Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission

2018 Recipient: Daintrey Trees

Adam and Bill Beuttell, Daintrey Trees Solar Greenhouse for Fraser Fir Seedlings/Transplants Grant Award: $6,000 To move away from being highly dependent on suppliers in the Pacific Northwest, the Beuttells installed a 16′ x 24′ solar powered greenhouse to grow … View >>

2018 Recipient: Sugartown Farm and Nursery

Chip Hope, Sugartown Farm and Nursery Sustainable Plant Nursery Grant Award: $6,000 Chip has established a sustainable, low-tech plant nursery to produce naturally grown plants for sale and to offer workshops on growing food, medicinal plants, organic farming, including livestock … View >>

2018 Recipient: Hall’s Hill Farm

Wood Hall Young, III, Hall’s Hill Farm Greenhouse Expansion and Season Extension Grant Award: $3,000 To remain a sustainable operation, Hall’s Hill Farm will now be able to double CSA memberships by creatively utilizing a non-traditional hoop house for 12-month … View >>

2017 Recipient: JB Farms

Paula and Dale Boles, JB Farms Aquaponics Greenhouses Grant Award: $6,000 Paula and Dale are continuing a project they started with a 2016 WNC AgOptions grant, converting their 500-foot former poultry house into an aquaponics greenhouse. After ending their 13-year … View >>

2017 Recipient: Big John’s Hydro Farm

John and James Carroll, Big John’s Hydro Farm Back-Up Electricity and Mini-Fogger Grant Award: $6,000 John and his father James added a back-up generator to their existing 3,600-square-foot hydroponic greenhouse to deter crop loss during power outages. They are also … View >>

2016 Recipient: Edmundson Produce Farm

  Randy and Carolyn are doubling their seedling production with the construction of a new greenhouse.They are building a 20-foot by 60-foot greenhouse and installing heat, fans, and an 8-foot by 8-foot germination chamber. This project allows them to produce … View >>

2016 Recipient: JB Farms

Paula and Dale Boles, JB Farms Aquaponics Greenhouses Grant Award: $6,000 After raising broiler chickens for 13 years, Paula and Dale are ending their contract with poultry companies and converting their chicken houses to aquaponics greenhouses, growing tilapia and a … View >>

2015 Recipient: Thankful Fork Farm

James is diversifying away from commercial poultry by expanding vegetable production on his farm with the addition of an unheated greenhouse, called a high tunnel. He also plans to grow his own transplants in a section of the tunnel, allowing … View >>

2015 Recipient: Pitch Pine Farm

Paige Witherington and Justin Dansby, Pitch Pine Farm Season Extension Grant Award: $6,000 Paige and Justin are creating optimal growing conditions for their vegetables as well as lengthening their growing season with the addition of a permanent high tunnel. The … View >>

2014 Recipient: South Valley Nursery

  Tyler is constructing a 60-foot by 26-foot greenhouse to grow out micropropagated plants for sale. He is expanding upon his successful 2013 WNC AgOptions project for which he used tissue culture to propagate rare and endangered native species and … View >>

2013 Recipient: Reems Creek Nursery

Susan is adding a 30-foot by 96-foot heated greenhouse specifically for growing vegetable and herb transplants in organic potting soils with organic fertilizer and pest control methods. The separate greenhouse prevents cross-contamination with conventionally raised nursery crops. Purchases include a … View >>

2013 Recipient: Van Winkle Farm

Kim Van Winkle, Van Winkle Farm/Johnson Branch Farms Shiitake and Goldenseal Production Grant Award: $6,000 Kim is reintroducing farming to a dormant property with winter greenhouse shiitake mushroom production and the wild cultivation of goldenseal. She is constructing a solar … View >>

2012 Recipient: Nantahala Farms and Nursery

Rachelle Clark, Nantahala Farms and Nursery Hydroponic Plant Production and Greenhouse Growing Grant Award: $6,000 With the addition of a greenhouse, Rachelle is producing vegetable starts for her fields as well as fresh produce, strawberries, herbs and flowers to customers … View >>

2011 Recipient: Jodie and Jeff Zahner

Jodie and Jeff Zahner Oconee Bell Farms Grant Award: $6,000 — Oconee Bells The Zahners are expanding greenhouse space for propagating and first-year growing of the rare native evergreen groundcover Shortia galacifolia, commonly known as Oconee Bells. It is in … View >>