The RI Flint Corn Harvest Event

Oct 26 and 27^thsponsored by

The South Kingstown Land Trust

Local farm produced food is important to many of us now, in light of the information we hear about how our food is processed and how healthy/unhealthy it may be for us. As a resident of Southern RI it is hard to find a road or space along the highway that is not in some way inhabited by a local farm. We need to be exposed to and understand what it means to support local farms and be healthy individuals.

 The RI Flint Corn Harvest Event

This weekend, The RI Flint Corn Harvest Event, is an event that RI residents, historians, old Swamp Yankees, and children will thoroughly enjoy as well as benefit from the valuable information and techniques presented to us by The South Kingstown Land Trust and Bob and Diane Smith of Wakefield, among others.  On Sunday October 27th at 1pm a grinding demonstration will be given so all can see the one of the oldest operational grist mills in the country.

A bit about Carpenter’s Grist Mill;
The quaint little grist mill on Moonstone Beach Rd. in the Perryville section of South Kingstown, RI was built by Samuel E. Perry in 1703. It became known as Carpenter’s Grist Mill after 1874 when the Carpenter family first became owners.  It is a working mill where Rhode Island Whitecap Flint Corn is stone ground by water power. In continuous operation since it was built, it is the only water powered mill currently operating in Rhode Island. In 2012, The South Kingstown Land Trust acquired the property and renamed it the Samuel E. Perry Grist Mill.

 The RI Flint Corn Harvest Event

On Saturday October 26th from 2pm-4pm at The South Kingstown Land Trust farm on Matunuck Beach Rd, demonstrations will be given to all free of charge, but as a general rule donations to the Land Trust are always appreciated.The RI Flint Corn Harvest Event will include speaker Stu Sherman, a local farmer who will discuss his role in RI Whitecap Flint Corn growing and harvesting. Bob Smith will discuss the grinding process at the Samuel Perry Grist Mill, and Diane Smith will be demonstrating and discussing the cooking process involved in using the Corn Meal and mixes sold. Participants will be able to sample her finished product as well! Another valuable presentation will be given by Nancy Brown-Garcia, a Narragansett tribe member, on the traditional uses of corn in Native RI history. This two day event is sure to enlighten and involve us all in thinking and acting more locally responsible by exposing us to the past history and present availability of Southern RI Farming from seed to harvest, and from harvest to table. We are fortunate to have an organization such at The South Kingstown Land Trust available to us here in Southern RI.  The property is beautifully restored to its old charm and is inspirational on a historical level. We are also fortunate to be living in such an area as we do with its natural beauty and strong history and roots in RI soil.  Make The RI Flint Corn Harvest Event part of your weekend!

The RI Flint Corn Harvest Event

For more info about The RI Flint Corn Harvest Event  contact Diane and Bob Smith @ 783-5483 or dodge24@cox.net