MITCHELL FARM
2008
In 2008, ConserFest was already building momentum around environmental conservation through land acquisition on Block Island. The first campaign was to raise funds and awareness to support our local parent organization, Block Island Conservancy, in its ambitious campaign to acquire the historic Mitchell Farm.
“All of this was achieved within one year of starting the campaign. This is a remarkable feat!
One of the Island’s most cherished vistas, over 1,000 feet of road frontage with open field landscape running north and south is now protected and will remain uninterrupted and intact. Those 1,000 feet are as important to Block Island’s sense of community as is the overlook at Rodman’s Hollow.” (biconservancy.org)
great salt pond
2009-2011
Over the ensuing three years (2009-2011), ConserFest focused its exclusive support for BIC to aid in the prevention of a major dock expansion from going into the Great Salt Pond. The expansion posed a seriously destructive threat to the fragile ecosystem of the pond, especially the pond floor. Through extensive court processes, countless town hall meetings and local efforts of support from individuals, businesses and non-profit entities, like ConserFest, the expansion was successfully thwarted. Woohoo!
Solviken Campaign
2012-2013
In 2012 and 2013, ConserFest helped to raise awareness and funds for BIC’s “Solviken Campaign,” an effort to acquire and protect an environmentally volatile stretch of land (an “ithsmus”) located on the edge of Block Island’s downtown.
“The Solviken property involves two lots totaling an acre of land between Harbor Pond and the inset of Crescent Beach. Environmentally it is an extremely vulnerable location. A third half-acre in the parcel has been acquired by the owner of the adjacent land for limited development. Block Island Conservancy partnered with the Block Island Land Trust in order to acquire the property.
The property was the home to the Solviken Restaurant in the 1950’s and early 1960’s and many years prior the building housed the Negus family and their blacksmith shop. The building has been unused for many years and has deteriorated to the point it cannot be saved.”
After a two-year campaign, ConserFest’s efforts raised thousands of dollars in funds for BIC and they were successful in making the acquisition of the Solviken land. Today, the land is a space open to the public to enjoy. Many stop by to enjoy a picnic or get a drink and fill up a water bottle at its public fountain, and take in the spectacular ocean view.
ISLAND TRAIL MAINTENANCE
2014
In 2014, BIC expressed a sincere need to ramp up efforts for maintaining and sustaining the growing open space trail system that winds its way throughout the breathtaking natural landscape of Block Island. ConserFest funds went towards upgrading BIC resources to more effectively address this environmental need.
BLOCK ISLAND SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP
2015-Present
In 2015, after years of support and encouragement from the Block Island community, artists and our parent org, BIC, ConserFest officially became a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization! In this year, the ConserFest Stewardship Scholarship for the Block Island School was initiated and has become a mainstay of the ConserFest fundraising focus ever since.
Since becoming a 501(c)3, ConserFest has worked to ramp up fundraising efforts each year, reaching out to local businesses, educational efforts and fellow non-profits to build out a strong line-up of needed campaigns to support conservation, education and environmental awareness on Block Island.
Please read more about the scholarship and our other current projects and campaigns by clicking here.
