Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund
Western Piedmont Region
Project Descriptions for 2011
Alleghany
Specialized Evergreen Production
To supplement her family’s tobacco farm and Christmas Tree Business, Virginia has been making custom wreaths, kissing balls, and other holiday décor using greenery shipped from Oregon. With grant funds, Virginia is growing test groves of 30 tree varieties for her products using cultivars that are predicted to do well in her region, among them unique varieties of Cypress, Magnolia, Holly, and Aborvitae.
Alleghany
Greene Meadows Goat Dairy
Carol is establishing a goat cheese creamery on her family’s land, formerly in tobacco production, where she plans to make both pasteurized fresh cheese and aged cheeses. Greene Meadows Goat Dairy aims to construct a “green” dairy facility using recycled and environmentally friendly materials. Look for Carol’s cheeses this summer at Thistle Meadow Winery and other High Country venues.
Ashe
Maple Syrup / Molasses (Sugar Tree’s Finest)
Chad’s father planted 120 sugar maple trees two decades ago in hopes that his family would eventually be able to make maple syrup. Grant funds will allow Chad to construct a sugaring house for the processing of syrup, as well as using the facility molasses boilings. Look for their products in the Ashe County region under the name “Sugar Tree’s Finest.”
Ashe County
Bottling Plant
C and C Dairy is one of two remaining dairies in Ashe County, an area that was once home to countless dairy operations. Grant funds will assist Rodney in establishing a bottling facility so that they can sell milk to the local retail market. C and C’s milk is hormone free and will be found in area outlets, including health food stores.
Burke
Bamboo Shoot: Planting and Cannery Blue Print
Brothers Thay and Meng have been growing edible bamboo shoots for the past 10 years. Fresh bamboo has a short shelf life, and the demand in Asian markets for pickled bamboo has no U.S. supplier. Grant funds will allow them to expand their bamboo acreage, make plans for a cannery, and develop their pickled bamboo recipe in cooperation with Blue Ridge Food Ventures.
Burke
Multi-species Pastured Meats and Poultry Expansion
Marie and William have been developing a multi-species high density pastured meat operation. Their system requires frequent moving of the sheep, hogs, and chickens that are part of the rotation, and an efficient watering system is key to their success. Grant funds will allow them to construct a portable watering system using a hydro ram pump to pull water from the creek. http://sites.google.com/site/bluebirdfarmnc/
Burke
Passive Solar herb dryer and Herb Barn
Beans ‘N Berries Farm is a produce farm that has been gradually converting more garden space into medicinal herb production. Wit grant funds, Memorie will install a passive solar herb dryer in order to accommodate her expanding herb business. She will sell tinctures and teas to Community Herbals in Asheville, and will also offer classes and herb walks on their farm. http://www.localharvest.org/beans-n-berries-M6408
Burke
Organic Vineyard
Rebecca and Randy operate a transitional mixed vegetable operation and have decided to establish an organic vineyard as part of their farm enterprise. While almost any farm product grown in North Carolina can be found organically, there is only one USDA certified organic vineyard in the state. If the Vance’s are successful, they will educate consumers and build the market for organically grown grapes. http://www.cvvineyard.com/
Cabbarrus
Lucky Leaf Gardens Expansion (microgreens)
Kate and Marc have been operating their rapidly expanding micro greens business out of a greenhouse they constructed in their backyard. A 1 oz package of their “petite” vegetables contains as much nutrients as 3 cups of broccoli, and chefs can’t get enough of it. Grant funds will assist Lucky Leaf to establish a second greenhouse and continue to expand their business. www.luckyleafgardens.com
Catawba
Nature Flower Farm -- A Sustainable Future
Wong Victor and his family grow a wide variety of flowers, as well as Asian vegetable varieties and rice. They also make pickled bamboo and process cucumber juice on a small scale. Grant funds will make the whole farm operation more profitable and more efficient by constructing a new well based irrigation system and up-fitting a greenhouse. http://natureflowerfarm.com/Home.php
Catawba
Utilizing Sheep for Lost Dairy Revenue
Susan sells wool and meat from the flock of dual purpose, worm resistant sheep she is breeding. Grant funds will allow Susan to construct a handling system to weigh, trim hooves, vaccinate, give footbaths, etc. to her sheep in an efficient and comfortable manner. http://www.powweb.com/index.bml
Cleveland
Dallas Ranch and Creamery
Grady and his three daughters are establishing a goat dairy to complement their beef cattle business. Grant funds will be used to up-fit their unused chicken houses to be the new home for their expanding goat dairy herd. Their long term goal is to become a Grade A Dairy, one of the few in the state, allowing them to sell milk alongside cheese.
