2024 Farm Grantees: Sustainability Project Updates

In the spring of 2024, The FruitGuys Community Fund awarded grants to twenty small farms and agricultural nonprofits from sixteen different states. The grants totaled $85,328, and the farms are using those funds to implement sustainability projects spanning focus areas like soil health, preserving heirloom crops, water conservation, ecological pest management, and supporting pollinators. 

The 2024 grantees are now more than halfway through their project timelines. Below, you can read the updates they’ve shared, including the stories of their successes and challenges as they’ve carried out their plans. 

2024 Grantees Farm Project Updates

Use the links in the list of farm grantees below to jump directly to their featured updates.

• Blue Pear Farm and Gardens in Huntsburg, OH
• Brittany’s Bees in Mitchell, OR
• City Green Inc. in Clifton, NJ
• Dear Native Grapes in Walton, NY
• Dolii Farms in Shiprock, NM
• Finca Luna Búho in Cheshire, MA
• Fox Haven Organic Farm & Learning Center in Frederick, MD
• Growing Communities Inc. / Crop Swap LA in Los Angeles, CA
• Growing Home in Chicago, IL
• La Finca de Hamberto in Vieques, PR 

• Lone Star Olive Ranch in Madisonville, TX
• Mountain Echoes Farm / Soil Hued Mojo in Mathias, WV
• Pie Ranch in Pescadero, CA
• Refugee and Immigrant Self-Empowerment in Lacona, NY
• Rosy Buck Farm in Leasburg, MO
• Servicing Every Soul / S&S Friendly Ranch in San Diego, CA
• TNR Hills in Kansas City, KS
• TruCulture Farm in New Orleans, LA
• Tuba Farm Foundation Inc. in Glassboro, NJ
• YouthWorks Ranch in Tulsa, OK

Blue Pear Farm and Gardens

is a 44-acre, women-owned and operated farm in Huntsburg, Ohio, that uses permaculture practices such as no-till, and stormwater management for reducing water use. The farm engages the local community by offering educational programs in permaculture and the arts. It received a $5,000 grant to create and install a pollinator hedgerow along the back parcel of the farm. The funds will be used to purchase fifty-one native trees, 200 native shrubs, one hundred native perennials, and five pounds of wildflower seed mix from their local native plant nursery. The hedgerow project will help the farm expand their efforts to support pollinators and increase crop yields.

“We began clearing the hedgerow by our old cow lane, pulling downed trees in a row to let it decompose between our intended area of planting. Existing oak, black cherry, viburnum, blackberry, maples, and dogwoods were left in place. Our biggest challenge has been control of poison ivy and buckthorn. We are utilizing the summer to eliminate the problem plants and prep the ground areas for our plant list. We received a free large load of aged wood chips which will help reduce further weeds and protect the plants we intend to plant this fall. Our community is excited to learn of the hedgerow project and we have the enthusiasm to see it to completion and beyond. Not only will the hedgerow project be an educational program for ag tourism at our farm, but the amount of pollinators benefiting from the diversity of plants is beyond our imagination,” said Owner Carol Palansky.

Brittany’s Bees

is a women-owned and operated apiary located on thirty acres in Mitchell, Oregon. Beekeeper Brittany Dye has close to 400 colonies of honeybees and utilizes holistic beekeeping practices. The apiary received a $4,800 grant to implement a varroa mite-resistant bee breeding program. One of the greatest issues beekeepers face is the varroa mite, a parasite that attacks and feeds on honey bees. The mites often force beekeepers to put harsh chemicals into the hives to save the bees. The grant funds will be used to purchase 160 varroa mite-resistant queen bees and other materials to produce more mite-resistant bees, ultimately improving the genetics of Brittany’s hives.

“In May, I purchased 155 queen bees, specifically bred to resist varroa mites. I have been tracking all the hives these queens were placed into. So far I have seen positive results in the hives but until I do a sugar shake to check the mite average I won’t have an exact number. I have to wait until I pull the honey supers off in two weeks to be able to start doing mite checks. I will have a complete assessment in spring of 2025, when we can take a count of the total hive loss,” said Owner Brittany Dye.

