What started as an idea by Bob and Lynda Sutton to grow vegetables for those in need or without access, has evolved into a full production vegetable farm producing around 14 tons annually. Originally an organizational element of the Conanicut Island Land Trust, today what is the Jamestown Community Farm (JCF), is a hands-on team effort that grows and delivers fresh produce during summer to organizations across the state, including the McAuley House in Providence, the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Newport, the Jonnycake Center in South Kingstown, and closer-to-home, Jamestown Community Pantry.
“Depending on where we are in the cycle, volunteers, including student summer interns, prepare the ground, and plant, tend or harvest crops as they grow,” says Dick Steinbach, JCF board president, who oversees all farm operations. He shares that without volunteers, the farm wouldn’t be able to do what it does. “The people step up, they come and help, and make generous donations, which is very heartening,” he says. “Our big goal is to stay the course, keep the farm running as well as it has in the past,” says Steinbach.
The farm produces varying amounts of vegetables including tomatoes, melons, squashes, lettuce, beans, onions, collard greens, carrots, and many others. Without using pesticides or herbicides, the farm follows organic principles. “We treat the earth with respect, and make sure we’re nourishing soil and the natural resources it provides us including rainfall and solar,” says Steinbach. A careful seed planting journal keeps track of crops like spinach, lettuce, and kale. “The process resulted from trial and error over the years by Bob and Linda, and we’ll continue to do what they did in the past,” says Steinbach.
Located on Eldred Avenue, the farm makes its own compost, which is a Jamestown community effort. Leaves from nearby Atlantic Lawn and Garden landscaping services are combined with other farm residue to make compost for the soil. Added to that is expired produce from McQuade’s Marketplace, which also feeds the chickens.
Starting with no equipment, the property now boasts a barn, tillage equipment, a high tunnel greenhouse, fencing, and more. Steinbach wants to extend the season in both directions – spring and fall – and hopes to continue receiving support from the community. “It’s amazing how much support we get from them,” says Steinbach, “If we don’t have that, we can’t do what we do.” Learn more at JamestownCommunityFarm.com
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