Cleveland
Guernsey Artisan Cheese
Ashley purchased four head of her family’s dairy herd when they were forced to liquidate their operation last year. Grant funds will allow her to construct a milking parlor on her families land. Ashley will be selling her milk to Spinning Spider Creamery in Asheville, allowing them to add cow cheese products to their very successful menu of local goat cheeses.
Cleveland
High Tunnel Strawberries for Season Extension
John is a young farmer with several years of production behind him, and is limited by the short growing season of Cleveland County. Grant funds will allow him to construct 3 Gothic Arch High Tunnel Greenhouses in which he will grow fall and winter strawberries. Winter berries will allow him to access year round markets and capitalize on a high return crop.
Cleveland
Feeder Calves to Facebook
Luke is transitioning his family’s traditional feeder calf operation into a farm that raises “4G Beef – guaranteed grass-grown Gelbvieh Beef” which he is direct marketing to area restaurants and consumers. With assistance from grant funds, Luke will be developing a marketing plan and brand, conducting regional targeted advertising through Facebook, and expanding his farm infrastructure. http://www.bffbeef.com/
Cleveland
Group Livestock Scale Purchase
Bill is purchasing an inspected cattle scale and initiating a group marketing process for the cow calf operations in his area, allowing them to precondition, sort, weigh and sell the calves directly to one of the tele-auction companies throughout North Carolina. This system is better for the calves and will give Bill and his neighbors consistent pricing with less hassle, and higher profits.
Cleveland
Sain Farms upgrade – washing and packing facility
Dustin grows 8 acres of mixed vegetables that he sells at the Charlotte Regional Market as well at the Foothills Farmers Market in Shelby. Hip to the food safety trends, Dustin is working to become GAP certified. With help from grant funds, Dustin is constructing a washing, packing, and storing facility for his growing produce business.
Davie
Vermicomposting on Latham Farms
Harold is converting an empty chicken house into a commercial vermicomposting facility. Worm castings for home gardeners as well as for application on vineyards and farms is growing in popularity, and locally produced vermicompost is in scarce supply. Grant funds will allow Harold to construct a “worm gin” for year-round mass production of high quality worm castings.
Forsyth
Installation of Farm Store and Goat Creamery
Robin and Johnny are constructing a farm store and creamery. They will sell goat cheese and goat milk soap, pastured meats, and eventually goat’s milk ice cream and butter. Their convenient location near a busy road in a fairly urban county has the opportunity to generate a wide customer base, especially because they will also use their store as an outlet for other farmers to sell their products. http://buffalocreekfarmnc.com/farm.html
Forsyth
Penick Goat Dairy
Jessica, currently a school teacher, will be making raw, aged goat cheese such as Manchego, Derby Cheddar, aged Brie and Camembert this year. She’ll add chevre’s to her product line down the road. Grant funds will allow her family to construct a milking parlor and cheese cave, complete with intern housing. They will be teaching home cheese and yogurt making classes as well. www.Onceuponameadow.com
Gaston
Fruit Popsicles
Leigh grows strawberries, elderberries and pawpaws on her 1 ½ acre farm, and is learning how to add value to her fruit by turning them into popsicles. Grant funds will be used to purchase equipment that will take her bustling business to the next level, not only by speeding up the popsicle making process, but by making a more consistent, high quality summer treat.
Guilford
Hardin Farm Store
The Hardin sisters and family grow hay and grain which they sell for feed to their close knit community of farmer neighbors. With assistance from grant funds, their small operation will be developed into a full-fledged farm goods grocery store. The shop will be an outlet for the pork, eggs and veggies that the Hardin’s raise on their farm, as well as carry farm products from 20 area farmers at the store.
Guilford
Wood Heating System Grant (greenhouse produce)
Neal’s family operates a 4th generation dairy and former tobacco farm to which he has added vegetable production. However, season extension has been cost prohibitive due to high costs to heat his greenhouse. Grant funds will allow Neal to install a boiler for heating his greenhouse with wood from their land. Look for Neal’s produce at the Reidsville Farmers Market.
