van Beuren Charitable Foundation Grants AgInnovation $67,000 Grant

The Portsmouth School Department is proud to announce that it has been chosen as the recipient of a $67,000 grant from the van Beuren Charitable Foundation (vBCF). This generous grant will be used to directly support the Portsmouth Aglnnovation Farm. The funds will be used towards the purchase of a multipurpose shed, a tractor and tractor shed, and provide money for future programs and field trips for the Portsmouth District to the farm.

Portsmouth Superintendent Thomas Kenworthy says, "We are grateful to the van Beuren Charitable Foundation for this generous grant award. These funds will greatly enhance our farm and agricultural programs we are able to offer to our students."  

Portsmouth's Science Coach, Margie Brennan, is overjoyed. "This is a huge step forward for the Portsmouth Aglnnovation Farm. This money will create the foundation of our program and additional resources will enhance courses such as food to table, soil health, water quality and much more. We cannot thank vBFC enough for this much needed grant." 

Portsmouth Middle School partnered with Eastern RI Conservation District and was gifted land by Martin Beck from Cloverbud Ranch in December 2019. When the pandemic shut down the schools in April, Mrs. Brennan ran a virtual club for 8 weeks where 25 students researched, and then created a vision of what they wanted the farm to look like. Since then, Portsmouth Aglnnovation has over 65 kids and 25 families that are dedicated to learning about regenerative farming practices. Over the summer, the program was able to harvest food for both St. John's Food and St. Lucy's Food Pantry.

For more information, check out our Facebook Page, Portsmouth Aglnnovation, visit easternriconservation.org/aginnovation-farm or contact Margie Brennan at brennanm2@portsmouthschoolsri.org.