Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Alan Johnson is building a greenhouse to propagate plant material, which he sells for stream restoration projects. The vegetation stabilizes stream banks to prevent soil erosion into the water. With the greenhouse addition, Alan can grow plants from seed, so … View >>
Andrew Jones of Clay County is growing his goat operation by building shelter, constructing fencing and renovating pasture. The land in Fires Creek where he farms has been in his family’s hands for four generations, and now he resides there … View >>
Anne Gaines Grier is selling produce year-round by growing winter crops, such as onions, leeks and garlic, with the help of her grant. She purchased tractor and field equipment and propagation materials crucial for a year-round operation. Anne sells to … View >>
Annie Perkinson, co-owner of Flying Cloud Farm in Buncombe County, is using the shared-use commercial equipment of Blue Ridge Food Ventures, an initiative of the Advantage West Economic Development Group, to process her strawberries, tomatoes and peppers into jams, juice … View >>
Bobby Williams of Graham County is starting a nursery specializing in native plants. He propagates more than 200 varieties, often times from seed collected in his nearby woods. He sells to nurseries, farmers’ markets and individuals, advertising in local newspapers. … View >>
Brad Martin of Buncombe County is developing an 8-acre hay field into the main growing site for his new nursery business, Southeastern Natives. He is constructing a greenhouse, cold frame, shade house and irrigation system. Buncombe County Contact the … View >>
Cynthia Sharpe and Dwain Swing are improving their milking room and creamery so that they can produce raw goat-milk cheese. With the grant, they purchased steel stanchions and constructed an aging room. Cynthia is now able to work full-time on … View >>
For Cathy and Andy Bennett, owners of Doubletree Farm in Madison County, the grant is helping them keep Appalachian traditions alive. They are using the knowledge about molasses-making they’ve gained from their neighbors Peggy and Nathan Harmon, whose ancestors made … View >>
With the help of the grant, Chad Calhoun of Mitchell County is encouraging his family’s multi-generational tradition of farming to continue. He is establishing a U-Pick strawberry operation with the assistance of his two daughters, since they are interested in … View >>
Chris Owen, owner of Spinning Spider Creamery in Madison County, is improving her cheese aging facility so that she can increase her production of hard cheeses. The additions will also make the creamery more inviting to customers. Chris is offering … View >>
Chris and Rachel Leek of Haywood County are propagating flowers and herbs on their urban lot to sell to restaurants, retailers and individuals. With the grant, they are constructing a small greenhouse and installing a drip irrigation system using water … View >>
Coy Griffin of Madison County, a former tobacco grower, is improving his horse boarding business by modernizing and expanding his 30-year-old building, which was once a tobacco barn. He hopes the improvements will help him board more horses and ensure … View >>
Dale Robertson, farm manager of the camp Gwynn Valley in Transylvania County, is automating his milking operation to improve educational opportunities for campers. The clear tubing of his automatic milker allows children at the camp to view the entire milking … View >>
Diane Almond, owner of Honey Bees and Heather in Henderson County, is developing her nursery and apiary into an agri-tourism destination and educational resource for local residents. With the grant, she is increasing the number of bee hives and blueberry … View >>
Dianne Tolman, owner of Big Pine Native Gardens in Madison County, is making her native plants and herbs business self-sufficient so that she relies little on other businesses for propagation materials. With the grant, she purchased materials and created marketing … View >>
Doug and Renee Lambrecht, owners of Bearpen Farm, are expanding production of wasabi, which they sell nationwide to natural grocers and individuals through realwasabi.com. Doug is constructing greenhouses that are specially designed for the growing conditions wasabi desires. Jackson … View >>