FAQs

Q1: Why on earth would you encourage people to grow food in the city? Isn't urban soil contaminated with lead and other pollutants?

Q2: What is the difference between a land trust and a community land trust?

Q3: How do the community gardens work?

Q4. What is SCLT's United Way donor designation number?

Q5. What is urban agriculture and why is it important?

Q6. How can I get a plot in a community garden?

Q7. What can I do to help Southside Community Land Trust?
Q8. I would like to grow my own food, but I don’t know anything about gardening. How can I gain these skills?

Q9. What are the benefits of becoming a member?

Q10. What occurs at City Farm?

Q11. What occurs at the Urban Edge Farm?

Q12. What forms of payment are accepted at the Broad Street Farmers’ Market?

Q13. Where is SCLT's office?

Q1: Why on earth would you encourage people to grow food in the city? Isn't urban soil contaminated with lead and other pollutants?
A: Contaminated soil is a risk, especially for young children. For 25 years, SCLT has worked with residents to identify contaminated soils and remediate the soil in our community gardens and at our farms. We do this by taking many soil samples and sending them to the UMass Cooperative Extension to be tested for lead, other toxins such as mercury, nutrient content (such as nitrogen, potassium) and also its organic matter. If the soil comes back as contaminated, we do not use that plot of land for food production. It becomes a learning site for teaching people how to remediate the soil. Sometimes, the soil is so toxic it needs to be removed, and new healthy soil is brought in. Other times we grow plants (like mustard or yellow-flowered annuals) that take up the lead into the plant, then the plant (with all its flowers and leaves) is removed and taken to the landfill. We also add many, many loads of compost to the soil. Compost reduces lead contamination by: 1) retaining soil moisture so lead dust is kept out of the air, and 2) changes the soil pH so that the plants do not take up lead through their roots. We teach people skills that can easily and affordably be replicated for their personal use in the home gardens and yards. For more information on how grow food in a healthy, lead-free garden and on how to test your soil for lead click here

Q2: What is the difference between a land trust and a community land trust?
A: Often you will see signs in front of a scenic landscape or ocean view asking people to "help preserve this masterpiece of nature" or to "help save the spotted owl's last known refuge". That is the work of a land trust, preserving natural environments for beauty and for the larger eco-system. Rarely will you see a sign asking you to preserve an abandoned, littered city lot full of debris with no sign of animal or bird life. But this is precisely the kind of land a community land trust is interested in. We seek out land in the city to be restored in an ecological way for the benefit of the community. In the case of SCLT, we restore land to be used by urban residents for the purpose of growing their own affordable, nutritious, delicious food. Added benefits include: safer neighborhoods; beautiful serene spaces; increased migratory bird and butterfly areas; a place for neighbors to gather; and a place to celebrate the diversity and multicultural aspects of city life.

Q3: How do the community gardens work?
A: Community gardeners sign up for a plot, usually 10'x10', for $20 a year. This fee establishes a sense of ownership and commitment to the land, and also contributes to the cost of compost and water. SCLT seeks grants and donations through memberships and
corporate sponsorships to cover the cost of managing the community gardens as to not overburden the community gardeners with fees. The community gardeners participate in workshops to learn how to grow food organically, test their soil for toxins, how to cover crop and save seed, and how to increase their yields. They also participate in
several garden clean-up days where they share food at a potluck, swap seeds and maintain the gardens' common areas. Some of the community gardeners have been gardening with SCLT for over 20 years. About 11,000 sq ft. of SCLT's community gardens are at risk of development. We are actively working with lawyers to secure the ten community gardens SCLT manages.

Q4. What is SCLT's United Way donor designation number?

A. SCLT's United Way Donor Designation Number is #3757.

Q5. What is urban agriculture and why is it important?

A. Urban agriculture means growing food in ways uniquely adapted to small urban spaces, creating markets for local products, and decreasing energy and environmental costs because food travels fewer miles to reach our markets and tables. People in all geographic settings should have access to fresh, local, and organic food, and the Southside Community Land Trust works to make this a reality.

