Rhode Island Permaculture: Top 5 Spots in RI
Rhode Island is known for being a small but mighty state, and the same is true of the permaculture community here. There are a lot of amazing places to adventure to learn more and experience what permaculture is about. Here are a few of our favorite Rhode Island Permaculture places and the reasons why we love them so much.
Know of an awesome permaculture not on this list? Email us details at nutsandboltsnursery@gmail.com.
*Disclaimer – These sites are not listed in any particular order. The criteria for them are that I know about them and they are public places.
1. Revive the Roots, Smithfield, RI
Revive the Roots is one of the few places in Rhode Island, specifically dedicated to building community around permaculture. Based on the incredibly stunning Mowry Commons, Revive the Roots has regular classes and events that educate on permaculture and that bring community together. On the commons, there are edible trees planted, a food forest garden, a sheep pen, community garden plots, and a towering pine forest, all for people to explore. It also has scenic trails along the upper Woonasquatucket River, where it is safe to swim and fish. Revive the Roots is open everyday from sunup to sundown.
One of the cool things about Revive the Roots and Mowry Commons is that it is a true commons. There are many social enterprises that share the land and work together to take care of it, including our very own Nuts & Bolts Nursery. If you find out that any of these places inspire you to want to build your own little food forest, permaculture project, or ecological oasis, send us a message and we’ll do our best to help!
2. The Tomaquag Museum, Exeter, RI
The Tomaquag Museum, while not explicitly a permaculture site, is filled with the Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) that inspired permaculture in the first place. Located amongst the beauty of the Arcadian Management Area, the museum is a great place to learn the history of the Narragansett people, who have stewarded this land for millennia. You can also learn about some of the advanced ecological practices of the Narragansett people, including how they use local plants medicinally. The museum stewards offer tours weekly and have a lot of TEK from firsthand experience with the land. The museum features a small garden filled with important indigenous plants. It also has a small gift shop where you can get traditional handmade crafts from indigenous artisans.
3. The Roger Williams Park Edible Forest Garden, Providence, RI
The edible forest garden at Roger Williams Park is the first public food forest in the city of Providence. It’s right outside the botanical center, near the community garden on Cladrash Ave. While a bit overgrown, there are still some exciting trees to see in the garden, including elderberry trees and hazelnut trees. The URI Master Gardeners help take care of the garden, so reach out to them if you are inspired to spruce it up.
4. Round the Bend Farm, Dartmouth, Mass.
While Round the Bend Farm (RTB) is not technically in Rhode Island, it’s too close to the border with Little Compton, RI and too incredible of a farm not to include on this list. Nestled among cranberry bogs and sandy dunes, RTB is one of the most incredible farms you will ever visit. Stunning timber framed buildings, lots of perennial plantings, and cows and goats too, RTB has a lot of awesome stuff going on. Every month, they have open farm days with farm tours, vendors, food, and crafts. It’s well worth the visit.
5. Seven Arrows Farm, Attleboro, Mass.
Ok, I lied again; this spot is outside of RI. But really Attleboro and Seekonk are pretty close to being a part of Rhode Island at this point!? Seven Arrows farm is another amazing place, while not specifically permaculture, it embodies a lot of the philosophy and designs that are found in permaculture practices. Seven Arrows is one of the oldest organic gardening stores in the area. There space is a constantly evolving farm and garden, which is centered around sharing - sharing of their time, their knowledge, and of the great peace and joy found in the nature. They have a small shop where you can get gardening supplies. Plus, they also have a small café that is so incredibly cozy; I could spend all day there. Overall, it is a very magical place, well worth a little trip.