Guilford
Freezer/Cooler for Gourmet Pastured beef, pork and poultry
Meadows Family Farms is a 5th generation tobacco farm that has transitioned into pastured meats. They partner with Weeping Radish Butchery to develop gourmet recipes for their grassfed beef, such as beer bratwurst, sweet potato pate and pork andouille. Grant funds will provide infrastructure to improve the efficiency of their operation. Sample their products at Winston Salem and Greensboro area farmers markets. www.meadowsfamilyfarms.com
Iredell
Grietje’s Garden-Addition of Processing area/meeting
Penny makes jams, jellies, breads, cider and non-alcoholic wine with ingredients from her farm. With assistance from grant funds, she will be constructing facilities to accommodate product storage, agritourism events and an area to host potential clients so that they can sample her wares. Penny’s non-alcoholic wines are a favorite choice for weddings and parties of all kinds. http://grietjesgarden.blogspot.com/
Lincoln
Winter Grafting with Low Heat
John owns a nursery where he does much of his own grafting. Recently, he integrated swimming pool noodles as insulation into his system which not only saves on propane costs, but his grafting success rate has jumped from 25% to 80% using this technique. Grant funds will allow him to implement this system full scale in a greenhouse that better suits his needs. http://japanesemaple.net/
Rockingham
Buckpigg Plantation Eggs and Produce
Gary has a vegetable and fruit farm that he has been cultivating for the past two years, and plans to integrate laying chickens into his operation. Grant funds will allow Gary to build an additional “chicken tractor” to introduce to his rotation, as well as constructing a processing and storage area to allow him to expand his operation to meet market demand. http://www.facebook.com/buckpiggplantation
Rockingham
Solar Power Pasture System
Worth is a young farmer who follows a new practice called “mob grazing” in which he successfully managed a healthy herd of 18 calves through the winter on 1 bale of hay. Grant funds will allow him to expand the infrastructure he needs by implementing a solar powered watering system as well as a solar powered fence. http://www.agrowingculture.org/2011/02/pine-trough-branch-farm-reidsville-nc/
Rowan
The Lavender Garden
Rita has been growing lavender and creating bath and body products for the past seven years. In addition to sales at the farmers market, her products have been featured in venues such as a Ralph Lauren store and the Washington Duke Inn. With grant funds, Rita will establish cultivars that are better suited to cold winters and will develop a website. http://www.localharvest.org/the-lavender-garden-M18382
Rowan
Vertical Hydroponic System for Vegetable and Fruit Production
David is constructing a vertical hydroponic system that will allow him to grow 200 plants in ¼ of the area required on bare ground. He will begin with lettuce and strawberries, but plans to experiment with squash, herbs and eggplant. Hydroponics will give him an edge on some markets, as well as providing a “no-bend” u-pick option for customers. http://www.localharvest.org/correll-farms-M28142
Stanly
Asian Vegetables and Flowers
Chong Hue and his family have a successful cut flower business, and also grow Asian Broccoli, Thai Basil, and unique varieties of green beens, eggplant, pumpkins and more. Assistance from grant funds will allow them to expand their flower operation, the most profitable part of their farm. Look for their gorgeous bouquets and unique products at the Charlotte Regional Market.
Stokes
Small Scale Grain Raising
Snow Creek Family Organics has been growing produce for ten years, and with grant funds they are adding a line of grain products. Mathura will grow corn, wheat and beans, some of which will be milled into flour, while much of it will be puffed using a grain puffer and sold as a healthy, unsweetened cereal. http://www.localharvest.org/snow-creek-family-organics-M9713
Stokes
Meat goats and Eggs
Jeff and Amber have been raising layer hens and meat goats, selling the goats live to regional customers and eggs to the El Camino Bakery in Winston Salem. With assistance from grant funds, they will expand their layer operation to include Ericanas (blue egg layers) and convert more of their land into a suitable pasture for their increasing meat goat operation.
Surry County
Miss Angels Heavenly Pies
Angela uses fruit seconds from her family’s orchard to make apple pies and turnovers. Her business has been met with outstanding consumer demand, and she is struggling to keep up with the hungry Mount Airy community. With grant funds, Angela will be able to purchase the equipment she needs to expand her production and more efficiently create her local fruit baked goods.
Surry County
Pasture Raised Chicken Processing Building and Equipment
Todd and Lisa have enlisted their whole family to assist in developing their pastured poultry farm as an agritourism destination. With grant funds they will expand their chicken flock to 900 head, managing them according to acclaimed French Label Rouge standards, a free range methodology that ensures health of the product and has a positive impact on the environment. http://ourchosenheritage.com/
Wilkes
Organic Tomato Production in a Wet Climate
Shiloh and Jason’s customers love their flavorful tomato varieties, but tomatoes are difficult to grow in the wet Wilkes County climate. Grant funds will allow Tumbling Shoals Farm to purchase a multi-bay Haygrove high tunnel, providing protection from fungus problems. Each season the haygrove will move along with the tomatoes to a fresh plot as part of the farm’s 13 year rotation. http://www.tumblingshoalsfarm.com/
Yadkin
Riley Livestock Working Facility
Taylor has been designing a custom cattle handling facility that allows him to vaccinate, castrate and dehorn in a safe and comfortable way for the animals as well as the handlers. With grant funds, Taylor will be completing his own facility so that we can work his herd and hire himself out to neighbors in need of his services.
