KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� March. 10, 2026 鈥� Tucked amid the trees in Cranston, against the edge of Route 295, sits Lucayda Farm and Greenhouse. The company is the brainchild of Journey Basham, who has cultivated thousands of plants by hand, focusing primarily on fruits and vegetables, since 2015.
She offers something for gardeners of all skill levels, including selling community-supported agriculture shares that provide customers everything they need to start a garden and grow their own food.
鈥淭he goal of my business is to teach people how to garden in any space they have available, whether they have a big yard, no yard, a community bed, a pot on their deck, or a hanging basket in their kitchen,鈥� said Basham.
Like the number of plants she offers, Lucayda Farm and Greenhouse has grown exponentially. But while she now operates a thriving business, it has not always been prosperous. Commercial farming is an unforgiving business with razor thin margins.
鈥淚 have a beautiful relationship with my landlord that allows me to farm. But sometimes farming is not the easiest business to be in. Quite frankly, it is sometimes really difficult,鈥� said Basham.
Two important factors that can help determine a farm鈥檚 success are guidance and access to government grants. Basham received both through the at the 溏心vlog免费B站.
The RISBDC, a program funded through the U.S. Small Business Administration, centers on supporting and cultivating small businesses in numerous ways. The center provides one鈥憃n鈥憃ne confidential advising for business owners, resources for startups, and training sessions and forums where entrepreneurs can connect.
It was one of these forums that planted the first seeds for Basham, when she heard Maggie Longo of the RISBDC speak.
鈥淪he spoke about her passion for farming and her passion for business,鈥� said Basham. 鈥淚 just immediately thought 鈥榯his woman is a wealth of knowledge, and this is the kind of guidance and mentorship that I think I need.鈥欌��
Longo is one of RISBDC鈥檚 12 part-time consultants, supported by eight full鈥憈ime staff members鈥搃ncluding five full-time business advisors. Although the consultants work part鈥憈ime, their contributions, along with the full-time advisors, are indispensable; last year alone, the organization assisted nearly 800 businesses across Rhode Island鈥攅ach with different needs.
Diane Fournaris, RISBDC鈥檚 state director, was recently awarded the National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion Award and named the Regional Business Advocate of the Year by the Southeastern Economic Development Corp.
She notes that small businesses approach the center with a myriad of requests. Raising capital and securing funding, and marketing and sales, are among the most-common inquiries RISBDC receives.
鈥淭hose are the two big ones but then we get all kinds of other questions like, 鈥楬ow do I hire my first person? How do I fire people? It really runs the gamut,鈥� Fournaris said.
The center is even hosting a March 11 summit for Rhode Island small businesses, called the , to bring together business leaders and partners that can share practical guidance on how to prepare for and make the most of potential opportunities in advance of soccer鈥檚 World Cup.聽
Fournaris, who has been with the RISBDC since 2000, has witnessed how economic shifts affect small and family鈥憆un ventures. The FIFA World Cup presents one opportunity, she says. She also says that as the job market continues to evolve the moment is ripe for people seeking to launch their own enterprises.
鈥淚t’s cyclical and I think as people get worried about the economy, as they see the job market may be softening a little bit, they start to look at other avenues,鈥� said Fournaris.
In Basham’s case, she credits Longo and RISBDC with providing her opportunities to obtain capital鈥攎aking Basham aware of and helping her apply for farming grants through the State of Rhode Island.
Today, Basham鈥檚 business has grown from a one鈥憌oman operation to one that employs several people. She frequently turns to Longo and RISBDC for assistance when needed, Basham says.
鈥淚 ran my business old school for a long time and Maggie is to this day still training and teaching me how to leave some of those less-efficient practices behind,鈥� said Basham.
Beyond helping her secure grant funding, the RISBDC is also guiding Basham toward a Good Agricultural Products certification from the U.S. Department of Agriculture鈥檚 Agricultural Marketing Service. Because Basham not only sells plants for home growers but also provides produce to those in need, the USDA certification verifies that her fruits and vegetables are handled in ways that minimize microbial risks.
鈥淭hey have just impacted my business in a way that cannot be measured,鈥� said Bashram.