Farm Infrastructure & Equipment Upgrades

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.