Sheep Meadow Farm in Danville, VT received a VFF Business Builder Loan to purchase and install a 6-ton bulk grain bin, which will cut the cost of feed in half. They use whole corn to finish lambs before slaughter. This year they were able to raise 170 lambs for local markets.
Read MoreBirdhous is a “co-working landscape” inviting young and beginning farmers to its residential “Roosting” program, which offers subsidized rent, tool and infrastructure sharing, and the built-in support offered by living communally in a like-minded cohort. Their VFF Business Builder loan was used to outfit a bus into a certified food production space for pierogi-making that can also work as a catering/food truck for pop-up VT Pierogi events.
Read MoreVermont Bean Crafters suffered smoke damage to their processing facility in Warren after a vehicle parked outside overnight caught on fire. As a result, much of their food processing equipment needed to be replaced or extensively cleaned. A $7,500 Emergency Loan from the VFF helped them cover these costs until their insurance claim could be processed.
Read MoreOn Halloween night 2019 water rose over the banks of the New Haven River, inundating the fields at Green & Gold CSA in New Haven. This came on the heels of a flood two weeks earlier which had destroyed 75% of the vegetable crops still in the ground. The Halloween flood destroyed all remaining crops and entered the barn, outbuildings, house, tractor, and the owners’ personal cars.
Read MoreFlywheel Farm in Woodbury, VT paid off their first VFF loan in two years, and came back for a second Business Builder loan to pay for a used 4 wheel drive tractor in 2019. They are a small diversified vegetable farm in Woodbury, VT owned and managed by Justin Cote and Ansel Ploog.
Read MoreVermont Alpine Farm in Reading, VT raises grass-fed beef and heritage breed pork, and sells meat online and through a "meat of the month" subscription to local and regional customers. They built two high tunnels with their VFF Business Builder Loan and a grant from the NRCS.
Read MoreThe Shurtleff family has been farming in Bridgewater, VT for over 100 years. Their family dairy farm, Maple Valley Farm, is the last dairy farm still operating in the town of Bridgewater. Their corn fields were invaded by black bears this fall. A friend put up a game camera, and at one point, counted 11 bears in one field alone! A $10,000 Emergency Loan from the VFF will allow Richard to purchase additional feed for his cows through the winter.
Read MoreAndy Shetler and his family are part of the growing Amish farming community in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Their VFF loan helped them to build a storage cellar with wash station, gas-powered vegetable washer and loading dock.
Read MoreScout's Honor Creamery in Waitsfield, VT came to the Vermont Farm Fund to expand their ice cream production with larger freezer capacity. Since they launched their cafe, The Sweet Spot, in 2013, John and Sarina have continued to produce a wide array of small batch ice cream flavors, fresh fruit-n-herb ice pops, and novelty frozen treats featuring many locally produced ingredients.
Read MoreThe Vermont Tortilla Company was founded in 2015 with the goal of bringing fresh tortillas to the northeast made from locally grown, freshly ground organic corn. They came to the VFF for a $30,000 loan to expand their freezer capacity, add a new kettle for boiling corn, and a corn washer and feeder.
Read MoreLivewater Dairy in Putney, VT produces fresh cheese, aged raw milk cheese, and sweet cream butter. Their $10,000 Business Builder Loan allowed them to purchase a batch freezer and blast freezer for onsite ice cream production. They produce ice cream using local ingredients for sale at the farmer's market and their own farmstand.
Read MoreAlmanack Farm in Chelsea, VT got a $10,000 Business Builder Loan from the VFF to invest in fencing, chute and a livestock scale at their new farm, which they purchased through a partnership with the Vermont Land Trust's Farmland Access Program. They raise grassfed beef for direct sale to restaurants.
Read MoreBen Harris worked with the Vermont Land Trust's Farmland Access Program and took over operation of Gleason Grains in May 2018 to grow and mill certified organic wheat, field crops and pastured pigs.
Read MoreYoder Farm is a small diversified farm located at Smokey House Center, a land based non-profit, in Danby, Vermont. They came to the Vermont Farm Fund for a loan to build a wash and pack greenhouse, and purchase equipment to expand and increase the efficiency of their apple and cider vinegar production.
Read MoreLaughing Child Farm is a fast-growing organic farm in Pawlet, Vermont specializing in growing sweet potatoes. Timothy and Brooke Hughes-Muse came to the Vermont Farm Fund for a loan to purchase equipment to upgrade their packing house and sweet potato washing equipment.
Read MoreIn 2018, Vermont Cranberry Company decided to start producing a sparkling cranberry wine and needed to fit up a winery space in the bottom of their barn, buy tanks and equipment. A $15,000 loan from the VFF will allow them to start up the winery.
Read MoreUnderstory Farm in Sudbury, VT grows cut flowers for the farmers' market, weddings and events. They came to the Vermont Farm Fund for a $10,000 loan to purchase a greenhouse heater, upgrade their irrigation system and purchase a used delivery vehicle.
Read MoreVermont Organics in St. Albans used a VFF Emergency Loan to repair damage to their large greenhouses after the severe wind storm in October 2017.
Read MoreAn Emergency Loan from the VFF allowed Elmore Roots to replace broken deer fencing and repair the driveway after a severe wind storm in October 2017.
Read MoreA short term bridge loan to Calderwood Goat Dairy allowed them to take advantage of a grant from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to install a lagoon on site to collect all waste water produced during the winter months so that it can be applied in the spring and summer when the ground is not frozen.
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