Lending Successful

Building For The Future

by Ruzycki Farms
Building For The Future

Finish building our wash and pack, purchase a walk-in cooler for proper crop storage, purchase caterpillar tunnel greenhouses, and a BCS walk-behind tractor.

Project Summary
  • Location: Jones, OK
  • Products: Fruit & Vegetable
  • Loan Term: 60 months
  • Interest Rate: 8.00% APR
  • Repayments Begin: 3 months after disbursement
$25,000
100% of $25,000

Funded on 03/18/2021

Overview

Ruzycki Farms is a one-acre market farm that sits on five acres in Jones, Oklahoma. They grow chemical-free produce and use all organic, non-GMO seeds. They offer a C.S.A. subscription, have a weekly market on their farm, and sell to local restaurants. The farm is run by a husband and wife team (Mike & Emily).


Use of Funds

With a loyal customer base and strong demand for more produce, Ruzkycki Farms needs to a business loan to keep up with market demand for their organic vegetables. By improving their capacity to wash, pack, and store more produce properly (a week's harvest at a time), they will be able to take a big leap forward and serve more local families.

In order to meet the growing demand and provide year-round produce, they also need to have better controlled environments. Caterpillar tunnels are the quickest, easiest, and most cost-efficient way to achieve this goal. 


Sustainable & Regenerative Practices

  • Use aged manure compost, worm castings, and fish emulsion for fertilization.
  • Utilize silage tarps during the off-season to reduce weed pressure. 
  • Use landscape fabric to reduce water loss and limit weed growth.
  • Plant organic, heirloom, and non-GMO seeds, and save many of their own seed varieties as well.


Steward Comments 

Michael has a successful business growing heirloom vegetable varieties and organic growing methods. Steward is excited to lend to Ruzycki Farms to help them grow and expand production. Their presence at local farmers markets, local C.S.A. shares, and relationship with their customers demonstrates the important role they are playing in their local food economy.

Wash and Pack - $11,000: This building's needs include concrete ($3,000), insulation ($1,000), electric ($1,000), plumbing (1,000)  and a walk-in cooler ($5,000). This building will provide a clean place to comfortably wash and pack our produce all year long. The walk-in cooler will offer more adequate storage for our growing farm's needs.

BCS Tractor - $8,000: The BCS walk-behind tractor will allow me to get more manual labor done in less time while using less physical energy. That frees up more time and energy for other projects around the farm.

Caterpillar Tunnels - $6,000: These tunnels help to moderate climate control, offer protection from harsh conditions like wind and rain, and allow year-round production on the farm which increases production. 

This loan will be made to Ruzycki Farms & Orchard LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company, which grows and sells organic heirloom varieties of vegetables and produce. 

This loan is being used for building a wash and pack facility, purchasing a BCS walk-behind tractor, and purchasing caterpillar tunnels. 

The total loan amount is $25,000 which will assist Ruzycki Farms in growing and expanding their business.

This loan is set at an 8% interest rate, with an 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