URI Cooperative Extension

06/01/2026

Wait for it… 🥕

It’s finally June and you know what that means.
🎶 This is how we do it. 🎶

The summer month in Rhode Island everyone has been waiting for!

Whether you’re direct seeding, transplanting, or finally getting your hands back in the soil, there’s plenty to plant from now through June 15.

Check out the RI Planting Calendar at the link in our bio for what to plant this month or visit: uri.edu/coopext/services

URI Master Gardener volunteers are here to help, too. Reach out to our Gardening and Environmental Hotline (swipe right 👉) if you have questions!

05/29/2026

Join the URI Cooperative Extension for a sensory learning experience at Barrington Farm School, where you’ll:

🌱 Explore the medicinal garden and learn how to grow and preserve a variety of herbs
🍃 Engage your senses: touch, smell, and experience the unique qualities of each plant
🍵 Taste refreshing, garden-grown iced herbal teas, each featuring distinct flavors and aromas
🌿 Take home fresh herbs to enjoy and use in your own kitchen or tea blends

We’ll also dive into sustainable living practices with a look at BFS’s composting systems:

♻️ Learn about three different composting methods (worms, aerated, and traditional)
🌾 Discover the benefits of compost tea for plant health
🪴 Take home a jug of freshly brewed compost tea for your own garden

This interactive experience is perfect for herb enthusiasts, gardeners, and anyone curious about natural wellness and sustainable living.

Cost: $20 per person. Free for FRRI grads. Proceeds benefit the Food Recovery for RI Scholarship Fund.

🌲Tickets:
https://www.givecampus.com/schools/UniversityofRhodeIslandFoundation/events/don-t-spill-the-tea-workshop
🫖Event link:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1E313Ggenp/

05/28/2026

Here are just a few of the many free gardening workshops we’re offering this June 🌱
We’re bringing gardening education statewide, so you can learn right in your community. Join us for a free workshop and pick up practical, research-based tips for whatever you’re growing this season.
Free and open to all, thanks to the educational efforts of the URI Master Gardener Program.
📍 uri.edu/coopext/events

05/20/2026

Happy World Bee Day 🐝

Bees and other pollinators play a critical role in healthy ecosystems and food production. Small changes at home can make a real difference.

A few ways to support pollinators in your yard this season:
🌼 Plant native flowering species
🌳 Add trees and shrubs that provide early-season pollen and nectar
🚫 Reduce or avoid pesticide use when possible
💧 Leave some natural habitat and water sources for beneficial insects

Swipe through to explore a few of these free resources from the URI Bee Lab and learn how you can help support pollinators in your own yard and community. 🐝

05/15/2026

Wait for it… 🥕

It’s mid-May and you know what that means.
🎶 This is how we do it. 🎶

The forecast is looking beautiful across Rhode Island this weekend and planting season is really starting to ramp up.

Whether you’re direct seeding, transplanting, or finally getting your hands back in the soil, there’s plenty to plant from now through June 1.

Check out the RI Planting Calendar at the link in our bio for what to plant this month or visit: uri.edu/coopext/services

URI Master Gardener volunteers are here to help, too. Reach out to our Gardening and Environmental Hotline (swipe right 👉) if you have questions!

05/13/2026

5 best practices for growing safer produce at home 🍅

A few simple habits in the garden can help reduce food safety risks and protect the produce you grow for yourself, your family, and your community.

Swipe through for 5 practical tips you can put into action today.

For the full guidebook, visit the link in our bio or: uri.edu/foodsafety/gardening

Questions? Contact the URI Gardening and Environmental Hotline:
401-874-4836
[email protected]

05/12/2026

Food waste and food insecurity are deeply connected issues affecting communities across Rhode Island and beyond. URI Cooperative Extension will be hosting a conference focused on helping institutions, commercial kitchens, and organizations better understand food donation, food recovery, and safe handling practices for unused food.

The conference, taking place on June 4, will bring together experts and community partners to explore practical strategies that help reduce food waste while supporting local food access efforts.

Read this latest edition from Rhody Today to learn more and register.

KINGSTON, R.I. – May 8, 2026 – Commercial kitchens often have surplus food that can be donated to organizations in need — but what is the best way to do that? The University of Rhode Island’s Cooperative Extension is hosting its 32nd annual Rhode Island Food Safety Task Force Conference on T...