Southside Community Land Trust will be hosting four neighborhood Urban Agriculture Kick Off events across the city on Sat., April 9, from 11 am-1 pm (rain date: April 10). These free, public events will take place at four sites: in Providence's West End, South Side, Olneyville, and East Side neighborhoods. (See below for exact locations.)

Each site will offer workshops on basic organic growing, and have an agriculture expert on hand to answer questions about chemical-free gardening and how to get the most out of small plots, containers and backyard gardens. SCLT will be giving away non-GMO, organic, and heirloom vegetable, herb, and flower seeds, and share helpful tips on how to have a successful growing season. Garden-lovers will also be able to buy low-cost, locally produced organic fertilizer (from New Bedford) and, at some locations, enjoy live music! The Sessions Street site will also feature food trucks and live chickens, as part of a demonstration about how to raise hens in the city.

New SCLT members and those renewing for 2016, including anyone who joins that day, can bring home up to 50 gallons of free, high-quality, organic compost. They will just need to show a membership card and bring large containers to cart it away. 

This year's Urban Ag Kick Off events will take place at the following locations: Southside/Davey Lopes Recreation Center, 227 Dudley Street; East Side/Sessions Street Community Garden, 160 Sessions Street; West End/Ring Street Community Garden, 16 Ring Street; Olneyville/Joslin Park Community Garden, 40 Florence Street.

SCLT provides access to land, education and other resources so people in greater Providence can grow food in environmentally sustainable ways, and create community food systems where locally produced, affordable and healthy food is available to all. It is located at 109 Somerset Street in Providence, RI, 02907. For more information, please call 401-273-9419, or visit www.southsideclt.org