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 >>

2016 Recipient: Linda Ann Davis

Linda Ann Davis Goat Milk Soap-Making Workshop Grant Award: $3,000 Linda is constructing a workshop dedicated to the production of goat milk soap. The insulated 10-foot by 12-foot wood frame structure consolidates all phases of the soap making operation, including … View >>

2015 Recipient: Jasperwood Farm

Anthony Cole, Jasperwood Farm Winter Squash Curing Facility Grant Award: $3,000 Anthony is building on the success of a 2010 WNC AgOptions project by improving the storage and curing of pumpkins and winter squash. He has constructed a passive solar … View >>

2015 Recipient: W.O.W.S.A.

Jonathan Fannon, W.O.W.S.A. Off-grid Post-harvest Washing and Cold Storage Grant Award: $3,000 Jonathan is using a simple technique call “agrovoltaic” to shade heat-sensitive crops as well as generate energy for his farm. He is installing 2kw of solar panels high … View >>

2014 Recipient: C-Saw Hill Farm

Lisa and Brandon Higgins, C-Saw Hill Farm Solar Hot Water Dairy and Cheese Plant Grant Award: $6,000 Lisa and Brandon have installed a solar hot water system as part of their new dairy, where they plan to milk approximately 10 … 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: Wildwood Herbal

Alan and Seth are establishing an aquaponics greenhouse system integrated with their existing greens production. They are transforming a 1,500 square foot greenhouse into a symbiotic leafy green and tilapia production area. Excrement from the fish provides nutrients for the … View >>

2011 Recipient: Stephen Alan Thompson

Stephen Alan Thompson Nottely River Valley Vineyards Grant Award: $6,000 — Tasting Room and Pavilion Stephen is constructing a tasting room and pavilion for a 10-acre vineyard, planted in Vitis Vinifera and French American Hybrids. The pavilion is the focal … View >>

2009 Recipient: Steve Rice

Steve Rice Indoor Mushroom Expansion – Grant Award: $6,000 “This grant has upgraded my operation immediately and showed me that significant income is possible.” ~ Steve Rice Steve grew up sharecropping tobacco and worked in it throughout his life. He … View >>