Farming with Cassius and Dawn Spears

Ashawaug Farm Honors Community and Native Farming Traditions

Ashawaug Farm is where Native traditional planting methods fuse with modern practice by Indigenous farmers Dawn and Cassius Spears. The couple purchased the property several years ago with their vision to maintain the land as farmland.

The vision made real is a mixture of open planting fields, high tunnels and deciduous trees peppering the property, which together result in a calming scene. The couple calls their six-acre farm Ashawaug, the Narragansett/Niantic translation of Ashaway, meaning the land between two rivers. It is their way to honor the ancestors in their new home in Ashaway in southern Rhode Island. They can still see their previous home from their new back field—it’s as though the Victorian house they spent 36 years caring for wishes to keep its connection.

The soil at Ashawaug Farm is Narragansett silt loam, which Soil Science of America rates as “well suited for most land-uses,” with a “high potential for producing food, forage, fiber and ornamental crops.” The couple says, “We are here because we want to share our traditional planting and harvesting techniques, especially with our grandchildren.” They also want to preserve “the values of a balanced ecosystem,” which they agree is key to responsible farming.

Within the six acres at Ashawaug Farm species of organically grown flora and fauna can be harvested, including low and high bush blueberries, wild edible mushrooms, black birch, willow, sassafras and more. Also, a beautiful little stream trickles along the property line that sometimes provides trout. The Spearses feel blessed to be able to share these gifts. While they recognize that farming is tedious work, they enjoy teaching the life-sustaining benefits of farming and foraging while helping soil and water to stay healthy.

“Much of our open space will be dedicated to planting traditional crops,” says Dawn. Narragansett Flint Corn, which can be ground into corn meal, and the Three Sisters plants (sweet corn, beans and squash) will take priority in planting plans.

Historically, the Narragansett/Niantic people held their corn harvest celebration in the same area. For years, the Indigenous Babcock family, whose historic burial site is in Ashaway, held community harvest celebrations (oral histories indicate 1920s to 1940s). “We want to get back to the corn harvest ceremonies,” say Dawn and Cassius. “We want to grow Narragansett Flint Corn—our corn, our tribe’s corn—to give the tribal members an opportunity to continue the tradition of gathering for harvest.”

Providing support for the community is a way to ensure that physical, emotional, spiritual and relational wellness are secure. The Spearses are providing a place where Narragansett/Niantic people can come to share in the gardening and harvest in ways that were once common amongst the nations.

Last summer’s major drought inspired the couple to put in an irrigation system to ensure the success of future harvests. With an admiring smile as he gazes at his wife, Cassius says, “We have the high tunnels to grow a variety of tomatoes that Dawn loves.” Dawn says that she initially seeded 45 varieties of tomatoes last year (and ended up with over 350 tomato plants!)—she recommends people sample a diversity of tomatoes to expand their palate. The two are intentionally building connections with restaurants as well; Sly Fox Two, in Charlestown, is one of their customers. The Spearses also provide strawberries to Tomaquag Museum’s annual Strawberry Thanksgiving in June.

Dawn says they use fabric to cut down on weeding and “by using contemporary methods mixed with our traditional knowledge we’re able to produce food that is both delicious and plentiful.” The traditional method is respectful to the land and preserves tribal knowledge, place and way of being Indigenous. Dawn says her grandchildren help with the planting, and she uses this family time to teach them Narragansett language. “I teach them both the English and Algonquin name for each plant. The first crop is wuttáhimneash (strawberries).”

Dawn says that they are “putting the culture back into agriculture.” The mission for Ashawaug Farm is to promote both agriculture and arts in a way that promotes healing. The couple incorporate traditional planting songs and prayer in their farming process as a means of celebration. The aspiration of building a “happy place” centering in art expresses this couple’s love for one another, the land and the community.

“We are building a place of healing and revitalization. Our prayer is that when we do, the people will come,” Cassius says. “People who stop by to enjoy the farm will receive a history on the land and community of Ashawaug. Our goal is to for our visitors to leave with a complete wellness experience.”

He continues, “We are planning both tribal and public workshops and an outdoor learning space. In addition to gardening instruction, we intend to develop food tasting and cooking classes.” The Spearses hope to share knowledge of how to grind corn using Narragansett Flint Corn so it will once again become a food staple.

There is a pay-as-you-can, honor system farmstand, which provides the whole community with access to their fresh produce. They say, “We hope that those who can give more will do so to bring balance for community members who cannot. Living in reciprocity is how the Narragansett/Niantic people continue to sustain community.” Ashawaug Farm will eventually have healing walking paths that lead to quiet places for meditation, reading and writing. Through the farm’s main entry point, there is a wonderful sanctuary awaiting.

Wanda Hopkins, a proud mother of three, has offered her Native voice in classrooms, churches and at cultural events for more than 30 years. She has served as a Narragansett tribal councilwoman and is currently a member of the Native American Advisory Council at the University of Rhode Island, where she is working on an MA in English.

Ashawaug Farm
120 Main St., Ashaway
Find harvest updates and other news on social@ashawaugfarm

You can visit the farmstand or find Ashawaug Farm at Charlestown Land Trust Farmers Market and Fishermen’s Memorial Farmers Market. (See page 44 for market information.)