City Green Inc.

is a nonprofit farming and gardening organization based in Clifton, New Jersey. City Green operates on twelve acres preserved by the Land Conservancy of New Jersey for organic food cultivation. The agricultural project practices regenerative and sustainable techniques to maximize food production and sustain soil health while increasing access for low-income families in urban areas of New Jersey. It grows a variety of healthy, nutrient-dense vegetables that are popular and culturally relevant to the customers they serve. City Green serves over 6,000 people each year and donates over 8,500 pounds of food to local food pantries in Passaic and Morris counties. It received a $2,400 grant to plant four pollinator hedgerows and install drip irrigation to increase water conservation efforts.

“In an effort to protect our farm field production we purchased new plants to enhance our first hedgerow and install a new hedgerow in the second half of this Spring. We have noticed an increase in bird and pollinator activity with the flowers being covered in native bees, pollinator insects and butterflies, helping pollinate our fruiting vegetable crops and lower pest pressure. So far the only challenge presented is ensuring the new hedgerow is sufficiently watered. With low rainfall this summer, we have been regularly watering the hedgerow while the plants are still young. To help achieve our goal of increasing water conservation at both our South Branch and Clifton Farms, we have added drip tape to irrigate all of our summer crops allowing us to irrigate efficiently while using very little water. Due to the hot and dry summer we have been experiencing, we have been reliant on irrigating with the drip tape all season. Although a positive addition in our water conservation efforts, we have faced challenges with foxes chewing and puncturing the drip tape causing leaks. We have replaced all damaged parts and have not had any issues since,” said Grant Manager Lia Italian.

Dear Native Grapes

is a family owned and operated forty-four-acre vineyard and winery run by Deanna Urciuoli & Alfie Alcántara located in Walton, New York, near the Catskill Mountains. Dear Native Grapes is committed to restoring America’s native and hybrid grapes using winegrowing methods modeled on regenerative practices. The grapes are harvested, crushed, fermented, aged, and bottled on site. The vineyard received a $5,000 grant to sustainably manage pest pressure by installing a permanent seven-foot deer fence to protect five acres of vineyard.

“The process of building our deer fence has had many twists and turns! Our original plan was to put each wooden post in the ground with an industrial-size post pounder. However, our soil is so rocky that the post pounder could not break through the stone and slate. After spending a full day tinkering with the equipment and trying different methods, we had to change strategies. We decided to return the post pounder, and instead we purchased an auger attachment for the back of our tractor. We used the auger to pre-drill all the holes for our wooden posts. This meant that every post would now need to be put in by hand, along with an eighty-pound bag of quik-crete to ensure the post was set firmly in place. The process was extremely labor intensive, but after six weeks, all the posts are in the ground. Currently, we are stringing the wire fence along the posts, tensioning and stapling the fence into place section by section. We have about a quarter of the fence in place, and are projected to finish in October. The final stage is installing the gates, which is scheduled to happen in November,” said Owner Deanna Urciuoli.

Dolii Farms

is a five-acre organic, women-owned and operated farm located in the Navajo Nation and run by Jeneva and Najhozhoni Rain Ben. The farm grows Navajo white corn and Navajo white corn pollen, which is used for ceremonial offerings. The corn is grown, shelled, and packaged on the farm. Its mission is to create economic opportunity with Navajo Nation farms and ranches, and give everyone access to affordable traditional organic foods. They received a $5,000 grant to purchase the necessary supplies to convert an existing outbuilding into a solar-powered drying shed for its heirloom Native corn. Its goal is to create an energy-efficient contained building where It and neighboring farmers can process the corn, eliminate spoilage due to humidity, and have a consistent time for drying.

