Food and Farm Micro Loan Recipients
2020 MARKED THE FITH SEASON OF THE FOOD AND FARM MICRO-LOAN PROGRAM PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GRAIN TRAIN, CROSSHATCH WITH THE ADDITION OF, ORYANA IN2020!
We are excited to announce the 2020 Grain Train recipients
In 2020, we awarded Local Eats with $7,000. We look forward to telling you more about that loan and the project it funded shortly.
For more information about the program click here
2019 Grain Train recipients
Patrick and Libby Ives of Bliss Valley Farm LLC
were awarded $5,000 microloan to raise pastured laying hens on their farm this season. Bliss Valley Farms is a small, diversified vegetable farm run in Bliss Township, MI.
Brendan and Greta Jankoviak of Harvest Thyme Farm & Vineyard
in Cheboygan have been awarded a $4,650 microloan. Harvest Thyme Farm is planning to use this community-supported, zero interest loan to build a mobile walk-in cooler in downtown Cheboygan for self-serve pickup of produce for farm-share members.
PAST RECIPIENTS
2018
Natalya Aho of Madcrow Market Garden,
a small scale intensive market garden located at Wagbo Farm and Education Center, plans to use the loan to purchase necessary supplies such as a cooler, scale, and perimeter fencing to become a dedicated market grower.
Rachel Cross of Spirit of Walloon,
lives the mission; to connect people to their food, farmers and community while promoting sustainable growing practices. With the micro loan funds from the program, Rachel plans to create a four-season wash and pack station.
Nicholas Paxton of Joli Cochon Farm,
located in East Jordan, is on a mission to raise happy, healthy animals and the best tasting pork possible. With funding from the micro loan Nicholas will purchase a hammer mill to produce his own feed as well as shelters, freedom feeders and fencing for his hogs.
2017
Recipient Matt and Ellie Evans of Pitchfork Farms
Ellie was thankful for the Micro Loan to start a project that, at this point, no one else is doing in Petoskey. “The loan goes beyond helping the farming community, it helps the community at large too,” said Ellie. “There’s been a demand for u-pick berries, and right now people have to drive out of Petoskey to find it. To provide something that no one else is doing right now feels really good.” -Crosshatch
2016
Recipient Marvin Best of Best Farm
"Best Farm in Ellsworth was able to do some soil health building, irrigation work and get some repairs done on a tractor. The low interest rate was especially intriguing to Best Farm, as the bank was offering a much higher rate for loans." -Crosshatch
Recipient Susan Sharp of Open Sky Organic Farm
"Open Sky Organic Farm in Cross Village, is installing new heating and cooling systems to extend their season and offer organic vegetables longer into the fall and winter." -Crosshatch
Recipient Lukas Hamilton of Grass Lake Organics
"Grass Lake Organics in Antrim County was able to purchase some irrigation and tilling equipment to cultivate a garden, which lead to supplying food for the surrounding community." -Crosshatch