A Legacy Conservation Project
“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” — Greek Proverb.
Don and Dorothy McCluskey at their Block Island home.
Over many decades, Don and Dorothy McCluskey joined with the BI community to successfully protect the island’s land and environmental treasures as public open space. As he reached his 100th birthday, Don McCluskey took that vision for Block Island’s land to the next step. He saw potential for Block Island’s open land to become a model of stewardship and innovative care for the soil, for biodiversity, and for the climate and community as a whole. Although he knew he would not live to see the results, he hoped to plant seeds that would inspire others to heal and sustain the land and climate for generations to come.
Native Physistegia vir. planted 2022
Changing the way we think about conservation.
Beyond protecting land from development, we want to think about land conservation as a radial and dynamic act. Our goal is land stewardship that not only champions open space but rewilds, regenerates and restores these spaces to healthy, thriving ecosystems.
Heirloom Kale grown without pesticides for the Community Pantry. 2022
To truly protect the earth we believe that we also must protect its most vulnerable people. At Re Block Island our work focuses not only conscientious land stewardship but centers ecological and economic justice, community care and uplifting the voices of Black and Indigenous communities.
Beyond Conservation
Commitment to Sustainability
Our work is committed to sustainability and the long term health of the planet. We use only battery operated tools and mowers, which are fueled by solar power. Our planting and pest control methods center integrative soil care and abstain from the use of any chemical herbicides or pesticides. Our focus is restoring Native plant populations for a changing climate.
Aster n.a “Alma Potchke” Planted 2022
Join us as we work to promote radical land conservation in the Block Island community and beyond.
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