Yadkin
Cedar Ridge Hop Farm
Ben is setting out to determine the feasibility of hops production in Yadkin County. Grant funds will allow Ben to plant one acre of trellised hops, testing the viability of Cascade, Willamete, Pearl and Nugget varieties. If successful, he plans to sell to Foothills Brewery in Winston Salem as well as home-brewers statewide. Follow his progress at: cedarridgehops.com
COMMUNITY GRANTS
Alleghany
Sparta / Alleghany Choose and Cut Farm Alliance
Growers in the Sparta region have beautiful Christmas trees available at competitive but only get half the traffic of better known tree destinations. The Sparta / Alleghany Choose and Cut Alliance formed in order to stretch their marketing resources further, and with assistance from grant funds, will be launching a website and developing a brand to draw new customers to their region.
Catawba
Group Marketing of Feeder Calves in the Catawba Valley
Grant funds will allow the Catawba Valley Cattlemen’s Association to purchase an inspected scale for use by members of the association. Farmers will be able to market their cattle collectively by the truck load after preconditioning the calves on their own farms. This new system is better for the cattle and more profitable for the cattleman.
Guilford
Reedy Fork Farm Organic Feed Mill
George and his fellow Organic Valley dairy farmers know first-hand how expensive it is to supply organic feed to their animals. Grant funds along with a loan from Organic Valley will be used to complete the set up of an organic feed mill where George will process grain from his farm and other regional farms to provide to local growers. http://www.northcarolinaorganicfeed.com/about/
Rockingham
Triad Fruit Processing Facility
The Triad Fruit Processing Facility is the effort of a group of farmers in Rockingham County seeking to establish a new outlet for their grapes, berries, apples and other fruits. With assistance from grant funds, the group will purchase a crusher, pasteurizer and juice pump in order to process their fresh fruit into high quality juices for the local market.
Rockingham
Piedmont Local Food.com Website Redesign and Infrastructure
Piedmont Local Food.com (PLF) has been in business for less than a year and has sold eggs, meats, herbs, cheeses and baked goods from over 30 farms using a borrowed website. Grant funds will allow PLF will establish their own website. Farmers will also have access to workshops on how to use QuickBooks, create a farm business plan, use Facebook as a marketing tool, and more. www.piedmontlocalfood.com
Yadkin
Yadkin Farmers Market
The town planner, town manager, Cooperative Extension and area farmers have gotten together and determined that a new location for their farmers market is absolutely necessary. In their current location, lack of parking, restrooms, and shelter for the vendors has provided significant challenges. Grant funds will assist in establishing the Yadkin County Growers Only Farmers Market at a new location with improved facilities.
Project Descriptions for 2010
Alexander County
Shavings for Poultry Farms
Steve will use the funding for supplies to build his own sawmill for the specific purpose of milling waste pulpwood and packaging and selling the shavings to area poultry farmers. He expects the project to profit while giving help area farmers.
Anson County
Sustainable Pasture Raised Turkeys
Tim and Lynn will create a commercial free range heritage turkey farm from their existing turkey houses that have been dormant since the loss of their contract. The two plan to sell eggs, pullets and full sized turkeys to a wholesale and retail market.
Alleghany County
Embryo Transfer
Greg will demonstrate how a dairy farmer can create a separate income stream off the sale of embryos. This will help him maintain his herd and generate high profits while milk prices are low.
Peaceful Valley Trout Farm Enhancement
Jim is installing a liquid-oxygen system that will allow him to raise twice the fish in the same raceways that he already has. This system would double his profit margin from the farm, and relieve him from the pressures of having to find and purchase fish off the farm to fill orders.
Ashe County
Steep Grade Growing Sock Strawberry Farm Project
Brad is a strawberry and Christmas tree grower in Ashe County with land on a very steep grade hill on the main road through the county. This project will allow him to put this land in production for a U-pick operation.
U-pick/wholesale fruit
Marty is adding strawberries and blackberries to his Christmas tree farm and agri-tourism business. This will bring in new customers, and build on the existing product and services offered by his farm.
Rotational Grazing for Retail Beef
The two will upgrade their operation by creating a rotational grazing system which will allow them to increase the weight gain on their beef for a minimal cost. The fencing system is not widely used in the county.
Expanding Maple Syrup Production
Doug is an Ashe County farmer that has harvested maple syrup from his mountain land for the past four years. His project is for the taps and gravity fed tanks to expand his production, tapping 500 trees and supplying enough syrup for the Ashe County market.
Ashe County
Cuts for the Market (flowers)
Hollis will produce and sell several annual and perennial flowers, including a native holly in the winter months when her vegetables are out of production. Hollis was quite successful last year in this endeavor, and this year expects the project to generate cash flow for her farm in the off-season.
Burke County
Queen Honey bees bred for pest and disease resistance
Jeff is an apiarist in Burke County with five years of experience selectively breeding honeybees for pest and disease resistance. His project is for further development of his breeding program, which he expects to earn him significant income, while aiding the area’s honeybee shortage.