“The construction of the drying building at Dolii Farms is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of August. We have ordered the ventilation package and solar kit which will be installed once the building roof is completed…we plan to harvest the corn in early September for the initial drying trial. The drying process will be carried out inside the drying building. It is worth noting that three farm members of the community have already expressed their interest in utilizing the drying building as well,” said Member Najhozhoni Ben.

Finca Luna Búho

is a majority BIPOC-led agricultural non-profit organization located on seventy-three acres of unceded Mohican land in the northern Berkshires of western Massachusetts. It grows a number of heirloom and culturally relevant ancestral crops using Afro-Indigenous ecological practices. It received a $4,997 grant to create a water catchment, storage, and efficient watering system and improve soil health by adding compost, wood chips, and mycelium as amendments, as well as using seed for cover crops. The new system will prepare them for variations in rainfall and unpredictable drought while using less ground water resources.

“So far we have removed non-native plants from the area, installed native pollinator plantings, and cared for the soil with compost and covered with mulch. We also introduced various mycelium into the mulch of the garden as well as other mulch piles we created. After the installation and watering we have been able to have a few of the wine cap mushrooms begin to appear, as well as being able to see the mycelium under the mulch in general. It has been an opportunity for youth to be able to learn comprehensively about interconnection and ecosystems while being part of the native plant garden creation and mushroom cultivation,” said Collaborative Director Atalanta Sunguroff.

Fox Haven Organic Farm & Learning Center

is a majority women- and BIPOC-led non-profit farm, ecological retreat, learning center, and wildlife sanctuary situated on 230 acres in the Catoctin Valley of Western Maryland on Piscataway land. The farm’s primary crops are medicinal and culinary herbs that are distributed through its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. It received a $4,286 grant to purchase the materials to assemble an ergonomic post-harvest wash table, install drip irrigation to water crops efficiently, and buy a variety of flower and cover crop seed to attract pollinators and build soil health.

“So far we’ve focused on purchasing the cover crop seeds, tools, and a water container. We were able to get the water cistern for much less than expected due to it being won at an auction, so we have funneled some of that extra funding towards tools. We purchased seven Chamomile rakes. After getting to demo them at another herb farm we realized how much more efficient and ergonomic they are. We also purchased the stem cutters and seeds for cover cropping. The new site is coming along but unfortunately our first round of cover cropping didn’t take place as our region has had an extreme drought until recently. We’ll be trying again with cover crops in September and hope to have germination but our spring sowing didn’t get in until very late, right before the drought and high temps hit. The highlight of the grant spending so far has been the construction of the simple washing and drying table. We love it!,” said Director Lacey Walker.

Growing Communities Inc. / Crop Swap LA

is a majority BIPOC- and women-led agricultural non-profit organization that operates micro farms in the urban neighborhoods of Leimert Park and Crenshaw in Southern Los Angeles, California. Crop Swap LA is implementing innovative projects, transforming underutilized spaces for efficient food production using rainwater harvesting and sustainable farming practices to bring food access, environmental, and economic benefits to local residents. The micro farms produce a variety of fruits and vegetables that are distributed locally through a membership-based CSA model that is available to residents living within one mile of a farm site. It received a $5,000 grant to develop a new micro farm site with the purchase of garden bed materials, seedlings, soil, and a rainwater catchment and drip irrigation system.

“Funding from the FruitGuys Community Fund supported the successful installation of farming infrastructure at a South LA high school, completing the first phase in a space that is designed to produce an annual yield of over 5,000 pounds of fresh, organically grown fruits and vegetables. In addition to food production, the newly designed space will also serve as an outdoor learning environment, with planned student enrichment activities and STEM integration. Student-led projects will further enhance the space with natural landscaping that supports native pollinators,” said John Garside, director of policy & development.

Growing Home

is a two-acre, USDA-Certified Organic urban farm, workforce development center, and BIPOC-led non-profit social enterprise located in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago. It grows about 150 varieties of vegetables, which it sells at affordable prices at a weekly farm stand and other local markets during the growing season. It received a $5,000 grant to purchase pest-resistant mesh netting to install on three existing hoophouses. This integrated pest management-focused project will address the struggles Growing Home is experiencing with pest pressure on a number of its crops. The addition of mesh netting will reduce the time it takes to protect crops from pests and increase yields without the use of chemicals.

