Creative Shepherd Farm is purchasing local seed potatoes and farming equipment to launch a regional potato growers collective.
Funded on 01/05/2022
Located on 85 acres of partially-wooded farmland in upstate NY, Creative Shepherd Farm is a farm-to-market operation specializing in organic potatoes, garlic, cheese, and wool. Potatoes grow particularly well in their acidic soils and are high in demand across the northeast and New England region. Farm owner Sebastian Interlandi is teaming up with four other local farmers to start a potato growers collective, which will share potato equipment, markets, and sales channels. Three of these partners are Amish farmers who are without dependable outlets to sell their dairy and produce. For the 2022 growing season, the collective has already confirmed five wholesale outlets and will be selling to four more once their Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification goes through.
With a newly purchased potato planter, harvester, and washer in hand, Creative Shepherd Farm is utilizing a loan from Steward to purchase a tractor and seed potatoes from a local New England seed company in preparation of launching their potato growers collective.
Creative Shepherd Farm is a NOFA-NY certified organic farm that implements ecological principles into their farm management practices. Their regenerative practices include:
Hey everyone,
I just wanted to thank you so much for the quick response to our funding need. We were fully funded 7 minutes after the project went public at noon today, and I had just mailed the check for our seed potato order to the Maine Potato Lady minutes before that.
Today, Jessica Berry and I went to our accountant and established our new retail corporation, "Copper Cat General Store". By June, we will be selling our produce and other local and fair trade goods in our first brick and mortar location in Rome, NY.
A special thanks to Cora Kerber and the team at Steward for making this potato expansion project funding effort work so seamlessly for all of us.
Hope to see you all in Rome and around the fields this summer.
Drop us a note and tell us your story if you are new partners of Creative Shepherd Farm. I'd love to learn more about all of you and what has inspired you to support our future plans.
Thanks again,
Sebastian
Seed potato: $9,000
Tractor: $16,500
Total Budget - $25,500
This loan will be made to Creative Shepherd Farm LLC, a New York limited liability company, which grows and sells diversified products.
This loan will be used for the purchase of seed potatoes and a tractor.
The total loan amount is $25,500 which will assist Creative Shepherd Farm in growing and expanding their business.
This loan is set at a 7% interest rate, with a 60 month term, and fully amortized monthly payments beginning 3 months after funds are disbursed.
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