Agricultural Preservation Committee

 

Charlestown Farm Day

August 29, 2026

 

The Second Annual Charlestown Farm Day is scheduled for August 29, 2026. Unlike traditional fairs exhibitions, this event adopts a self-guided tour format. This allows visitors to explore participating farms at their own pace, making the experience personalized, and engaging.

This event promotes awareness about the many farms and their importance to Charlestown. Farm Day is designed to shine a spotlight on the hard work, resilience, and dedication of local farmers, while educating the community about the importance of agriculture. It provides a unique opportunity for visitors to explore the diversity of farms in Charlestown, making it a day of discovery, learning, and appreciation. Each site is different and offers visitors a chance to meet farmers and learn more about the role of farms across Charlestown.

 

The event is being sponsored by the Economic Improvement Commission and the Agricultural Preservation Committee of Charlestown.

For more information go to https://www.charlestownri.gov/farmday for a list of participating farms and tour times.


CURRENT LIST OF PARTICIPATING FARMS –

PLEASE CHECK BACK AS WE ADD MORE FARMS

 

 

Earth Care Farm

89A Country Drive


PROPERTY IS ONLY OPEN FROM 10:00AM – 11:00AM FOR A GUIDED TOUR

Want to learn about what makes a high-quality compost?  Join Jayne and Mike Merner for a walking tour of Earth Care Farm.  Jayne owns and manages Earth Care Farm, which was started by her father Michael in 1977. With the help of 3 generations of Merners and a small, dedicated staff, the farm raises produce regeneratively and is most well-known for its large scale, high quality Merner’s Gold Compost.  As the first and largest composter In Rhode Island, the farm transforms many hundreds of tons of materials per year into rich compost for gardens across New England. Jayne regularly teaches about compost through conferences, both local and international, podcasts, You-Tube Videos and tours.


Guided tour from 10:00 - 11:00 am 

Starts at 10:00 Sharp

 

Parcel of Paradise

1069 Shannock Rd


Parcel of paradise farm was founded 12 years ago because of the farm to table trend that was becoming so popular. Growing up in South County I was fortunate to know many restaurant owners and chefs, so growing veggies to supply them and the local community from my small farm stand just seemed like the right thing to do. I bought 7 acres, and it has been a slow going long process but I'm always moving forward.  It is my hope that this property will help give the local community access to fresh veggies for years to come.  Seasonal veggies will be available for sale.


Shannock Organic Farm

1411 Shannock Rd

 

Shannock Organic Farm is a small three quarters of an acre farm with a 24/7 roadside honor stand in Charlestown. Noel Rowe is the owner and grower who started the stand in 2000. I mostly sell flowers by the stem from asters to zinnias as the season progresses. You add up the flower stems you want and put the money in a lock box. The price of a stem varies from 10 cents to $10.00. In July and August there are heirloom field tomatoes, squash, cukes. Many varieties of dahlias bloom from July until the frost comes in November.

One new bit of farm technology that I can show you is an earth battery hoop house. It is designed and built to be heated in the winter by just 2 fans that keep it from a hard freeze.

 

Riverside Farm

80 Burdickville Road

 
Riverside Farm was established in 1905, back in the early days it was only a substance farm supporting Robert P. Day and his family. Upon Robert & Ella's passing the farm was passed to their son LeRoy and his wife Alice Day. They raised strawberries and sold them at LeRoy's off farm job at the BDA mill. They also used the farm to support their family. The farm was then passed to Edwin & Florence Day who raised many animals' cows, sheep, horses. The farm was passed to the youngest daughter Jane and her husband Kevin.  The first crop of Christmas trees was planted in 1988 and have been growing them ever since. We have many varieties to choose from including all the favorites, Spruce, Fir & Pine! Recently we started a sweet seedless table grape vineyard.  We always plan for future additions to keep the farm viable! 

 

There will be Christmas tree shearing demonstrations every half hour.

Come out and tag your favorite Christmas tree. Bring your camera and take your family Christmas photos!

 

Local baked goods will also be available for sale.

 

IronVines Vineyard

80 Burdickville Road

 
IronVines Vineyard started as a continuation of learning about wine by Jodi Frank and Peter Wronski when, on a whim, they ordered 80 red and 80 white grape vines in the fall of 2016. This first planting in Ashaway in a small field soon proved to be limiting and they started renting 10 acres of open farmland at Riverside Farm. The currently planted vines are all hybrids that are adapted to our climate and are more disease resistant than their European relatives. There is more than an acre under vine and we are looking forward to a good harvest this fall.

 

 

Moss Ledge Farm

153 Burdickville Road


Moss Ledge Farm is a subsistence farm set up for raising healthy Oberhasli goats, mixed breed chickens, and fresh vegetables. We breed goats annually for milk production 6 months of the year, make fresh chèvre cheese, drink raw milk, and make wonderful goat milk soap. Our chickens give us wholesome eggs every day. It is a labor of love which keeps us, our friends, and family very happy. We share the joy of kid goats in the spring with many visitors, offer soap making workshops, and share our knowledge of goat husbandry with all those interested.