“We have not been able to install the mesh netting yet. Implementation of the screening material will happen this fall. We anticipate seeing results on our final crop of cucumbers for the season and will report benefits for the following season as well,” said Ezra Lee, farm and program manager.

La Finca de Hamberto

is an 28-acre non-profit, BIPOC-led farm located in Vieques, Puerto Rico. Vieques is an island accessed by ferry from the Puerto Rican mainland, where a majority of the food must be imported. La Finca de Hamberto is working to rebuild a community of farmers and ranchers to establish a sustainable and resilient island community. It received a $5,000 grant to purchase and install a caterpillar-style grow tunnel that is compatible with its solar-powered drip irrigation system in an effort to increase its capacity to cultivate high-demand crops throughout the season.

“In August 2024 we sustained significant damages due to Hurricane Ernesto and have been working closely with the community kitchen and other emergency response teams as the power has been in and out. We have also been working with local farmers to help them recover from the damage their crops and structures have sustained. As a result of the storm, we were set back on building the grow tunnel. We anticipate being back to normal operations in September and as of now, I can say that we saw success in tunnel structures withstanding H1 wind speeds, which is significant for the community farms,” said Operations Manager Beth Straight.

Lone Star Olive Ranch

is an eighty-acre, women-owned-and-operated farm and olive orchard located in Madisonville, Texas. It produces olives, grapes, flowers, honey, and herbs using sustainable growing practices, plus value-added products such as olive oil, stuffed olives, herb mix, sauces, and jams. In 2021, Winter Storm Uri caused damage to 14,000 of its olive trees. Only ten rows of its original rootstock survived. Lone Star Olive Ranch has been hard at work planting new olive saplings and diversifying its farm with the addition of new crops. With a $4,751 grant, it will expand their sustainable farming practices by planting heirloom varieties of fruit trees and plants, and add two beehives near its orchard and growing space. The funds will also cover essential beekeeping equipment as well as wildflower seeds and a seed spreader tool.

“Most of the activities associated with this grant have been delayed until the fall 2024. However, we have purchased fifty fruit trees and have completed the initial field prep, including irrigation, for fall planting of the tree orchard, vegetables and herbs. The fields and gardens will receive a final cleaning, placement of irrigation lines in the next two weeks for planting to begin,” said Owner Cathay Bernell

Mountain Echoes Farm / Soil Hued Mojo

Is a twenty-acre, women-of-color and family owned farm in Mathias, West Virginia, that grows medicinal maternal health herbs and creates small-batch products that support BIPOC and other vulnerable people in Appalachia and neighboring regions. They partner with local birth clinics and midwifery practices to support maternal health with their products including sitz baths and perineal sprays, teas to encourage milk production and support the nervous system, magnesium oil, balms for diaper rash and nipple chafe, massage oils, and salves. It received a $3,097 grant to purchase the necessary materials to build a hoop house, a solar dehydrator, as well as establishing bee hives on site. The 200-square-foot hoop house will allow for the cultivation of additional herbs and extend the growing season. A solar dehydrator will reduce electricity use and crop waste while improving productivity for the processing and preservation of bulk herbs.The bee colonies will improve pollination and yields of their crops.

“To date, Mountain Echoes Farms has built and established two beehives and erected the 200-square-foot hoop house. Our current undertaking entails the construction of our solar dehydrator. It’s been a challenging season as we’ve been experiencing unprecedented heat in the region. So balancing the work while staying cool and safe has been essential,” said Founder/Project Manager Siara Benoit.

