4417 Old Post Rd

The Cross Mills Library is located on a 6 acre parcel in Charlestown which houses the library and a historic one room schoolhouse and is located in the vicinity of several other historic structures. The complex is situated at the edge of a coastal forest and adjacent to several well-tended English-style cutting gardens maintained by library volunteers and members of the URI Master Gardener program. Additionally, the property includes a large wooded section which includes walking trails which are accessible at the rear of the library property. The trails are maintained by the Charlestown Land Trust. A new post and beam open air pavilion was installed behind the library which created an opportunity to combine several library initiatives; to encourage the development of a native plant garden for educational programing, to augment the seed library, and to provide an attractive native plant garden between the pavilion and the wooded area. The native plant garden helps to define the space and creates an attractive entrance to the trails. In 2024, the new garden area was cleared, the ground prepared and a collection of native plants suitable to the Northeastern Coastal Forests ecoregion59 were procured with funds from a grant from Grow Rhode Island Native Seeds ("GRINS") Other plants were procured through donations. The plants were selected and arranged to display a variety of leaf textures and colors throughout the growing season and to take advantage of the full sun location at the foreground and the shaded area to the rear. The gardens were planted by volunteers of the library, and others who are part of the URI Master Gardeners and Rhode Island Wild Plant Society programs. In this beautifully sited outdoor classroom, the native eco59 garden will serve as an educational resource for the library to teach the importance of native plants, biodiversity, the role of pollinators in everyday life and how the garden provides valuable food sources for birds, butterflies, insects, caterpillars, and small ground animals. Unlike many cultivar species, these native species have evolved to flourish without requiring supplemental fertilization or irrigation. The garden helps visitors identify native plants with signage so as to demonstrate how these plants may fit in their own landscapes. Along with 14 other Rhode Island libraries, Cross Mills Library is participating in the GRINS program https://sites.google.com/view/growrinativeseeds. The program’s goal is to empower Rhode Islanders to grow and champion native plants via seeds with assistance and information resources made available at local libraries. From the library, patrons can “borrow” seed, plant native seeds to sow plants in their own gardens and then replenish the seeds with seeds collected from their gardens. In the fall, seeds will be collected from the library garden to enhance the offerings of native seed available in the seed library. Along with its team of gardeners, the library will also offer programs throughout the year that highlight various methods, aspects and benefits of sowing and planting native plants.