Aquidneck Land Trust has worked to conserve over 1,100 acres of farmland on Aquidneck Island, including working farms that grow local vegetables, fruit, grass-fed livestock, dairy, Christmas trees, hay, and more. The farms we have protected sell their products via Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs), farm-stands, wholesale operations, and ‘pick-your-own’ sites. These include well-known farms such as Sweet Berry Farm, Newport Vineyards, Aquidneck Farms, Thurston Tree Farm and Escobar’s Highland Farm, smaller farms, hobby farms, and horse farms. The Land Trust is not just working to preserve farmland, however. We have recently completed a farm conservation plan and are working on issues like land access and succession planning. We recognize that farm conservation goes beyond just protecting land; it must also include efforts to make farming viable on Aquidneck Island.
For more information on farmland conservation on Aquidneck Island, go to our FarmLink Aquidneck site, which includes the Land Trust’s comprehensive Aquidneck Island Farm Conservation Plan, and information and resources for farmers and the general community. To search for available farmland or to explore leasing your own land to a farmer, visit our land-link database.