Fall 2023
Newsletter

Invasive Plants in
Canonchet Farm

View Canonchet
Farm Video

Plans for the
Linear Park

CANONCHET FARM TRAIL

New:
GEOLOGY TRAIL

Watch a short film on Habitat Restoration at Lake Canonchet

On Protecting Canonchet #1
The Master Plan

On Protecting Canonchet #2
Appropriate Uses

On Protecting Canonchet #3
Management of the Park

On Protecting Canonchet #4
Finance Issues

Photos:

Cleanup at Lake Canonchet
September 10, 2011

Charlie Lee Remembrance
February 6, 2011

Canonchet History
Who was Canonchet?
by Richard Vangermeersch

Canonchet Farm Master Plan
Town Council Holds Workshop on Planning Board Report

Our Response
October 21, 2010

Our Vision and Recommendations for Canonchet Farm
April 2009

Pictures
Guided Walks Fall 2010

Beech Grove Cleanup Complete
Cleanup - Day 4
October 31, 2009

Beech Grove
Cleanup - Day 2
October 9, 2009

Tom Wessels
Guided Walk
October 10, 2009

Other Links

Narrow River Preservation Association

South County Museum

On Pettaquamscutt 2017

Narragansett Chamber of Commerce

Sitemap

Newsletter, Spring of 2017

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2016: LOOKING BACK

The most important event of 2016 was the signing in September of an agreement between the Town of Narragansett and the Friends of Canonchet Farm, which states in part: “1. The Town, through its Department of Parks and Recreation, agrees to oversee and supervise mutually agreed upon activities and/or projects undertaken by FOCF according to the stipulations of the Plan with approval of the Town Council or its designee.” We are now officially allowed to work at Canonchet Farm.

In February10 an article by Betty Cotter appeared in The Narragansett Times titled “An Easy Hike with Gorgeous Views,” It began, “An unconventional walk in the woods renewed my spirit near the end of a disagreeable election season.” See the full article.

And on November 11 in the Providence Journal Scott Turner wrote in his column about the guided walk he led at Canonchet Farm. Read Scott's article.

On November 13, from 9 am to 1 pm, 45 young women from the URI Women’s Rowing Team, using wheelbarrows, rakes, and shovels, spread 30 cubic yards of gravel on western sections of the Canonchet Farm Trail, making for a safer, more enjoyable trail for an autumn walk. The gravel was supplied by the Parks and Recreation Department and Herb’s Earth Farm. Work on the trail will continue through the winter and spring.

Left, members of the URI Women's Rowing Team at work November 13 on the Canonchet Farm Trail.

In May, Beth LaLiberte’s URI geology class created a flyer, teacher’s guide, student’s activity sheets and an online virtual tour of the Geology Trail, upon which work continues.

After checking with experts, it was decided that volunteers could not control the phragmites that have invaded the area around Lake Canonchet. Therefore, we hired an environmental firm to use herbicides on these plants. It will be an ongoing project for many years, since eradication is difficult.

One hundred and one volunteers worked 1,523 hours on our two major projects: Habitat Restoration (April to September) and trail improvement (January to April and October to December).

Rosemary and David Smith say goodbye to Habitat Restoration. After more than five years, and 550 hours, Rosemary and David are moving on from their supervisory roles with FOCF to help other nonprofits achieve the same success that they have overseen for Canonchet Farm. They spent many unrecorded hours on preparation for the volunteer work. And they have left us in good shape and with the knowledge we need to keep our organization purring along.

Just another day in the park: Above, a few of the 101 volunteers who together put in 1523 hours on Habitat Restoration and trail improvement last year.

Saturday trail maintenance, weather permitting, continues through the winter and early spring. Decisions on working will be made on a weekly basis. If you want to join us, please email events@canonchet.org.

On Pettaquamscutt: Presentations on the Environment and the History of the Narrow River Watershed, Maury Loontjens Memorial Library, 35 Kingstown Road, 1 to 3 pm:

Sunday, January 29: “Improving the Health of the Narrow River Estuary.”  Craig Swanson and Jennifer White

Sunday, February 26: “Amphibians and Reptiles in the Narrow River Watershed.” Nancy Karraker

Sunday, March 26: “Industry along the Pettaquamscutt.” Tim Cranston

A DAY AT THE MUSEUM

We will cooperate with South County Museum on a May 13 presentation called. "A Day at theMuseum." We are sponsoring three programs linked to items the museum has in its collection. The three programs are a talk by archaeologist Jay Waller on the cemetery; a geology trail guided walk by Beth Laliberte and a history-related program to be announced.

Guided Walks

Saturday, April 22 (Earth Day), 1-3 PM, Led by Robert Kenney, “Dr. Bob.”

Tuesday, May 9, 1-3 PM, Birds and More, led by Laura Carbery of the Audubon Society of RI.

Saturday, May 13, 10-4, A Day at the Museum, presented by Friends of Canonchet Farm and South County Museum.

PLEASE NOTE: We are in the middle of our membership drive for 2017. If you want to support our preservation efforts, please send your donation to Friends of Canonchet Farm, PO Box 418, Narragansett, RI 02882.

Map of Canonchet Farm
Shows trail heads and points of interest
For more information about the Friends of Canonchet Farm,
email Tom Hoagland (tom.hoagland963@gmail.com).
Copyright © 2007-2024 Friends of Canonchet Farm
Last modified: March 13, 2024