Fully Repaid

Farm Infrastructure & Equipment Upgrades

by Bottom Creek Farm
Farm Infrastructure & Equipment Upgrades

Bottom Creek Farm is planning infrastructure upgrades, including new fencing, tools, and equipment to increase efficiency for farm operations.

Project Summary
  • Location: Bent Mountain, VA
  • Products: Fruit & Vegetable
  • Loan Term: 60 months
  • Interest Rate: 8.00% APR
  • Repayments Begin: 3 months after disbursement
$16,500
100% of $16,500

Funded on 04/01/2021

Share

Overview

Bottom Creek Farm is located in Bent Mountain, VA. They raise a wide assortment of vegetables, fruits, and microgreens that are sold directly to local retailers and restaurants. While not "certified organic", they utilize sustainable growing methods at all times and strive to leave the soil, land, and local watershed in better shape than they found it.

Use of Funds

Bottom Creek Farm is seeking a business loan from Steward to fund critically important infrastructure upgrades, such as fencing to protect crops from pest and rodents. They will also use funds to acquire new tools and procure supplies for more efficient farming practices. Bottom Creek Farm aims to meet the increased demand they saw in 2020 by increasing their direct to market sales, while diversifying offerings and revenue streams.  

Regenerative & Sustainable Practices

Bottom Creek Farm takes regenerative farming and sustainable practices seriously. They believe that in order to be successful, they must grow top-quality produce, while improving the health of their local environment. To accomplish this, Bottom Creek adopts a number of regenerative farming practices:

  • Local manure-based compost to improve soil organic matter.
  • Apply organic soil amendments in order to create a well-rounded and diverse living soil.  They are of the belief that a living soil not only grows the best produce but provides a healthy ecosystem for the plethora of micro and macro critters.
  • Tilling is used only when absolutely necessary, which is typically during initial bed development. Once permanent raised beds are formed, they strive to never till them again, utilizing farming techniques such a broad forking to provide aeration and reduce soil compaction without inverting the soil profile and pummeling soil life.
  • Aspire to include more perennial crops over time in an effort to diversify their food web.
  • Plan to introduce bees to the site in 2021 as a means of increasing crop pollination and yield, diversifying their revenue stream, and creating a safe and healthy environment for these unsung heroes...honey bees!

Bottom Creek Farm will continue to develop their farm in such a manner that promotes site diversity, soil health, permaculture practices, and water quality. These are their core values.

  • April 01, 2021

    Loan Goal Achieved!

    We are so excited to get started on building the fence to protect our crops, purchasing tools that will streamline our efforts, and pouring the concrete slab for our wash-pack shed. With the Spring season officially here, this infusion of capital comes at the perfect time for us to really grow and serve more customers this 2021 season! Thank you so much to everyone that helped make this a possibility.

Fencing - $5000: Putting up fencing around sections of Bottom Creek Farm will decrease crop-loss due to deer

Wash & Pack Concrete - $6000: Gravel, wire, concrete, and labor for a new wash & pack

Heating for Greenhouse - $3500: Using propane to heat the greenhouse will enable season extension

Irrigation - $500: Drip tape, fertigation equipment, overhead sprinklers, and frost-free hydrant for updating the irrigation system

Marketing - $1500: Cost for building a new website and advertising in a local paper

Total Budget - $16,500

This loan will be made to Bottom Creek Farms LLC, a Virginia limited liability company that provides the local community with organic produce.

This loan is for farm infrastructure upgrades including new fencing, tools, and equipment, to improve efficiency for 2021 and beyond. 

The total loan amount is $16,500 which will assist Bottom Creek Farms in growing and expanding their business.

This loan is set at an 8% interest rate, with a 60-month term, and fully amortized monthly payments beginning in 3 months after funds are disbursed.


Borrower Loan Agreement Download
Lender Participation Agreement Download

Join the Steward Newsletter

Get project announcements, farmer introductions, company updates, and more by subscribing to the Steward newsletter. Join our growing community of people who are making regenerative agriculture the foundation of our future.

Become a Steward Lender

Join a growing community of sustainably-minded lenders reaping the rewards from responsible farming