Business Focus

Seedfolks Farm is a small, woman-owned and operated, sustainable vegetable farm on 15 acres in East Calais. A holistic approach to farm planning includes keeping half the land in cover crops to build soil fertility. All produce is sold locally.

Loan Summary

Seedfolks sought a VFF Emergency Loan when their lease was unexpectedly canceled, essentially leaving the farm with no property to grown on. The loan enabled Seedfolks to drill a well for fresh water on a new property, both for irrigation and washing veggies for sale.

The Backstory

To harness their love of food and farming, Nicole and her partner were growing on borrowed land in the Northeast Kingdom in 2012. After establishing a clientele, they found out that their lease would not be renewed for the following spring.

With the help of the Vermont Land Trust and UVM, Seedfolks managed to find 15 flat, loamy-sand acres where they could secure a new long-term lease. Unfortunately, the field had no electricity and no water. The land-owner agreed to pull power for the farm, but with little money on hand, capital was urgently needed to find and drill a well.

Though not your typical weather or fire-related emergency, the VFF board agreed that the loss of land on short notice, and the need for water to make the farm feasible, met the criteria for a zero-interest loan. With the douser’s recommendation and $10k loan in hand, Seedfolks had a new well drilled that produced 13 gallons a minute. The farm is now able to rapidly cool and wash veggies, water starts, and irrigate their high tunnel. The farmers also stay well hydrated!

“We couldn’t have made it without the Vermont Farm Fund. Who else would have given a one-year old farm with little money and no infrastructure a $10,000 loan so rapidly?”
— Nicole Duch

The Bottom Line

Nicole is now in her third growing season on the new land, farming solo after the departure of her partner. Living in a yurt on the property, she loves farming there and selling her veggies through her CSA and the Montpelier Farmers’ Market.

“VFF made the loan process super easy! We heard back a few days later and were signing papers and getting the check within a week.”
— Nicole Duch

Images courtesy of Seedfolks Farm.