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Good Earth Farm

Sanctuary Herbs: Hyperlocal Teas and Botanicals Flourish at Good Earth Farm

A refreshing retail experience has blossomed at SCLT’s Good Earth Farm, where Sanctuary Herbs of Providence has established a charming shop offering teas, culinary herbs, and botanical products with an extraordinary claim to freshness: nearly all ingredients are grown, processed, and sold within a one-mile radius. This hyperlocal approach creates an unparalleled connection between consumers and the land where their products originate, reflecting SCLT’s commitment to building sustainable food systems.

Sanctuary Herbs’ retail operation showcases the potential for value-added agricultural enterprises in Rhode Island. Visitors to the shop are treated to tea samples while exploring an array of herbal teas, culinary seasonings, houseplants, and more, all sourced with minimal environmental impact. Throughout the year, the company hosts “Open Doors” events at 1800 Scituate Ave in Hope, RI, featuring tea tastings, farm tours, and opportunities to connect with local farmers who contribute to Sanctuary Herbs’ products. Follow their Instagram page for updates on upcoming events and new product offerings.

Inside the shop at Sanctuary Herbs, 1800 Scituate Ave in Hope, RI

The next community gathering — “Open Doors: Mending Cafe” — takes place Sunday, March 30, from noon to 3pm at The Sanctuary at Good Earth Farm. This unique event combines sustainability with community care by offering garment repair services. Visitors can bring up to three tattered and torn items for mending (no alterations), or simply come to work on their own mending projects while enjoying the company of neighbors and farmers. The afternoon will include a weather-permitting walk around the farm, opportunities to share mending tips and tricks, and complimentary tea and refreshments. The event runs on a first-come, first-served basis with no registration required, though donations for mending services are appreciated. It’s yet another way Sanctuary Herbs embodies its “Health, Comfort, Community” philosophy.

 

The shop’s establishment at SCLT’s Good Earth Farm represents a successful evolution of the property’s capabilities since it was acquired it in July 2021. The 20-acre historic farm now supports multiple agricultural enterprises, demonstrating how rural farmland can foster diverse business models while maintaining strong environmental stewardship practices. With three heated greenhouses, two high tunnels, and expanding retail operations, the property has become a hub for innovative agricultural ventures that support SCLT’s mission of creating equitable access to land and markets.

For flower enthusiasts, another exciting development has taken root at Good Earth Farm. Blue Skys Blooms is now accepting orders for their 2025 flower subscription service. Subscribers can choose between weekly or bi-weekly deliveries of one small bouquet (15-18 stems) for at least 20 weeks, starting the second week of June and running through the third week of October. Early birds who sign up by April will enjoy bonus bouquets at the end of the season at no additional cost. Pickup options include Good Earth Farm or participating farmers markets, with delivery available to Cranston, Johnston, Scituate, Smithfield, and Providence for an additional $15 per delivery. This service provides yet another way for community members to directly support local agriculture while bringing the beauty of Rhode Island-grown flowers into their homes.

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Infrastructure improvements at SCLT’s The Good Earth Farm

Land Access Manager Matt Tracy prepares the site for irrigation and wastewater improvements.

Southside Community Land Trust has recently completed significant improvements to wastewater and irrigation pipeline infrastructure at Good Earth Farm. Part of a long-term vision of integrated improvements, the pipeline project enhances environmental sustainability and agricultural productivity while enabling expansion of on-site retail operations. Stormwater management and irrigation system upgrades are expected to create improved conditions for the eight small-scale farm operations who grow culturally familiar produce to sell at several area farmers markets. It’s also allowed Sanctuary Herbs of Providence to establish processing and retail operations at the historic 20-acre property.

The improvements were implemented through a partnership with Rhode Island’s Natural Resources Conservation Services and were managed by SCLT staff, including Land Access Manager Matt Tracy, Properties & Facilities Coordinator Dan Roberts, and Conservation Associate Dave Kuma.

Sanctuary Herbs’ retail shop now open at Good Earth Farm, featuring teas, houseplants, culinary herbs, and more.