Caldwell County
Hygienic Honeybee Breeding
Ryan will create his own breeding program of hygienic queen honeybees in his area. He hopes that this will relieve pressures facing beekeepers and farmers alike, while building his own business.
Lee's Rabbit Marketing & Production
Lee’s project is to create a local rabbit marketing and distribution hub in Caldwell County. The money will go towards a heating and a drinking system, as well as the building of a rabbit barn and collection center for his group of 26 growers.
Automated Solar powered Germination House
Brian will build a small solar powered germination house where he will germinate his seeds and grow his starts for early planting. This will eliminate his fuel and electricity costs.
Jefferson Herr, Year Round Production Flower Farm
Jefferson is a Hmong flower farmer in Catawba County who will build a greenhouse to grow flowers. His project will allow him to turn his seasonal farm business into a year-round operation.
Susan Devine, Commercial Rabbitry
Susan will increase her herd of doe rabbits from 30 to 100 in the next year. This will allow her to be a self sustaining producer of rabbits, selling offspring into local markets with an option to sell to a local distributor of wholesale rabbits.
Lincoln County
Cool with Coolbot
His award is for the purchase of a new technology that allows farmers to refrigerate a space using a traditional window-unit air conditioner for a relatively inexpensive cost. He hopes to demonstrate that the use of the “Cool-bot” will save small farmers money as they move into larger production of produce.
Clyde Brown, Fruit Processing Facility
This project will receive $30,000 to develop a processing facility that will allow fifteen blackberry farmers to add value to the otherwise unmarketable berries, and sell them to a ready market of wine producers, jam and jelly companies, as well as open the door to other berry types and farmers in the area who wish to capitalize on second quality fruits.
Rockingham County
On Batch at a Time (Value-added)
Deborah will erect a processing and packaging room that doubles as a classroom for her herb farm. This will increase her capacity to sell her herbs, and bring in a new customer base.
Growing mushrooms with geothermal energy
Charles will turn his tobacco barn’s basement into a geothermal powered mushroom growing chamber. The project will double his production of shitake and Portobello mushrooms without excessive heating/cooling bills.
Brenda Sutton, Piedmont Local Food distribution Project
Brenda has headed up a group of area farmers interested in pooling together to market their products over the internet. Her group will receive $30,000 for equipment that will allow farmers to manage an internet based marketing system for sale of local food to regional restaurants.
Stokes County
Specialty Crops
Ricky will renovate an old barn into a washing, grading, and storage building for his commercial vegetable operation in Pinnacle NC. The facility will allow him to increase the value of his produce and access more demanding wholesale markets.
Plastic Mulch Vegetable Farming
Billy will turn his tobacco farm into a commercial vegetable farm using plasticulture and drip irrigation. This improvement will allow him to maintain his farm after the loss of his tobacco contract.
Saura Pride Purple Potato Transport project
The group will receive funding for the development of a transport system that will give them the tools and resources to manage a larger network of growers, as well as supporting increased production, marketing, processing, grading and transport without any additional costs to the farmer.
Union County
New Town Farms Poultry Processing Facility
The Koenigsbergs have an organic diversified farm business in Union County, and they have specialized in small-scale organic poultry production for the past 15 years. Their project is for the development of an on-farm, open-air poultry processing facility.
Small Farmstead Cheese Cave
This project is intended to model a traditional cheese aging cave using inexpensive materials and imbedding a concrete box into the ground to cut down on cooling costs, and maintain a consistent temperature and humidity for their goat cheese.