Pie Ranch

is a twenty-seven-acre agricultural non-profit located in Pescadero, California. Pie Ranch is a Certified Organic, regenerative farm and food system education center that engages and employs young people on the land; shares resources with emerging, primarily BIPOC farmers; and helps make healthy food accessible to San Francisco Bay Area communities. Its Food Lab program is an educational initiative with Pescadero Middle/High School that offers farm experience and training to young people.  received a $2,135 grant to create compost bins, install a drip irrigation system, and buy seeds and plantings for a pollinator hedgerow at the Pescadero Middle/High School School garden site.

“Pie Ranch staff and Pescadero High School students and teachers collaborated over the summer to outline goals and determine final materials needed. We are now ready to move forward with construction and planting preparation and will be able to complete these projects on-time during the fall semester, said Development Support Consultant Kelly Muñoz.

Refugee and Immigrant Self-Empowerment (RISE) Community Farm

is a 180-acre agricultural non-profit, community-based farm located in Syracuse, New York. The farm serves as a resource for immigrants and refugees who are interested in farming. The program offers  free or low-cost access to land, agricultural and business education, and other resources to help growers and entrepreneurs produce their own food. The program is facilitated by Refugee & Immigrant Self-Empowerment (RISE). RISE provides market access for farmers who wish to participate, including staffing a table at the popular Syracuse Regional Market and coordinating wholesale transactions through local CSA and hunger relief programs. It received a $4,825 grant to install fencing to prevent significant crop loss due to deer. 

“We have fully completed the construction of the fence! We had enough materials to add a third electrified wire around the bottom of the perimeter, which adds an extra layer of protection against deer. However, this requires more maintenance of the grass with the trimmer to ensure that it doesn’t grow up and touch the bottom wire (as this interferes with the electric charge). We therefore purchased an isolator switch which enables us to de-electrify the bottom wire if the grass has started touching it, while maintaining the charge on the top two wires. It took approximately one full week to pound in the posts, because our fields contain so many large rocks, but we got the whole team involved and enjoyed working on the project as a group,” said Production Coordinator Emma Goertzen.

Rosy Buck Farm

is a fifteen-acre, family-owned and operated farm run by Holly Evans and Randy Buck. Located in Leasburg, Missouri, it grows a wide variety of vegetables and some fruit, focusing on unusual items like purple pole beans, ground cherries, radish pods, French sorrel, and green garlic. It employs a number of sustainable farming practices including no-till, rebuilding soil-heath, and increasing biodiversity on the farm. It sells its produce at farmer’s markets in the St. Louis area and through a small CSA. It received a $855 grant to purchase eight heirloom fruit trees from a local nursery along with tree guards and organic fruit tree fertilizer.

“We have successfully purchased the fruit trees, although a few varieties we originally intended to purchase were sold out. We selected other heirloom/rare varieties to substitute. We also purchased the organic fertilizer, though we slightly changed which fertilizer we purchased because we found one better suited to our soil type. We prepped the planting sites, and once the trees arrived we planted them. We watered and mulched the trees, and installed the tree guards. We also put wire cages around them to protect them from wildlife, and have been monitoring them,” said Co-owner Holly Evans

Servicing Every Soul / S&S Friendly Ranch

Is a ten-acre, Black owned-and-operated ranch and agricultural non-profit educational program located in the Tijuana River Valley, a rural community in the southern section of San Diego, California. It is dedicated to empowering youth with the skills to cultivate food and develop a connection with the land. The food grown is primarily delivered to local families through Its Nutrient-Dense Food Security Program. It received a $4,999 grant to build a self-service, solar-powered refrigerated farm stand in order to provide consistent access to fresh, affordable food for customers. The farm stand will also integrate rainwater catchment from the stand’s roof to irrigate a native plant garden that will be planted around the farm stand.

“The bones of the farm stand are complete. We have already begun using the farm stand in its present state but still need to incorporate our solar and water catchment systems. We are excited to finish this project in the coming months!,” said President & Chief Friendly Officer Frank Buncom IV. 

