Great news for environmental preservation in the East Bay. Jason Peckham, owner of Ferolbink Farms in Tiverton, has made an agreement with various environmental groups to protect 179 acres of his farmland. On the shores of the Sakonnet River and Fogland Marsh, this land will now be safeguarded from all future development. This is not only a great step for the preservation of farmland in Tiverton but is also important for the local wildlife who use the marsh and tidal land as a refuge and buffer against storms.

A collection of environmental groups, including the State Department of Evironmental Management, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Nature Conservancy and the Tiverton Land Trust, are responsible for raising up to $4 million dollars on behalf of this cause.  This conservation agreement is a wonderful stride towards preserving the scenic Tiverton views for future generations.

This weekend, the Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living will host The 8th Annual RI Sustainable Living Festival and Clean Energy Expo.  Held this Saturday & Sunday, June 6th & 7th, the event will include musical performances, vendors, kids’ activities and 80+ workshops on everything from renewable energy to organic gardening.  Musical performances include Dar Williams, Crooked Still, Patty Larkin, The Low Anthem and more.  Children under 12 are free!

This announcement comes at a great time as Danielle North and I have just received our Green Designations!  As National Association of Realtors (NAR) Green professionals, we are now equipped with the resources and ongoing education that will help us to market green properties and to help buyers to find properties that will help them to conserve energy and other resources.  Check out the website for Ministerial Farms, a development of 5-star energy rated homes with geo-thermal heating that I am currently marketing.

Visit GreenResourceCouncil.org for more information on NAR’s Green Designation.

New, Sleek, Elegant and Cutting-Edge!

No, it’s not the latest Apple product or iPhone app it’s Clayton Homes new manufactured home. This new “Green” home features solar panels, energy efficient appliances and other energy-saving products. Kevin Clayton, CEO of Clayton Homes, a fan of Apple and their products said “the ‘I’ stands for innovation, inspiration, intelligence and integration”. Depending on the amenities, the i-House is priced from $100 to $130 a square foot.

Check out a tour of the i-House here.

Click here to read the full i-House article on Yahoo!

In celebration of Earth Day, here are a few of our favorite local green sites:

• farmfreshri.org Links local farmers and buyers
• ripower.org Sustainable and affordable energy
• directory.sustainableri.org Sustainable living directory
• resourcexchange.org To find or dispose of reusable items
• cleanscape.com Local shredding, landscaping and recycling services
• naturalnews.net Rhode Island’s own online magazine about the environment

Did we forget something? Feel free to add to our list in the comments section!