SCLT’s Farmer Support & Services program addresses Rhode Island’s distinction as having the most expensive farmland in the nation through an innovative incubator model that enables first-generation and immigrant farmers to build sustainable agricultural enterprises on affordable leased land. Operating primarily through Urban Edge Farm’s 50 acres in Cranston and Good Earth Farm’s 20-acre property, the program hosts 23 farm operations where beginning farmers – many of whom started growing in SCLT’s urban community gardens – can lease plots ranging from half an acre to two acres while sharing critical infrastructure including tractors, greenhouses, irrigation systems, and cold storage facilities.
This mentorship-rich environment pairs emerging farmers with experienced growers who provide guidance on everything from crop planning and equipment maintenance to market access, creating a supportive pathway for predominantly immigrant and refugee farmers from Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean to develop the skills and scale necessary to eventually transition to their own independent farming operations. The program serves as a crucial stepping stone in Rhode Island’s agricultural ecosystem, transforming urban gardeners into commercial farmers while preserving farmland and supporting local food production in a state where individual land ownership remains financially prohibitive for most beginning farmers.
Farmer Training Workshops
Our hands-on training and technical assistance is designed for both beginning vegetable and livestock farmers. Workshops cover essential topics including:
- Crop planning and growing for market
- On-farm technical assistance
- Preparing produce for aggregation
- Farmers market operations
- Financial tracking
- Accessing USDA programs
As a participating farmer, you will be eligible to lease SCLT land (depending on availability) and to sell through our market channels. Information about resources available from the USDA National Resources Conservation Service is shared at each workshop.
Farmland Access & Land Reclamation
According to the USDA, farmland in Rhode Island is more expensive than any other state in the country, making it extremely difficult for beginning farmers to buy land here. SCLT works with partners around the state to connect land seekers with landowners who want to lease or sell their farmland and keep it from being developed.
Project partners include: Young Farmer Network, The Nature Conservancy of Rhode Island, RI Department of Environmental Management, RI Land Trust Council, Northern RI Conservation District, and Land for Good.
We match parcels with first-generation and immigrant farmers so they can grow healthy, chemical-free produce for wholesale and retail outlets, including our own Produce Aggregation Program, as well as farmers markets, restaurants, and CSAs. By offering affordable leases on farmland, SCLT enables a growing number of people to make a living while meeting the growing demand for locally grown, fresh produce.
Our Farm Sites
Urban Edge Farm
Urban Edge Farm comprises 50 acres in Western Cranston, RI, roughly 30 of which are now cultivated. SCLT manages the farm under a long-term lease with the RI Department of Environmental Management. Seventeen farms operate at UEF, employing about 40 people, most of whom are immigrants and refugees from Southeast Asia, Africa and the Dominican Republic. Farmers share equipment, farm infrastructure and other agricultural resources at UEF, and receive technical assistance from SCLT farmer support staff.
Good Earth Farm & Garden Center
The Good Earth Farm (GEF) is a 20-acre property located a short distance from Urban Edge Farm in Western Cranston. Acquired by SCLT in July 2021, the farm features two heated greenhouses, automated irrigation, two wells, dry storage, and other shared infrastructure. Twelve farm operations, including those led by Hmong, Burundian and Rwandan growers, are now based at GEF.
For the previous two decades, the property was owned by Joyce and John Holscher, who operated the state’s first organic garden center there. Under SCLT’s management, experienced farmers like the Holschers mentor new growers, providing decades of farming experience to help emerging farmers cultivate the land and develop their operations.
The Good Earth Farm & Garden Center operates seasonally, open Friday through Sunday, 10 am to 2 pm, at 1800 Scituate Ave in Cranston. Visitors can find:
- Fresh, locally and organically grown produce
- Plant starts, herbs, and seasonal crops
- Greenhouse-grown houseplants and decorative hanging baskets
- Organic compost and growing supplies
- Direct interaction with experienced farmers for advice and guidance
All proceeds support the farmers who collectively manage the Garden Center and SCLT’s programs.
Information about resources available from the USDA National Resources Conservation Service will be shared at each workshop.
