This project was successfully funded by a loan from Steward Regenerative Capital.
A retention pond and small solar installation will increase Rose Mountain’s resilience to drought and climate variability.
Ann Rose owns and operates Rose Mountain Farm, which is situated in the valley of Big Horse Creek, North Carolina. Rose Mountain Farm produces organically grown produce in high tunnels and in a half-acre open field. In addition to organic produce, they also produce fiber sheep and dairy goats and have slowly been adding perennial tree crops to further diversify their operation.
The past several seasons, vegetable production has been limited in the summer month due to a lack of reliable access to water for irrigation. Rose Mountain Farm has received a cost-share assistance grant to add a solar photovoltaic (PV) system to her property. This small PV installation will run ventilation fans and lighting to extend the growing season in the high tunnels. A ram pump will provide irrigation water from a new retention pond that is being added this winter.
The total project cost is $20,000. Rose Mountain is contributing $4,000 in labor. The remaining $16,000 will be funded through this short-term loan, which will then be reimbursed through the cost-share grant and Rose Mountain’s 2023 CSA shares. Making these farm upgrades increases the resilience of the farm.
Rose Mountain Farm is committed to using organic farming practices that are right for their climate, land, and soil. Their regenerative farming practices include:
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