Support Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm on April 1 through 401 Gives

What is 401 Gives?

Powered by United Way of Rhode Island, 401Gives brings people together to make a difference for local nonprofits that deliver vital services to our communities throughout the state. 401Gives unites and offers everyone a safe, comfortable, and familiar virtual fundraising experience all while giving nonprofits unrestricted funds that strengthen Rhode Island.

How Can you Support Us through 401 Gives on April 1st?

Starting at 6AM on April 1st, we will be accepting donations through our 401 Gives donation page to support our Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm program. We ask that you please consider donating one of the suggested donation levels or an amount of your choosing in order to support the ongoing growth and facilitation of our AgInnovation Farm after-school and summer camp programs.

Read our story below:

The vision of ERICD is to promote and improve long-lasting and environmentally-friendly practices that protect natural resources such as soil, water, and air. One of our programs is the Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm, a student-driven community farm education program where students problem solve through authentic learning and community collaboration, so that they become productive citizens in our community.

Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm is a space for students to take ownership in a community project that helps provide fresh and local produce to food banks on Aquidneck Island. Through experiential STEAM learning, students can expect to help plan/plant garden beds, maintain watering schedules, harvest produce, and so much more.

The program is expanding to other schools with the goal to make this an Aquidneck Island wide program, giving students hands-on experience of growing their own food while gaining problem-solving, leadership skills, and fostering a connection with the natural world around us. In addition to getting their hands in the dirt on the farm during the afterschool program, there is also a three-week summer program with the same agricultural experience as well as opportunities for the students to go fishing on the property, bird watch, identify pollinator plants and insects, and just enjoy being outside.

This program is student led and community supported. That means we need help from YOU to keep growing and expanding the program to have a greater reach on Aquidneck Island and a lasting impact on the students participating. Thanks to donations from our community over the last few years, we have been able to install necessary infrastructure such as a high-tunnel, shade cloth for the picnic area, and secured funding to build a tractor shed onsite to increase capacity, enhance learning spaces, and extend the growing season to line up better with the school year in support of the after-school program and involvement of the students in planning, planting, and harvesting their own crops from the farm. Starting this year, the students will be initiating a grow-plan to grow food crops such as Basil to provide back into the school system for lunches.

We have come a long way, but there is still so much that the students are dreaming to accomplish on the farm including installing electricity and then solar power for greater integrated learning, enhancing local community composting avenues, improved fencing for orchard and crop protection, and more. 

Every dollar of support plants a seed of imagination in our children, allowing them to grow into community members with a passion for sustainable agriculture. 

Thank you for your consideration in supporting our programs! There are always ways that you can continue to donate or support us directly throughout the year.