PORTSMOUTH — “Meeting called to order!” School Committee Chairwoman Emily Copeland joked as she rode in the back of a hay wagon, pulled by a tractor manned by Middle School Principal João Arruda, as it crept south on Jepson Lane on its way to Cloverbud Ranch early Tuesday evening.

The wagon, borrowed from Simmons Farm in Middletown, held all seven members of the school board, who gathered for the “field trip” before their regular meeting, which was moved to the middle school. Joining them were Town Council member Andrew Kelly, Sara Churgin, district manager for the Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District (ERICD), and several others. 

When they arrived at the student-run Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm at the top of Cloverbud, riders were welcomed by dozens of students, parents, teachers, volunteers, and stakeholders, as well as Congressman David Cicilline. They were there to tout the success of the farm, which is focused on education around sustainable agriculture, and to celebrate the opening of a new shed that will be part of its educational facility.

“This beautiful place, Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm, is a partnership between ERICD and the Portsmouth schools,” said Churgin. “It has been a tremendous collaboration between us that started in 2019 and has made us able to create this dynamic, educational facility — a student-driven program that we want to become an island-wide program.”

Churgin is one of the driving forces behind the farm. Another is Margie Brennan, the school district’s K-8 science coach.

“During COVID, we noticed the importance of sustainability at home; we started to see a lot of shortages going on,” Brennan said to the crowd. “So our vision was to create a space where students learned to problem solve during authentication learning and community collaboration, so that they would become productive citizens in our community.

“This is the kids’ vision, not ours; it’s everything the kids wanted.”

Children lined up behind them told a little bit about the farm, which started in 2020 with 25 students and has since grown to 65. There are new programs being offered this spring and summer, they said. In June, when everything the children planned should be in place, a student-led board will be meeting to create a new strategic plan.

Students said the project couldn’t have been completed without the support of Paul Zuro, Martin Beck (who manages Cloverbud Ranch), Jeff Gambrell, Eric Scherer, Jason Spitalnek, Lisa Brew, Bill’s Sales, Hawk & Handsaw Herbals, and others.

“And last but not least, we would like to thank Mr. Arruda,” said Brennan. “Without his support, none of this would have started.”

The principal was given the honor of cutting the ribbon for a shed that represents the start of the farm’s educational facility. “From here we’re moving forward to a bigger and better educational program for our students,” Brennan said.

Before he cut the ribbon, Arruda said, “I just want to add that it has been a pleasure working with all the students, and I never imagined we’d have so many students involved in this program. I have to thank Mrs. Brennan; she has been a driving force behind this. I knew when she showed up at my door at 6:30 or 7 in the morning, there was a problem to be solved.”

What’s there

Brennan gave visitors a quick tour of the farm, pointing out that it has four quadrants where students have been working.

“They’ve created a plan for the spring. Last year we had community plots. In the back we had cover crops, so we’re talking to the kids about regenerative farming. Over here is going to be a pumpkin patch so our school district can have lots of pumpkins for all our festivities,” she said.

Students also work closely with Beck, who leases the ranch for his beef cattle business and “gifted” six acres for the AgInnovation Farm. He and the students will be teaming up to establish a bunny habitat there.

While getting their hands dirty, students are learning while doing. The school district plans to hold STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education classes, along with after-school programs, at the farm. Brennan said students recently participated in a soil health class.

“It’s very important to learn that our soil is in danger, and we’re working hard to teach our kids about the important of not destroying the microorganisms in the soil,” she said.

The program is funded mainly by grants and donations. A tractor on display Tuesday, for example, was purchased through grants awarded by the van Beuren Charitable and Champlin Foundation (a 30x30-foot tractor shed is coming). Churgin also wrote a grant to establish a pollinator path — a strip of land with an apiary on one side. Brennan said the path will include kiosks with QR codes that will provide more information about bees and birds. Also coming is a 30x30 tractor shed 

A local family donated a chicken coop along with six chickens, and there will soon be an irrigation system around all four quadrants as well as deer fencing. Volunteers covered the farm’s high tunnel with plastic on Sunday, just in time for the tour. 

“Our next step is to use solar power to light everything else,” Brennan said.

‘One word: Awesome’

Copeland, on the ride back to the middle school, said it was exciting to witness the farm’s rapid growth.

“One word; awesome,” she said. “When this started a few years ago, you had nothing. You look at the grants, the community input and the kids and the teachers and the schools. This is just a little piece of awesome. I think for kids being able to work with their hands outside of the classroom — that’s great.”

The farm is the culmination of the district’s push for more outdoor learning in recent years, Copeland said.

“Melville (School) really was the trailblazers with their outdoor learning, and then Hathaway saw what an awesome and enhancement that was for the elementary kids and so they have their own outdoor classroom in the works,” she pointed out.

She gave much of the credit to Brennan, who was also a driving force behind getting the tired PHS auditorium renovated into a state-of-the-art community hub for drama and music through the Kate Grana Music & Arts Association.

“The district owes her so much, but science is obviously her passion.”

Congressman Cicilline was equally impressed.

“It’s extraordinary,” he said. “First of all, it shows how a great teacher and a great community organization can motivate young people. This is experiential learning at its best. I think people today are much more savvy about where their food comes from, how it’s grown, and I think this is a wonderful place for kids to learn. 

“This is a giant classroom and all built because of the support of the community and a lot of great teachers and community organizers, so it’s really something I’m proud to see.”

During the tour, Cicilline spoke with Brennan about how his office could assist the project further.

“We have this perfect opportunity to find some specific federal appropriation through the community project funding, so we’re going to follow up with her and try to make that happen,” he said.

For more about The Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm, visit easternriconservation.org/aginnovation-farm or follow its Facebook page at facebook.com/PortsmouthAgInnovationFarm.