PORTSMOUTH — The Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District (ERICD) recently received a grant award through the Urban and Community Conservation (UAC) Grant Initiative to model a unique micro-clover agricultural technique in Portsmouth.

The micro-clover seed pilot program is being planted on the student-run Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm on Jepson Lane. The drought- and weed-resistant clover creates a durable sod into which crops are planted and the clover gets mowed throughout the season in between the crops. 

The benefits of the clover are that the clippings create a mulch for the crops, reduce watering, and prevent weeds, resulting in fewer labor hours and less water used. If the pilot program is successful, the program will become a model for local farmers.

The funding was approved after being review by members of the National Association of Conservation District’s (NACD’s) Urban and Community Resource Policy Group. Nationwide, 29 conservation districts and tribes representing all seven of NACD’s regions were awarded nearly $1.3 million in funding. Since 2016, NACD has led the efforts of the grant program in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to help conservation districts build technical capacity within nontraditional agricultural systems.

“The Urban and Community Conservation grants are an integral part of our efforts to get conservation on the ground, and reach historically underserved communities,” said Kim LaFleur, NACD president. “These projects enable grant recipients and their partners to address multiple resource concerns and important issues like local food access and security.” 

The Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm is a student-driven community farm education program where students problem solve during authentication learning and community collaboration, so they become productive citizens in our community. More information on the farm can be found here.