Grow, Share, Connect: Introducing Townies Share in East Providence
By Bethany Ryan | February 2026
Have you ever wanted a reason for a small garden?
Maybe you already dabble in the dirt.
Maybe you’re known all over Kent Heights for your peppers.
In my pocket of Rumford, I’m known for growing strawberries, tomatoes, and lots of flowers. My neighbor, one house over, can grow anything. She’s that good.
Between the two of us, we’ve kept our neighborhood share stand pretty full over the years. And it was that share stand that made me wonder if there are other gardeners in East Providence who would like to connect and share with one another. It can’t just be us.
Introducing: Townies Share
Here’s the simple idea: gardeners across the city sign up with whatever they think they’ll grow and would like to give to the exchange. This is not a mortgage. Changes are fine—and expected.
No one will be mad if you drop out or your plants die. That will absolutely happen. There will be plant disasters.
As my initial part of the exchange, I’m planning to offer lettuce plants (started from seed back in December), one strawberry bed, and two tomato plants. This will change. I’ll find other plants I want to add as the season goes—and you can, too.
Grow your plants.
Share photos of your plants.
Chat about how things are going in Townies Share.
When harvest time begins, use our Google form to report your harvest for the week, such as:
“4 jalapeños”
We’ll establish exchange points in each of the villages and rotate through them weekly—sharing, exchanging, and giving back to the community.
Imagine bringing your four jalapeños and walking away with something else from one of your neighbors’ gardens. That’s the vision.
My hope is that Townies Share one day resembles a small, weekly farmers market of giving.
If gardeners organize across the city, we can share with one another, increase the food security of East Providence, and build systems of community that reach into every village.
I’ll be hosting another talk on February 14 at 11:00 AM at the Riverside Library, 68 Bulloks Point Avenue, Riverside, RI
Share with us.
- View the Townies Share Facebook Page Event HERE
- Join the Townies Share Facebook Group HERE
- Feel free to reach out with your questions, comments and interest at whitebethanyb@gmail.com
