Earth Month 2026
Plog with us in April and May
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3 Rain Barrel Workshops with Bristol - Barrington & Middletown
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Native seedlings ON SALE NOW!
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Plog with us in April and May 🌎 3 Rain Barrel Workshops with Bristol - Barrington & Middletown 🌎 Native seedlings ON SALE NOW! 🌎
Earth Month 2026
Earth Month with the Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District
Earth Month is packed with hands-on ways to care for our land, water, and communities across Bristol and Newport Counties.
Our Native Seedling Sale Store is now open, featuring locally appropriate native plants that support pollinators, wildlife, and resilient landscapes. It’s an easy way to make a positive impact right at home.
Throughout Earth Month, we’ll also be hosting Rain Barrel Workshops around the district, helping residents learn how to capture rainwater, reduce runoff, and protect local waterways. We have 3 workshop dates for Bristol, Barrington and Middletown. (scroll down for more info)
And for those who like to move while making a difference, join us for severaal Plogging Events (scroll down for more info)—a fun mix of jogging and litter cleanup—hosted with Rhode Races and local run clubs. Get outside, get active, and help keep our roadsides, parks, and neighborhoods clean.
From planting to conserving water to caring for shared spaces, Earth Month offers something for everyone. Join us in celebrating—and protecting—our local environment.
April 25th, 2025
Seedling pick-up
10 AM-12 PM
Greenvale Vineyards
582 Wapping Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871
Plogging!
(what’s that?)
Plogging combines light exercise with environmental action—and it all started in Sweden. The idea is simple: walk or jog, pick up litter along the way, and turn everyday movement into something that makes a real difference. At the Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District, plogging is one of the ways we bring people together to care for our local environment, boost wellbeing, and make sustainability part of everyday life. By partnering with great community organisations like Rhode Races, plogging becomes more than a clean-up—it becomes a shared experience rooted in connection, local pride, and collective impact.
On April 18, 2026, Eastern will be partnering with Newport Rhode Races for Race Day Plogging during the Newport Marathon and Half Marathon. Volunteers are invited to walk or jog 1–4 miles while helping keep the race courses and surrounding areas free of trash and debris. Plogging opportunities will take place along the half marathon course in Newport, the marathon course in Middletown, and at Easton's Beach. One step, one piece of litter at a time—this is community action in motion.
Run. Plog. Repeat.
Plog with Run Newport - April 7th
Fogland Plog - April 26th
Plog and Chug with Newport Run & Chug - May 14th
Rain Barrel Workshops
Learn how to make a rain barrel and take it home for a fraction of the retail cost, while supporting local conservation efforts!
Take & Make Rain Barrel Program
Protect the Watershed. Save Water. Support Local Conservation.
Learn how to make a rain barrel and take it home for a fraction of the retail cost while supporting local conservation efforts.
Using a rain barrel is a simple, effective way to reduce polluted runoff and protect Narragansett Bay. Each barrel captures stormwater from your roof and stores it for lawn and garden use.
Cost: $60 per barrel
Includes:
Unpainted rain barrel
Complete installation kit (connects to your downspout)
Prep instructions via video and FAQ
Why Rain Barrels Matter
Lawn and garden watering accounts for up to 40% of summer household water use (EPA).
Stormwater runoff from roofs carries oil, sediment, and pollutants into local waterways.
Capturing rain at home reduces runoff and protects rivers, streams, and Narragansett Bay
For More Rain Barrel FAQ’s Visit Our Residential Rain Barrel Info Page
