Portsmouth School Committee hears expansion plans for Ag Innovation Farm; farm donated 1,200 pounds to food banks

Margie Brennan, Portsmouth Schools’ science coach and leader of the Ag Innovation Farm, told the school committee the farm has expanded partnerships, added staff and student programming, and is pursuing certifications and year‑round offerings.

Brennan said the farm — an after‑school and summer program run in partnership with the district and regional organizations — supplied about 1,200 pounds of produce to local food banks this year and hosts field trips, summer camps and community garden plots. She described recent and planned work supported by grants and by a University of Rhode Island (URI) fellow who assists on site.

“That is our high tunnel … and the irrigation has been a game changer,” Brennan said, describing infrastructure added since 2019 that allows more reliable student work on the site.

Committee members heard that the farm has partnered with URI, the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society, Black Earth Compost, Chartwells (the district food service contractor) and others. Brennan said the program applied to and will attend Life Lab’s school garden leadership institute in Santa Cruz in June and is pursuing GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certification so produce grown can be served through Chartwells in district cafeterias.

Brennan described workforce and youth development elements: a URI‑funded agriculture fellow who is helping develop an FFA (Future Farmers of America) connection, student externships being explored with the district’s e4 grant, and hopes to expand irrigation, a heated high tunnel and year‑round programming to host fall and winter learning.

The committee was told the farm operates three weeks of summer camps currently and hopes to add more; it will run a ribbon‑cutting for a US Fish and Wildlife Service certified pollinator garden on Thursday at 3 p.m., weather permitting. Brennan also noted an international learning trip: “Ag Innovation is going to Ireland,” with students and staff visiting farms and seaweed/kelp operations in July.

At least one former participant, Bella Barber, was named as a graduating student entering marine science; committee member Mister Furlan asked whether any participants had graduated and pursued agriculture or trades. Brennan said several alumni are pursuing trades and sciences and some return to help when schedules allow.

Brennan asked for continued district support for staffing and partnerships as the farm seeks to embed more programming in the school day and create paid externships for high school students.

The committee did not take formal action on the farm presentation during the meeting.

The farm presentation included requests for continued district support, grant administration through Eastern Rhode Island regional partners, and logistical assistance for year‑round infrastructure.