Sanctuary Herbs, which sources most of its ingredients from a 5-mile radius of the shop, has established a significant presence at Good Earth Farm, offering herbal teas, culinary seasonings, and other botanical products. The company will host its second “Open Doors” event on January 19, 2025 at 1800 Scituate Ave in Hope, RI, from noon to 3 PM, inviting the community to enjoy tea tastings, farm tours, and connection with local farmers. The free event showcases how infrastructure improvements have enabled Good Earth Farm to evolve beyond traditional farming into a hub for agricultural innovation and community engagement. Stay tuned to more news and events on the Sanctuary Herbs instagram page.

Conservation Associate Dave Kuma supervises digging and site preparation.

Good Earth Farm, acquired by SCLT in July 2021, continues its legacy as a vital resource for local agriculture while expanding its offerings. The property features three heated greenhouses, two high tunnels, and a retail operation serving both farmers and the public. The recent improvements in water management and facilities have created opportunities for diverse agricultural enterprises, from immigrant-led farming operations to herbal product manufacturing, demonstrating SCLT’s commitment to building a more resilient and diverse local food system.

The infrastructure improvements and expansion of retail operations align with SCLT’s broader vision for creating sustainable, equitable food systems in Rhode Island. With these enhancements now in place, Good Earth Farm stands as a model for how agricultural properties can support both traditional farming and value-added enterprises while maintaining strong environmental stewardship practices, and looks forward to evolving infrastructure projects as climate change drives that need.

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SCLT Featured in Rhode Island Spotlight

 

This January, Rhode Island PBS will air a 10-minute video documentary on Southside Community Land Trust’s four-decade journey of transforming urban spaces into productive agricultural sites across Providence and supporting statewide food access efforts. The documentary, produced by Jim Hummel of Rhode Island Spotlight, chronicles SCLT’s expansion from its 1981 beginnings with two community gardens to its current network of 60 farms and gardens serving over 1,600 community gardeners and their families annually.

Featured in a writeup in The Providence Journal as well as upcoming PBS broadcasts, the piece explores SCLT’s comprehensive approach to food security through innovative programs like VeggieRx: healthcare partnerships providing veggie prescriptions for food insecure patients. The documentary includes interviews with longtime SCLT staff member Rich Pederson, who discusses City Farm’s role as a demonstration site growing 80 varieties of vegetables, and Charlotte Uwimphuhwe, who operates a successful farming enterprise at Urban Edge Farm in Cranston.

The Rhode Island Spotlight documentary will premiere on Rhode Island PBS on January 11th at 9:47 PM, with additional airings throughout the following week. For more information about SCLT’s work and impact, viewers can read the complete feature article in The Providence Journal or visit RhodeIslandSpotlight.org.

Catch the video on RIPBS:

  • Sat 01/11/2025 at 9:47 PM
  • Sun 01/12/2025 at 2:52 AM
  • Mon 01/13/2025 at 3:16 AM
  • Mon 01/13/2025 at 3:43 PM
  • Tue 01/14/2025 at 4:51 PM
  • Tue 01/14/2025 at 10:46 PM
  • Wed 01/15/2025 at 03:52 AM
  • Thu 01/16/2025 at 4:16 PM
  • Fri 01/17/2025 at 4:46 PM
  • Fri 01/17/2025 at 12:44 PM
  • Fri 01/17/2025 at 10:46 PM
  • Sat 01/18/2025 at 7:44 PM
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SCLT Announces Exciting 2024 Workshop Series

All workshops are free | Registration is required | All materials provided to registered attendees Click the links below, or check out our Upcoming Events page for more information on each workshop.

 

Southside Community Land Trust is gearing up for an enriching summer and fall with the announcement of our 2024 workshop series. The series, featuring seven diverse workshops, kicks off Saturday, June 22, and runs through November 15. These free events offer a unique blend of gardening, art, and food justice education, catering to both families and adults.

