SVTFarm in Wells, VT applied for a 3%-interest Business Builder loan to use as short-term bridge financing for her grant-funded winter livestock housing and summer compost coverall barn. Owner Laura Burch identified the project as key to her farm's long-term viability by facilitating more efficient use of feed resources, conservation of nutrient resources, and improvements to animal comfort, soil health, and water quality.

Blackbird Organics is a certified organic farm that grows a wide diversity of vegetable crops. Owners Kagen Dewey and Elise Magnant sell their produce through local farmers’ markets, grocery co-ops, and a small CSA. Blackbird Organics began in 2018 and scaled their production on leased land until just last year, when they worked together with the Vermont Land Trust to purchase their own property in Plainfield, VT. The business is now poised to make significant investments in infrastructure, efficient systems, and long-term strategies for growth. Blackbird Organics received a $30,000 Business Builder loan to help finance some of those key equipment and infrastructure investments to expand production on the new farm.

Sweet Rowen Farmstead is a small, grass-based dairy farm in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, with a mission to maintain a working landscape that provides families with fresh food, supports the local economy, and upholds the ecological integrity of the environment. The milk from their herd of pasture-raised, heritage breed, Lineback cows is processed at their own on-farm creamery into bottled milk, yogurt, and cheese. Owner Paul Lisai is breaking ground on a new barn this summer and received a $30,000 Business Builder loan to support the construction, along with grant funds secured from the Agency of Agriculture and Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. The new barn will hold all the farm’s young stock and allow Sweet Rowen to house all their animals on the farm through winter.

Northwind Farm is an organic dairy in Cabot, VT. Owner Geordie Lynd has been in business since 2010 and currently milks a herd of 65 cows. Northwind Farm received a $30,000 Business Builder loan to support several infrastructure improvement projects this year, including an updated manure management system and renovated pastures with planned laneways. Geordie was also awarded grant funding through the VAAFM Pasture and Surface Water Fencing Program to help fund the pasture improvements. Combining grant dollars with a low-interest VFF loan can be a cost-effective way for small farms to finance larger capital projects.

The Sole Connection Farm in Arlington, VT utilized one of our 0%-interest Emergency Loans to rebuild his mushroom cultivation area, which was significantly damaged during the flooding in July 2023. The loan will help owner Patrick McLaughlin reconstruct his clean-room space while improving on the previous design with the addition of a second indoor growing chamber. The completed project will reduce overhead costs while expanding overall production capacity.

1000 Stone Farm is a family owned and operated 4-season certified organic homestead farm in Brookfield, VT.  In addition to providing sustainably-grown vegetables, mushrooms, eggs, and fruit, owner Kyle Doda is expanding a new cider-making enterprise. 1000 Stone received their first Farm Fund loan in 2019 to support the construction of two high tunnels and a farmstand. Their latest Business Builder loan will fund equipment to improve the efficiency of their cider production and processing. We can’t wait to try the new product!

Hillside Homestead is a small conventional dairy farm in Albany, VT. The farm is primarily a registered Holstein herd that sells milk conventionally but owners Renee & Chet Baker also operate a small farmstand that offers their own raw milk, local cheese products, maple syrup and some seasonal veggies. A returning VFF borrower, Hillside Homestead received a new Business Builder loan to help finance infrastructure improvements like a barn painting project and construction of a sawdust shed.

Sweetland Farm is a highly diversified farm, producing mixed fruits and vegetables, poultry, pigs and feed hay. Owner Norah Lake started Sweetland in 2012 when she purchased her property from the Vermont Land Trust and has been actively growing her business ever since. She has a year round farm store and primarily sells direct to local customers. Norah is undertaking an ambitious project to install a state-of-the-art wood chip gasification boiler to heat 5 greenhouses in the winter and extend the growing season. Together with grant funding, Norah used a VFF Business Builder loan to help finance the up-front payments required for the construction.

McDonald Farmstand is a diversified vegetable farm in Danville, VT. Started by owner Jacob Mills in 2017, the farm serves a retail farmstand and sells wholesale to local businesses in the Northeast Kingdom. After significant impacts to fields and crops following a series of dramatic wet weather events in the summer and fall, Jacob received a VFF Emergency Loan to help finance supplies and seeds for the next growing season.

Pitchfork Farm is an organic vegetable farm located in Burlington's Intervale. They suffered 100% crop loss in July when the Winooski River overflowed its banks and flooded their fields and greenhouses. They used a VFF Emergency Loan to help cover the costs of replanting.