Q6. How can I get a plot in a community garden?

A. There is currently a waiting list of families who wish to have community garden plots. They are pulled off the list based on their proximity to the garden and how long they have been waiting. Contact Liza Sutton, the Community Gardens Coordinator at 401.273.9419 x25.

Q7. What can I do to help Southside Community Land Trust?

A. If you are not already a member, become one! Once you are a member, you will receive our biannual newsletter. See the Membership page to learn more. If you are a member, you can always donate or volunteer! See the Volunteer page for more information.

Q8. I would like to grow my own food, but I don’t know anything about gardening. How can I gain these skills?

A. Periodically, the Southside Community Land Trust holds workshops that teach community members about a broad range of topics from composting to harvesting. Also be sure to check out our pamphlet about safe lead-free gardening. To get a visual model of effective bio-intensive urban agriculture, you may want to join us for a tour of our City Farm in the Southside of Providence. Tours are held every Thursday evening from 6pm to 7pm.

Q9. What are the benefits of becoming a member?

A. All members will receive our fall and spring newsletters. Also, members have the opportunity for early purchase and a discount at our annual plant sale in May. All members will also receive discounts at local businesses including Avant Gardens, Briggs Nursery, Central Nursery, Evergreen Tree & Landscape, Frey Florist and Greenhouse, Frog & Toad, The Good Earth Organic Gardening Center, Jephry Floral Studio, OOP!, and 7 Arrows! We also offer more advanced levels of membership for businesses or individuals who wish to give more. For more information on these options, see our Membership page.

Q10. What occurs at City Farm?

A. City Farm is a model of bio-intensive urban agriculture. At City Farm, the Southside Community Land Trusts grows a vast array of farm-fresh food to be sold at local farmers’ markets, sold to restaurants, or donated to food pantries. City Farm is also the site of our Children’s Gardening Program. During the summer, children from different camps and group programs venture to City Farm and learn how to effectively grow their own healthy (and delicious!) food in an urban setting. Tours of City Farm are available each Thursday evening from 6pm to 7pm. To reserve a spot, call the office at 401.273.9419 x23.

Q11. What occurs at the Urban Edge Farm?

A. The Urban Edge Farm is a 50-acre property in nearby Cranston. Besides being the site of our annual fall Hoe Down fundraiser and celebration, Urban Edge Farm is the home of our Business Incubator Program, where new farmers have a place to make the transition to commercial agriculture. In addition, our organization uses some of this land to produce farm-fresh food that is regularly donated to area food pantries.

Q12. What forms of payment are accepted at the Broad Street Farmers’ Market?

A. We want to make local and organic food as accessible as possible to all people regardless of age or income. Food Stamps/EBT, WIC Farmers' Market Coupons, and Senior Farmers' Market Nutritional Program Vouchers are all acceptable forms of payment at the Market.

Q13. Where is SCLT's office?

A. From Points South: Take I-95 North to the Thurbers Avenue exit (#18). Bear left off of the exit towards Eddy Street and go straight through the traffic light at the intersection (Thurbers Avenue & Eddy Street). At the next traffic light, take a right onto Prairie Avenue. Remain on Prairie Avenue for about 15 blocks (the last few streets being Comstock, Blackstone and Dudley) and turn left onto Somerset Street (the next left after Dudley Street). Go one block to the corner of Somerset and Tanner. The greenish-yellow house on the corner across from the basketball courts is our office (#109).

From Points North:Take I-95 South to the Eddy Street exit (#19) and bear straight off of the exit towards Rhode Island Hospital. Go straight through the light at the end of the off ramp onto Dudley Street. Travel several blocks (you will pass Women & Infants Hospital on your right) and take a right onto Prairie Avenue. Take the first left onto Somerset Street. Go one block to the corner of Somerset and Tanner Streets. The greenish-yellow house on the corner across from the basketball courts is our office (#109).

Map & Directions to SCLT Office (1 MB doc file)