The series begins with a Container Gardening Workshop on June 22, perfect for urban dwellers and those with limited space. Participants will create their own container gardens to take home, learning essential skills from SCLT’s Director of Special Projects and Master Gardener, Tarshire Battle. As summer progresses, attendees can look forward to EcoArt workshops, including Cyanoprinting at City Farm on July 25 and Landscape with Tape at Good Earth Farm on August 23.

For those interested in food preservation, an Introduction to Canning workshop is scheduled for August 14. This hands-on session will guide participants through the process of making and canning tomato sauce. The workshop will be co-hosted by Tarshire Battle and Andraly Horn, an organic farmer at Open fArms Retreat.

As autumn approaches, SCLT continues to offer creative opportunities with Mixed Media and Papermaking workshops in September and October, respectively. The series concludes with a thought-provoking Food Justice Workshop on November 15, exploring the historical context and contemporary issues surrounding food justice in Rhode Island.

These events not only offer practical skills and creative outlets but also promote environmental sustainability and community engagement. Whether you’re a gardening enthusiast, an aspiring artist, or someone passionate about food justice, SCLT’s 2024 workshop series promises something for everyone.

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SCLT’s farmer-run Garden Center now open

SCLT’s The Good Earth Farm & Garden Center is now open. Visitors are invited to the farmer-run Garden Center, Friday through Sunday, 10am to 2pm, at 1800 Scituate Ave in Cranston, where Blue Skys Farm, Geek Garden, Philip Farm, Serenity Farm, and Somi Farm sell hyper-local, affordable, and culturally familiar produce, garden supplies, and wellness goods.

Still looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift? Visit the Garden Center for greenhouse-grown houseplants, from monstera to jade, plus decorative hanging baskets and cut flowers. New this year, the Garden Center features herbal teas, culinary seasonings, and other fine products from Sanctuary Herbs of Providence.

In addition to cool weather crops like bok choy, kale, and spinach, plus plant starts including strawberry and raspberry, asparagus, and a variety of herbs, the Garden Center now has organic fertilizers and compost, seed potatoes, and Coast of Main premium potting mix available. Everyone knows: healthy plants start with healthy soil!

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RI’s small & urban farmers paying outsized taxes for decades

The Small & Urban Farms Success bill was introduced to the RI House and Senate earlier this year by 10 State Representatives and was heard by the RI House and Senate this spring. Championed by a coalition of the Rhode Island Food Policy Council, SCLT, and a network of farmers, including Open Farms Retreat‘s Andraly Horn and Sienna Viette, this legislation has the power to level the playing field by creating tax relief programs for small and urban farms that are similar to the programs that have been available for more than 30 years to larger, rural farms in our state.

RI’s current tax programs don’t meet the food or economic needs of our communities, and they don’t match our coalition’s commitment to equity. These programs need an update so that more Rhode Islanders can eat fresh, healthy, and affordable food grown right here in our tiny state, where the cost of agricultural land keeps going up, and the size of farms keeps going down.

Hear from several small and urban farmers on what this change would mean for the future of their farm businesses and the resiliency of our local food system:

 

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Record number of farmers win state-funded LASA grants

On Tues., Feb. 21, the RI Department of Environmental Management announced the winners of the Local Agriculture and Seafood Act grant program’s (LASA) 2022 funding cycle.

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Farms across RI got hands-on help from AmeriCorps crew

If you’re a homeowner, you know there’s always something needing to be repaired, rebuilt or replaced. If you run a land trust with 25 properties spread over 77 acres, that to-do list can seem endless.

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Two grants from American Farmland Trust will benefit RI farmers

This spring, the American Farmland Trust awarded SCLT a $5,000 grant toward the purchase of The Good Earth Farm in Cranston and awarded a $5,000 grant to farmers Teo and Margarita Martinez, whose business is located at Urban Edge Farm.

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Cranston farm purchase opens up land for more growers

It’s official! As of July 2, 2021, SCLT became the new owner of the Good Earth Farm, located at 1800 Scituate Avenue in Hope, RI. The 20-acre property includes a barn, three heated greenhouses, two high tunnels and a small retail operation.

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