We’re DOING IT!
Spring is always busy on a farm! Life is budding and there is a lot to prepare for summer. We're dubbing this summer at the farm the year of the garden! Each year gets better and we're forecasting an especially great year here because WE'RE GETTING A HIGH TUNNEL!
We've been working for two years with our local conservation district on preparing and writing an EQUIP grant, for farmers through the USDA. When much of the federal funding was frozen this winter we figured our grant was out and we would have to wait indefinitely to move forward with our project. We got the call a couple weeks ago that a pool of money was accessed and we are pre-approved for the grant. This means that after official paper work is completed we can sign our contract and get started.
To say we're excited is an understatement! Programs like the EQUIP grant make big things possible for farmers (specifically for new and small ones like us!). We're incredibly grateful for the opportunity to use this grant to do BIG things on our little acreage.
Here's a quick look at what this grant will help us accomplish over the next few years:
-High Tunnel Installation: this will extend our growing season by a month or more on each end. We can start earlier and grow longer, meaning more food for everyone!
-Irrigation Line: we will have adequate water running to the garden and our future orchard
-Rain Water Catchment: gutters and a water tank will help us catch rain water to use on the garden, in the orchard and around the farm to reduce the amount of water we "waste"
-Compost Facility: our compost site will have a permanent and efficient set up for managing compost, making it possible to create more of our own fertilizer while reducing food waste
-Well Decommissioning: we have a non-functioning well on our property that would take a huge amount of funds (basically installing a new well) to get working. To make it safe for everyone who visits the farm and those of us who live here, it's important to get it filled in.
-Tree and Perennial Planting: this will allow us to plant more than SIXTY new trees, shrubs and bushes at the farm in our orchard and perennial portion of the garden. More food for everyone including the wildlife!
It's going to be a busy and wild ride as we make some big moves here at the farm that will launch us forward in sustainability and self sufficiency as well as bringing more to our farm friends and customers. Follow along for updates, pictures, and the inevitable learning curves that will come as a result!