“It was our dream to have a farm,” says Gina Thurn, who with her husband Loren purchased Our Kids Farm in 2007. At the time, the farm was solely greenhouses, focusing on annuals, perennials, and vegetable transplants. In 2008, when the economy crashed, they transitioned to selling greenhouse produce. “It was a way to keep the wolves at bay,” Thurn recalls. “Half our assets went up in smoke.”
With a focus on year-round growing, the Thurns keep their honor stand and CSA program active every season., Along with their own produce, find the stand stocked with items from other local farms and makers, like cheese from Narragansett Creamery and Beautiful Day granola bars. After recently installing electric heaters in two greenhouses, which are run on solar power, they are able to keep both open through winter to grow warmer weather crops. This means items like tomatoes and cucumbers are always available. Exeter, OurKidsFarm.com
If there is such a thing as artisanal farmers, you’ll find them at this little farm stand tucked into a Watch Hill cove. “Our farmers are beyond organic,” says Rebecca Wright, who runs the stand with her three teen daughters. Working with farms sized between one and 10 acres, the stand carries produce from idiosyncratic farmers, like Brewster Orchards and Just Dug Potatoes, whose farmer handpicks the bugs off the potato leaves every morning.
Wright believes in small-batch everything. In addition to carrying the produce from small acreage farms, she offers goods like an organic lip balm hand crafted by Kings Of Leon’s personal assistant and organic, small-batch Norwegian crackers made in Brooklyn, as well as the Westerly-made Nana’s Bread. “It’s all stuff I love,” says Wright. The farm stand is an honor stand on off hours, with produce available in the small fridges out front. Watch Hill, WilliamWrightAndCo.com
Amanda Roberto and her husband closed on their one-acre Charlestown property in February 2021, cleared out a half an acre of dead trees and thick brambles in May, and opened Wicked Roots Micro Farm one month later. She brought in veggies and plants from her parents’ farm in Hope Valley while her plants established themselves. Meanwhile, she began forging relationships with other growers to carry their items at the farm stand. “This was something we knew we wanted to do; we just didn’t realize how fast we’d do it,” she says.
Wicked Roots specializes in organically grown strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, heirloom tomatoes, and gourmet garlic – Roberto grows 12 different varieties. She also has “the basics” like eggplant, cucumber, and peppers, as well as goods from neighboring farms like Bee Happy Homestead. “It’s important to support local businesses,” she says. “The strawberries I sold this week paid for my daughter’s swimming lessons.” Charlestown, @Wicked_Roots_RI
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