2009
Certified Organic Grafted Heirloom Tomatoes
Robert's project represents a growing market of farmers interested in filling their customer’s demand for organic heirloom tomatoes. Her business is growing faster than her production capacity, which shows the opportunities that are available for growers interested in replicating her demonstration project without the fears of creating too much competition. At the time of the site visit, she had just finished the first round of grafting successfully, and had a waiting list of customers ready to order. She is looking forward to perfecting the grafting process, and holding a workshop in her greenhouse for demonstration. (information: 919-621-0534)
Late season-day neutral strawberry production
Bill is working with the Upper Mountain Research Station on testing out strawberry varieties for production on his land. They grow four different types of strawberries there on white plastic, including the late-season day-neutral variety. This variety is attractive to Bill because it would allow him to produce fresh-market berries for at least six months of the year, giving him out-of-season marketing opportunities. Because the strawberries need to be planted in the fall and over-wintered, Bill’s project is in the early phase of setting up beds and preparing the site. At the time of visit he had made some purchases toward his project, but had not been able to dig beds because of the excessive level of rainfall. (information: 919-621-0534)
Glycerine to Greenhouses
Denise’s project was intended for the use of glycerine as fuel for greenhouses. The project will support a non-profit that will utilize the substance, which is in abundance as a byproduct of biodiesel, to understand the best methods for burning it for fuel. There are two test greenhouses which will be used in the initial phase of the project, with hopes of expansion. If the project is successful, Denise’s organization will use the boilers to support several farms cut energy costs associated with heating their greenhouses. The review board was eager to see if this project could be successful because of the great demonstration value for other farmers due to fuel costs being a major concern. (information: 919-621-0534)
Forced Air Cooler for Blackberries
Brent Brown operates a small fresh market blackberry farm and sells to Sunnyridge farms about 25 miles away. The problem he faced was that in the process of loading the flats of berries onto his truck, the field heat in the center of the flats would cause the berries to turn red, and he would lose about half of his yield. Brent’s solution to this problem was to replicate the distribution center’s own forced-air cooler right on site of his farm. This would give him assurance of the quality of his product, as well as an agreed upon bonus per flat for allowing the distributor to bypass the use of their cooler when the berries came in for distribution. At the time of my visit, Brent had the cooler fully operational and anticipated the cooler would pay for itself in less than a year. (information: 919-621-0534)
Farm Expansion Project
McMurry took over his grandfather’s farm at the start of the growing season last year and has been operating it sucessfully on his own for over a year. He has taken many lessons from his grandfather’s experience, but at 18, has already demonstrated impressive results from exploring new directions. He sells at 3 local farmers’ markets and manages 7+ acres of vegetables, potted plants, meat rabbits, chickens, honey, and eggs. Dustin’s project was to build a greenhouse, update his filtration system to allow him to expand his vegetable production, and improve irrigation. He was very happy with the new improvements, and was nearly finished with their construction. This expansion allows him to extend his season, pick up new income from selling starts, and most importantly, run his irrigation system without needing to clean out the filter every hour. (information: 919-621-0534)
Appalachian Berries LLC’s marketing processing quality blackberries
Wayne grows blackberries for Sunnyridge Farms along with several neighbors in Lincoln and Cleveland County. His project is designed to save blackberry farmers money through the marketing and sale of processing quality berries. According to Wayne, “This year has been especially wet leading up to blackberry season and the need to have a back-up plan is even more pressing if berries get too wet.” Wayne’s blackberry farm was just at the point of bloom at the time of the visit. He expressed his gratitude for a chance to build some cost-reducing opportunities into his business. Wayne also led a tour of the newly built Sunnyridge distribution facility that was preparing for a big year, undertaking the huge task of insulating entire sections of the warehouse for storage and shipment. Wayne has a good relationship with the company agronomist that helps him with pest-management and was looking forward to the season getting started. (information: 919-621-0534)
Bee Hives & Blueberries
Steve Rivers has worked in a factory his entire adult life, and was introduced to the idea of growing blueberries a few years ago by his neighbor, who was a retired blueberry farmer from Florida. He quickly gained an appreciation for it and has since built a u-pick operation into his fresh market berry business with hopes that it will provide an income to support himself and his college aged son in the near future. In the process of transitioning to organic, he learned about the benefits of keeping honeybees on site to help pollinate the plants and get a much larger yield. When he applied to RAFI, he had already experimented with bees and learned the great benefit to his blueberry crop, but had to overcome the nuisance the honeybees caused to his u-pick customers. Working with his son, the two have now come up with a model for combining the two with the added benefit of marketing blueberry honey along with his berries. Last year they sold berries in the Weaver street market in Carrboro NC, and are looking forward to the added business potential the bees bring. (information: 919-621-0534)
Tobacco-to-Organic Greenhouse project
Alan has just returned from his third tour of duty in Iraq and anticipates one more before his service contract expires. His Stokes County farm has been in his family for four generations, mainly growing tobacco until the buyout. Although the farm has grown, and tobacco and row crops are still planted on parts of the 100+ acres, Alan’s mission is to turn it into an organic vegetable farm with year-round production. His project is the building of a new greenhouse in an effort to supply his community with fresh vegetables, and supply him with a viable income on the farm. At the time of the site visit, he was having the land graded and prepared for the construction of the greenhouse. He hopes to plant fall crops in it and experiment throughout the winter months on several vegetable varieties. (information: 919-621-0534)
