In a moment when federal funding for food systems work is under threat, when agricultural land values continue to rise, and when food insecurity remains a lived reality for thousands of Rhode Islanders, your support matters. SCLT membership is one direct way to invest in food sovereignty, and to get real, practical benefits for your own growing in the process.
Membership with SCLT means you’re part of a community committed to building food sovereignty in Rhode Island. Your contribution supports everything we do: the community gardens we maintain across Providence and Pawtucket, the farmers we train and support at Urban Edge Farm and Good Earth Farm, the youth we employ in our Workforce Development Program, and the work we do connecting people to healthy, affordable food through VeggieRx and other food access initiatives. More than 75% of the farmers we support identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Two-thirds of our community gardeners are women. These are the communities with the least access to land, capital, and infrastructure, and the most to offer. Your membership helps us invest in their leadership, their expertise, and their vision for what food sovereignty can look like.
But membership also gives you something back. You get 50 gallons of organic compost – valued at $110 – to make your garden lush and productive. You get first dibs on plants at our Rare & Unusual Plant Sale on May 16 & 17, when you can choose from over 300 varieties of veggie, herb, annual and perennial plants before the general public gets access. You’ll get a 10% discount on all your Plant Sale purchases. You’ll receive free organic and non-GMO seeds. And you’ll get discounts on other gardening resources like organic fertilizer. These aren’t token benefits; they’re real value for people who grow food.
If you don’t garden but still want to support us, you can opt out of receiving compost and direct the full amount of your membership contribution toward the organization’s work. You can also sponsor a membership to be gifted to a community member, or sponsor one of our programs directly. Every gift helps, and every membership sends a message: you believe in what we’re building.
Membership renewal for 2026 is open now. It’s easy: go online to www.southsideclt.org/join and sign up for a one-year or recurring membership. For any questions, email members@southsideclt.org.
This spring, as you plan your garden and think about where you want to put your resources, consider SCLT membership. You’ll be investing in farmers and gardeners across Rhode Island while investing in your own growing season. That’s what food justice looks like.
