Lending Successful

Solar Installation For Irrigation And Greenhouse Fans

by Rose Mountain Farm
Solar Installation For Irrigation And Greenhouse Fans

A retention pond and small solar installation will increase Rose Mountain’s resilience to drought and climate variability.

Project Summary
  • Location: Lansing, NC
  • Products: Fruit & Vegetable Livestock
  • Loan Term: 29 months
  • Interest Rate: 8.00% APR
  • Repayments Begin: 1 month after disbursement
$16,600
100% of $16,600

Overview

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.


Use of Funds

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.


Regenerative & Sustainable Practices 

Rose Mountain Farm is committed to using organic farming practices that are right for their climate, land, and soil. Their regenerative farming practices include:

  • Integrated pasture management using livestock

  • Undisturbed mature forest maintained on the property

  • Elderberry, ninebark, and red twig line the springs for erosion mitigation

  • Pastures are cross-fenced to support livestock rotation

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