Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Alyson Wade, The Farm Connection Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Gardens, Video Marketing and Risk Mitigation Grant Award: $8,000 Working on a multi-pronged approach to grow their successful nursery, The Farm Connection used their grant in three ways. Because nursery sales are … View >>
Sarah Coury and Ben Pick, Saturnia Farm Nursery, Flower & Farm Goods Delivery Service Grant Award: $6,000 In spring of 2020 as the COVID-19 crisis was unfolding, Saturnia Farm started a plant delivery service between Waynesville and Asheville. An immediate … View >>
Jerry W. Causby, Causby Greenhouse Greenhouse Improvements Grant Award: $6,000 Once a thriving greenhouse business and an important part of the community, production at Causby Greenhouse has decreased over the past years. In order to increase production of vegetables and … View >>
Sarah Coury and Ben Pick, Saturnia Farm Nursery Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 Saturnia Farm, a specialty perennial and native plant nursery, made needed renovations on the farm to expand nursery offerings. They made improvements to an existing high tunnel, with … View >>
Michael and Lauren Rayburn, Rayburn Farms Drying and Packing Facility Grant Award: $6,000 Rayburn Farm has converted an existing 12 x 30 square foot modular shed to a two-room facility that includes a drying room/kiln and packing and storage room … View >>
Nathan Buchanan, Wildbud Natives Shade Tunnel Project Grant Award: $3,000 Nathan has expanded his current native plants nursery operation with the addition of a 14′ x 50′ shade tunnel. He also purchased growing supplies to use in the expansion. The … View >>
Bill Weeks, Exotic Natives Nursery Expanding Markets and Increasing Manageability and Sales of Native Azaleas Grant Award: $6,000 Bill has made critical changes at his nursery to sell off his current inventory of field-grown azaleas, which are mostly native to … View >>
Stacey and Alex are growing native plants and forest food crops using permaculture methods, revitalizing compacted soils on forest edges at Stacey’s family farm. Crops include Jerusalem artichokes, American hazelnuts, pawpaws, Rabbiteye blueberries, American groundnuts and King Stropharia mushrooms. … View >>
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 >>
Jack W. Wiseman, Jr., D & J Trees Momi Fir Grafting and Native Ornamental Production Grant Award: $3,000 Jack is helping solve root rot issues that Christmas tree growers commonly deal with by grafting the root-rot tolerant Momi fir species … View >>
Tyler is building a micropropagation lab so that he can mass produce unique plants such as native orchids, which are challenging to propagate using traditional techniques. “Micropropagation is a new technology in the nursery business,” Tyler said. “This technology will … View >>
Mary Ann Thompson Traditional Delicacies Grant Award: $3,000 — Traditional Cherokee Delicacies Mary Ann recently started her forest delicacies business selling frozen and canned wild greens. She is also raising mountain crawfish, a traditional Cherokee forest food, in small-scale contained … View >>
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 >>
Van Burnette: Hop N’ Blueberry Farm Milkweed Production & Butterfly Farming Grant Award: $3,000 Van is establishing a commercial milkweed operation. The primary customers for milkweed are butterfly farmers who are unable to produce sufficient food supply for caterpillars. Van … 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 >>
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 >>