Dessert Pears
Paul has worked extensively with county horticulture agents to assess the potential for growing and selling dessert pears in the piedmont. His interest in perennial crops has lead him to small fruit production as a viable income source, and his research with area farmers’ markets and restaurant chefs tell him that dessert pears have real potential as a money-maker. For over a year he has worked to research the right varieties for his climate and is now making that dream into a reality. He has ordered and planted over 140 trees with his demonstration funds on his small plot of land, and is hopeful that the investment will pay off giving him a reliable income, and giving farmers in the Western Piedmont a new option for perennial income. (information: 919-621-0534)
2009
Farm to Street Local Food Vending Cart
Cassie has created a successful pastured pork business with her hogs, and has marketed her meat to restaurants in and around Charlotte, the Triad, and Triangle. From that experience, she has learned that it makes sense to capture the value of the finished product as a farmer. Part of Cassie’s business includes partnering with a community college program to train and employ previously homeless citizens from Charlotte on cooking with local ingredients and running a food business. The students will help prepare the food and will have a role in the sale of it to Charlotte’s downtown customers. After my visit with Cassie, she was gearing up to start sales from the cart after making changes to her “Local Lunch” cart for certification from the health deptartment. Click here to see vending cart... (information: 919-621-0534)
Solar Powered Well Pump
Jerry has a career background in raising cattle, and as a retired extension agent, he knows what works. His project shows a trend for cattle producers looking to capture the whole value of their livestock by finishing them on pasture, and his model pasture will surely be a useful demonstration to the wide network of cattle producers in his area. He already has installed the solar powered well pump. He has laid out the plans for fencing in the large pasture for rotational grazing and a two acre organic vegetable plot at the center, with the pump strategically placed to fulfill irrigation and watering needs for the entire operation. (information: 919-621-0534)
Managed Grazing Plan for Sheep
Becky runs a small herd of fiber sheep on her 27 acre farm. To get the finest quality fleece, minimal parasite infestation, and quality grass for grazing, Becky decided to create a managed rotational grazing plan. This project funded a fencing system that allows her to increase her flock, charge higher prices for cleaner fleece, and keep predators and parasites from harming her sheep. At the point of visit, Becky had finished re-designing her fencing system to 3 paddocks instead of four because of the contour of the land, and access to wells. She anticipates more business from internet sales, and from the fiber-arts exposition in Asheville where her product is on display in front of thousands of potential customers. (information: 919-621-0534)
Double Decker Mobile pasture poultry coop
Stacy has been selling her products at the Ashe county farmers’ market since its inception, and has become known for her goat’s milk soaps and her pastured hogs, poultry and eggs. Stacy is currently farming on two different pieces of land she rents, and her project was to develop a mobile chicken coop built from a trailer that would allow her to move from pasture to pasture. At that point she was working with the builder to complete the structure, and making some small changes in the design. Stacy also raises goats on the rolling pasture where she plans to put the mobile unit. (information: 919-621-0534)
The Farmer's Daughter
Douglas grew up on her parent’s farm, learning about vegetable production early on. She has a natural ability to network with surrounding farmers and create markets for their products, and her business is just beginning to show that talent. She started “The Farmer’s Daughter” last year by selling to neighbors, friends and family and has quickly expanded to market into the larger community. Her project includes the construction of an on-site retail building and the laying of black plastic on her small four-acre plot. At the time of the site visit she had several vegetable varieties growing under the newly laid plastic, and a fully functional retail shop selling her own vegetables, jams and baked goods as well as neighboring farmers’ products to balance out a diverse mix to offer the public twice a week from her store. (information: 919-621-0534)
Continuation of Griggs Century Farm
This grant was used for the development of a combination u-pick blueberry/bee keeping operation. The project gives Davidson County its first u-pick blueberry farm, and serves as a model for other farmers wishing to incorporate the beneficial farming technique of berries and honeybees. (information: 919-621-0534)
Windmill for livestock watering, irrigation, aeration, agritourism
Duckworth’s farm is a small scale diversified operation with pastured hogs, cattle, and produce, and soon catfish. He purchased a windmill for several reasons, “I wanted to be off the grid so that my hogs and cattle aren’t dependent on electricity for water, but I also wanted to attract visitors to my farm.” This strategy is paying off for Art with new visitors stopping by to see it. He has especially catered to elementary school classes that want a tour of his farm. At the time of the site visit, he had already erected the windmill and proudly demonstrated its success, turning very little wind into a steady flow of water to his holding tank. Arthur is marketing his farm with the windmill’s image, and plans to host a “farmer field day” to help other farmers take advantage of similar ideas and opportunities to fold agritourism and practical innovation into smart business practices. (information: 919-621-0534)
Timber Woodworking Workshop
