Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Ryan and Launi Higgs, Blue Ridge Apiaries Value-Added Diversification with Session Mead Production Grant Award: $6,000 Before starting their successful small-scale apiary that now supplies 12% of the total North Carolina honey crop, the Higgs were employees of the largest … View >>
Heather and Kris Gupton, High Country Herbs Farm Mechanization Grant Award: $6,000 To increase production and reduce labor costs, the Guptons have transitioned to mechanized farm production and adding a Caterpillar Tunnel to their 4-acre operation. They had previously done … View >>
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 >>
Robert and Jaime Cool, Bee Kind Family Farm Apiary Expansion Grant Award: $3,000 Robert and Jaime have added 20 new bee colonies to their 60-hive chemical treatment-free yard with the hopes of doubling honey production in the future. The additional … View >>
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 >>
April Kemp-Moya and Wesley Allen, Living Roots Farm Packing Facility Grant Award: $6,000 April and Wesley have constructed a wash, pack and cold storage building to maximize product quality and safety at their new vegetable farm. They carefully designed a … View >>
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 >>
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, … View >>
Ryan Higgs, Blue Ridge Apiaries Nuc Production Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 Ryan is expanding the production of nucleus colonies, or “nucs,” to supply his own replacement colonies, cut down on swarming, as well as sell surplus nucs to other beekeepers … View >>