Southside Community Land Trust

THE ORGANIZATIONS PURPOSE IS TO INCREASE SUSTAINABLE URBAN FOOD PRODUCTION BY TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO GROW FOOD, LOCATING, SECURING IN TRUST AND MANAGING LAND, INCREASING ACCESS TO RESOURCES, SKILLS AND MARKETS, CREATING COMMUNITIES OF SUPPORT WHERE PEOPLE SHARE TOOLS, SKILLS AND INSPIRATION AND MODELING REPLICABLE AND FINANCIALLY VIABLE PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES.

SCLT OWNS AND MANAGES 50+ COMMUNITY GARDENS, URBAN AND PERI-URBAN FARMS IN PROVIDENCE, PAWTUCKET, CENTRAL FALLS AND CRANSTON. WE PROVIDE GARDENERS AND FARMERS WITH EDUCATION, GARDENING RESOURCES AND ACCESS TO LAND WHERE THEY CAN GROW THEIR OWN, HEALTHY FOOD. WE ALSO EXPOSE 225 CHILDREN TO GARDENING AND NUTRITION EDUCATION EACH YEAR, INCLUDING 25-30 YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WHO WORK PART-TIME MANAGING SCLT'S YOUTH ENTERPRISE FARM, ACQUIRING WORKPLACE SKILLS, CONDUCTING COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN ABOUT HEALTHY EATING AND BASIC GARDENING SKILLS. HIGH SCHOOL AND YOUNG ADULT STAFF EXPAND THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF AGRICULTURE THROUGH FIELD TRIPS AND WORK AT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS DEVELOP LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY SKILLS AROUND THE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE, FRESH FOOD AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

SCLT MANAGES A LARGE FARMER TRAINING AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM (THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN RHODE ISLAND), AS WELL AS PRODUCE AGGREGATION AND FARMLAND ACCESS PROGRAMS. WE PARTNER WITH FARM AGENCIES AND AGRICULTURAL NONPROFITS TO OFFER MORE THAN TWO DOZEN WORKSHOPS EACH YEAR FOR BEGINNING AND ASPIRING SUSTAINABLE FARMERS ON TOPICS FROM PEST MANAGEMENT TO IRRIGATION AND TAXES. WE OVERSEE THE RECRUITING AND FUNDING OF FOUR-TO-FIVE FARM APPRENTICESHIPS EACH YEAR, AND COLLECT, WASH/WEIGH AND SELL PRODUCE ON BEHALF OF 10 URBAN FARMERS TO AREA FOOD RETAILERS. OUR FARMLAND ACCESS PROGRAM HELPS MATCH BEGINNING FARMERS WITH AVAILABLE LAND PARCELS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

CITY FARM, SCLT'S 3/4-ACRE PRODUCTION AND DEMONSTRATION FARM, PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT REVENUE STREAM AS WELL AS EDUCATES HUNDREDS OF VISITORS AND VOLUNTEERS EACH YEAR ABOUT BIO-INTENSIVE, CHEMICAL-FREE URBAN AGRICULTURE. ROUGHLY 2,000 PEOPLE (INCLUDING MANY OF OUR 500 MEMBERS) COME TO CITY FARM EACH MAY FOR OUR TWO-DAY PLANT SALE. CITY FARM STAFF GROW AND SELL PRODUCE ALL SEASON LONG THAT IS SOLD AT FARMERS MARKETS AND TO LOCAL RESTAURANTS. SCLT PARTNERS WITH LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO PROVIDE HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND INTERNSHIPS ANNUALLY.

THE AGRICULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM BUILDS AND MAINTAINS COMMUNITY GARDENS, URBAN FARMS AND FARMS FOR BEGINNING FARMERS.