Amos Greene Farm

233A Carolina Back Road

 
Amos Greene Farm is a privately-owned, 100-acre historic working farm conserved in perpetuity through a conservation easement held by the Charlestown Land Trust. It is currently home to a small community of farmers, including Sweet Pea Farm and Back Rhode Flower Farm—both of whom grow seasonal, sustainably-grown, chemical-free cut flowers and offer upscale floral design and on-farm experiences. Come say hello, explore the fields, and learn more about the farmers and their growing practices. Fresh-cut bouquets will also be available for sale.

 

Stoney Hill Dairy Farm

460 Shumankanuc Hill Road

 
Stoney Hill Cattle Company is a 175 acre family run farm in Charlestown, Rhode Island, with deep roots.  Established over one half century ago by the Luchka family.  Currently, Kim and Bill Coulter, Nina Luchka and Josh Coulter are the third and fourth generation of family members keeping the farm running twenty-four hours a day.  Our love and passion over land, animals and community is what makes our farm a very special place.

 

Keeping our farmland working, feeding body and soul, and striving to produce the best all-natural and humanely raised meats, poultry and eggs is our mission (and our passion).  We believe in sustainable practices to protect our farm today and for future generations to come.

 

Bee Happy Homestead

 

Bee Happy Homestead was founded in 2016 by Sara Michaud and Sherri Matheu with the simple goal of selling fresh eggs and beginning honey production for local sale. Sara earned her Master Beekeeper Certification from Cornell University in 2018. What started with a single honey bee colony has grown into a small apiary of more than 20 colonies, with goals of producing over 1,000 pounds of honey annually, raising quality queens, and teaching new and experienced beekeepers practical hive management techniques. Visitors are invited to see active colonies at work, safely observe bees inside an observation hive, and ask questions about beekeeping, honey production, and pollinator health.  

 

 

                
 
The Charlestown Agricultural Preservation Committee (CAPC) mission is to protect the right to farm in Charlestown and to promote policies that preserve and encourage agricultural operations and related activities as defined by RI State Law and by the RI Division of Agriculture. The CAPC acts as a clearinghouse for information to help Charlestown farmers when they deal with Town regulations or state laws.
 
The CAPC meets quarterly at 7:00 p.m., on the 2nd Wednesday in January, April, July, and October at the Town Hall. The public is invited to attend.
 

The CAPC has four Committee members and we are in need of two alternate members. We are all volunteers and are all farmers. Committee members are appointed for three year terms by the Charlestown Town Council. Current Committee members are:

Noel Rowe, Chair 364-7140

Sue Barrett, Vice-Chair, 364-6857

John Barrett, Secretary 364-6857

Michael Merner, 364-7207

Jane Durning, 742-0775

Jayne Merner Senecal, 364-9930

Bonnie Van Slyke, Council Liaison

 
           
                    
History:
The CAPC was established to provide representation for farming interests within the Town in 1997 as the Agricultural sub-committee of the Conservation Commission. At that time, the Town was drafting a new zoning ordinance and this subcommittee advised that favorable wording be added into the new ordinance protecting farming as a legally conforming operation.
 
The sub-committee worked in conjunction with the Conservation Commission, the Town Planner, the Town Administrator, the Planning Commission, and the Town Council. The desired wording was incorporated into the Town zoning document and the sub-committee evolved into the present CAPC by resolution of the Town Council. In the past four years, the CAPC has dealt with specific problems brought to its attention by members of the agricultural community. Being the Town's resource to helping preserve agricultural rights of residents, the CAPC has acted as an advisory group to those who have sought our assistance.
 
The goals of the CAPC are consistent with Charlestown's Comprehensive Plan to "preserve and protect the rural character of the town."
 
                                             
 
Accomplishments of the CAPC include:
 
1996/97 - Created a voice for farmers in Charlestown. 1997 - Submitted language to amend zoning wording to protect farming as a legally conforming operation in the Town. 1997 - Advised on manure management techniques and fly control
 
1997 - Supported a local farmer's application to the Zoning Board, to allow construction of an accessory building (for livestock) before constructing a primary dwelling as was required by then current zoning regulations. The CAPC aided in the approval of this application.
 
1998 - Compiled the first comprehensive list of all the farms in the Town of Charlestown with the goal of keeping all informed and involved in local agriculture preservation issues. Are you a local farmer? Add your name to our list!
 
1998 - Contributed to the redrafting of the town's zoning ordinances regarding protecting the town's rural character and preserving and encouraging farming. 1998 - Supported the right for local farmer's to post signs advertising agricultural activities
 
2001 - Supported a local horse farmer's request to simplify the process to gain approval to build a riding stable.
 
2002 - Supported a local farmer's application to make a zoning text amendment to allow a farm supply store on the farm's acreage.
 
2002 - awarded a Farm Viability Grant from the RI Division of Environmental Management, Division of Agriculture for production of this website.
 
2003 - Supported an ordinance to allow farmers meeting certain criteria to have accessory housing on their farms, which was passed.
 

2008 - Supported the right of farmers to use outdoor wood burning furnaces for heating farm homes and related buildings such as barns, greenhouses and hoop houses. CAPC supported the right of farmers to put up windmills on their farms. Zoning now allows this though it limits the size of the windmill.

2017  - Supported the efforts by the Town Council to oppose the plan proposed by the Federal Railroad Association’s (FRA) to reroute the train from Old Saybrook to Kenyon. This plan would severely impact farms and open space specifically the Amos Green Farm and Stoney Hill Farm and the Carter Preserve.

                    
 
                                   
 
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