Gary has been a full-time farmer and part-time carpenter in the off-season his entire life. He came to RAFI with the understanding of farmers’ need to come up with new potential income streams, and used his experience to make the case that it could be done through fine woodworking. Gary believed that there were enough people who could appreciate custom built furniture and cabinets that there could be a market for his products. He also thought that he could have something to offer other farmers who wanted to make use of their farm timber, but without the know-how and equipment or space to do it. His project idea was to build a workshop out of an old quail house with all the necessary tools and space to allow him to teach farmers how to add value to the timber they brought in. Gary said that he has developed a list of farmers from around Rockingham County and southern Virginia who are interested in participating. When I visited him he was pouring the concrete for the expansion of the building, and it was finished in early May. He will start workshops as soon as the harvest season ends. (information: 919-621-0534)
Bee Hives & Blueberries
Steve Rivers has worked in a factory his entire adult life, and was introduced to the idea of growing blueberries a few years ago by his neighbor, who was a retired blueberry farmer from Florida. He quickly gained an appreciation for it and has since built a u-pick operation into his fresh market berry business with hopes that it will provide an income to support himself and his college aged son in the near future. In the process of transitioning to organic, he learned about the benefits of keeping honeybees on site to help pollinate the plants and get a much larger yield. When he applied to RAFI, he had already experimented with bees and learned the great benefit to his blueberry crop, but had to overcome the nuisance the honeybees caused to his u-pick customers. Working with his son, the two have now come up with a model for combining the two with the added benefit of marketing blueberry honey along with his berries. Last year they sold berries in the Weaver street market in Carrboro NC, and are looking forward to the added business potential the bees bring. (information: 919-621-0534)
Blue Ridge Farmers Market
Collette Nester’s project is an indoor farmers’ market featuring her pasture raised pork as well as an array of all-local products including meats, cheese, milk, eggs, fruit and vegetables. Collette proved to be an excellent resource for farmers in her region around Alleghany County, and had already laid the ground work for a successful market before the doors were open, through networking and sourcing of a diverse product mix, and completing a marketing strategy. The storefront was not yet available at the time of the site visit. Collette has dealt with challenges from not anticipating the level of capital investment in the start-up phase of the store. Since the visit however, she has opened the store with great success in her first few weeks and is hearing praise from farmers and shoppers alike. (information: 919-621-0534)
Homestead Cheese project
Carol’s Homestead is a true working old-time homestead with a blacksmith shop, large gardens, and a goat-cheese operation, offering agritourism and home-made goat cheese. She has modeled an affordable milking parlor for replication by small herd producers to contract with her for milk supply. This allows her to expand her cheese production in her impressive cheese-making kitchen without the extra land and workload raising more goats would require. With the RAFI funds she has purchased a cheese press to make hard cheeses, to expand her line and allow her to age cheeses. She now shares a market with another High Country goat cheese producer, and the hard cheese gives her a different market without causing too much competition. She is in the process of hiring a new employee and expanding her production in anticipation of her new capacity. (information: 919-621-0534)
2007
Calico Farmstead Cheese Expansion
This project enabled the Gerringer’s to purchase equipment to diversify their cheese production operation. In the past, they specialized in production of Mexican cheeses, which they marketed in the Triad and across the state. The grant has enabled them to start producing different cheeses to diversify and expand their markets. (information: 919-621-0534)
Berry Farm
Mary's project was designed to scale up her infrastructure and planting of blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries. Mary has an impressive knowledge of berries from test plots that she and her husband have grown on their poultry farm. She plans on starting her marketing in the fall and preparing for her business to start in earnest next summer. (information: 919-621-0534)
Plantains at the Country Store
Marilyn use the grant to establish an on-farm retail outlet and for the production of plantains for sale. The project incorporates agritourism and direct marketing while satisfying an ethnic market for plantains in Davidson County. (information: 919-621-0534)
Hay Storage
This project allows Mr. Griffen to market hay to small-scale cattle producers and horse owners who are unable to purchase large quantities due to a lack of storage. There is an increasing demand for this service in Jones County as land is increasingly subdivided, and more “horse” farms spring up. Mr. Griffen used the grant funds to purchase and re-locate an unused broiler house where he is storing hay. (information: 919-621-0534)
Quality Vegetable Production—Stokes County Growers
Coop—Stokes County
This project is intended to assist members of the Stokes County
Growers Coop to access needed technical assistance in various aspects
of vegetable production and to obtain equipment that will help defer
the start-up investment required for new growers to get involved
with the cooperative.
2005
Organic
Transplant Production
Alleghany County
Mr. Souther will be producing Organically Certified transplants
for market to area organic growers. Since the recent implementation
of the Organic rule, the demand for quality certified organic transplants
has greatly increased. Mr. Souther will be helping to fill that
demand in northwestern North Carolina.
2004
2003
.
Value
in Value Added Crops
Ashe County
The Mahalas are diversifying their tobacco operation by growing
traditional “mountain” crops like cabbage, pumpkins,
and potatoes and such non-traditional crops as ornamental corn,
gourds, and herbs. They produce value-added herbal vinegars and
wreaths on their farm and market through local farmers markets and
restaurants. The Mahalas are a good example of how to get the whole
family and farming neighbors involved in the farm operation.
For additional information contact Francesca Hyatt at 919-323-7587
or email francesca@rafiusa.org