole. The farm is made up of five 30 megawatt turbines located 15 miles offshore.

Overall, my initial introduction to the island was to that of a highly preserved area culturally and environmentally, where working together as the tight community they are, keep safe and conserved. It brought me into reflecting a life where the cycle doesn’t harm nature, but lives in a mutually beneficial relationship alongside of it.