The Monadnock Food Co-op announces six grant recipients for the 2020 Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund: Abenaki Springs Farm of Walpole, Green Wagon Farm of Keene, Pete’s Stand of Walpole, Picadilly Farm of Winchester, Stonewall Farm of Keene, and Windyhurst Farm of Westmoreland. The Farm Fund proudly distributed $27,411 among these six farms. Since starting in 2017, the Farm Fund has awarded over $59,000 in grants to fourteen local farms.

The Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund, created in partnership with the Cheshire Country Conservation District, has a mission to support local farmers in increasing sustainable food production and wholesale sales to contribute to a thriving local farm economy. This grant supports several of the co-op’s goals, including contributing to a healthy, sustainable food system, supporting local farmers and producers, and building a strong, sustainable, and improving local economy. The Cheshire County Conservation District, fiscal agent for the Farm Fund, supports farm viability in the region and promotes the responsible stewardship of natural and agricultural resources.

Abenaki Springs Farm will build a wash/pack shed for their certified organic vegetable farm. Green Wagon Farm will purchase ‘Harvest Carts’ to improve the ease and efficiency of harvesting strawberries and other vegetable crops. Pete’s Stand will secure a potato planter, potato digger, and wholesale packaging materials to scale up their potato production. Picadilly Farm will purchase a new set of precision vacuum seeders for field seedings of root crops and greens. Stonewall Farm will build a 14′ x 100’ caterpillar tunnel to expand spinach production into the winter and provide shade to offer a cool growing space in the summer. Windyhurst Farm will increase their milk tank storage from 2,000 to 6,700 gallons.

“Our Farm Fund is an essential way to invest in the future of local, sustainable farming in our region,” said Michael Faber, Monadnock Food Co-op General Manager. “Especially in these times, it helps ensure we have a healthy, local food system for our community now and into the future.”

Funds for this program are provided by donations from Monadnock Food Co-op and its shoppers. Additional funds come from the You Have Our Trust Fund of the NH Charitable Foundation.

Fundraising is already underway for the 2021 Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund grant cycle. During May, July, October, and November 2020, co-op shoppers can round up their change at the registers to donate to the fund. So far this year, shoppers have contributed over $7,600 to the Farm Fund.

For more information, please visit monadnockfood.coop/farmfund. To make a tax-deductible donation to the fund, please contact Amanda Littleton at the Cheshire Country Conservation District at 603-756-2988 ext 4 or donate anytime online at cheshireconservation.org/make-a-donation.