TNR Hills

is a thirteen-acre women- and family owned and operated farm located in Kansas City, Kansas. It produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables in addition to keeping chickens and ducks for eggs and goats for cheese while practicing sustainable and ecological practices. TNR sells its products at three local farmers markets, as well as directly off the farm. It received a $3,524 grant to purchase a solar powered portable fencing system as well as pasture and pollinator seed. The fence system will allow TNR to utilize rotational grazing techniques for its dairy goats and other pasture-raised animals. In doing so, it will contribute to better soil health. The addition of pasture and pollinator seeds will give its animals and surrounding wildlife access to high-quality foraging, as well as attract pollinators.

“We installed the electric fencing and solar powered battery chargers and implemented a new rotational grazing plan. By moving all animals to other pastures to allow new growth of specific pasture seed in the grazing paddocks,” said Robin Nolan, owner/operator.

TruCulture Farm

is a seven-acre Black-owned family farm in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, that specializes in the cultivation and sale of heirloom Afro-Indigenous and Caribbean-inspired food, and culturally relevant commodities, crafts, and medicinal products. It received a $5,000 grant to establish a living fruit orchard by purchasing native fruit trees along with companion plants, soil, and drip irrigation materials. The fruit trees will be planted using a unique permaculture “basket weave” technique that creates an above-ground bed. This technique enables the trees to establish themselves in an environment conducive to their root systems, and once established, reach outward into surrounding soils. The drip irrigation system will optimally hydrate the trees while conserving water.

“To date, we have successfully planted twenty of our planned thirty-five to forty fruit trees and have made significant strides in our project. We have purchased high-quality soil and compost, acquired a quarter of our trees, and propagated one hundred seedlings of tropical varieties such as tamarind, sugar apple, and soursop. Additionally, we have invested in companion plant seeds and seedling supplies and have installed an efficient irrigation system to support our plants through the challenging conditions in South Mississippi. Despite the extreme heat and persistent drought in our region, our project continues to progress positively,” said Owner/Operator Bailey Hutchison.

Tuba Farm Foundation Inc.

is a one-acre, women and BIPOC-led agricultural non-profit farm created to promote food sovereignty, reduce food insecurity and waste. It is located in Glassboro, New Jersey, and serves the communities of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia by providing fresh produce and growing opportunities to the historically underserved and disadvantaged. Seasonal vegetables, flowers, herbs, fruits, honey, fiber, and eggs are distributed using an onsite roadside farm stand and local farmers markets. It received a $4,657 grant to purchase the necessary materials and supplies to plant a sustainable food forest and pollinator hedgerow, integrating chickens, and adding two more beehives.

“We purchased our brand new Omlet chicken coop/tractor and introduced nine new chickens and a rooster to the food forest and pollinator patch. We then purchased and installed the electric fence to prevent predators from entering their pasture while they free range. We used them to clear planting areas by moving them every five days to green pastures. We purchased eighty-five bags of organic soil and ten fruit trees, including cherries, nectarines, kiwis, and blueberry bushes. After an area was cleared for planting, we added organic topsoil and planted the fruiting plants. We purchased three varieties of pollinator friendly seeds and foraging blends and sowed the seeds in May through July. We Added dripline irrigation to the entire food forest and pollinator patch to ensure proper watering of all new plants. Last but not least, we added two bee hives which split and made four. The bees are actively foraging and thriving in the pollinator patch amongst the chickens,” said Operator Cyara Phillips.

YouthWorks Ranch

is a twenty-acre agricultural non-profit in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that provides an after-school program and summer camp where primarily Black and Native American children and teens learn how to transform their North Tulsa community’s health by growing food and cooking with fresh produce.  received a $5,000 grant to purchase culturally relevant seeds, hand tools, a drip irrigation system, as well as soil amendments and a post-harvest wash station for the teaching garden.

“So far we’ve installed the irrigation system and this is dramatically decreasing our water usage, and allowing kids to focus more on growing and learning instead of spending so much time watering each day. We planted peppers, tomatoes, herbs, egg plant, squash, cucumbers, beans and sunflowers so far.  They are actively growing food that the kids will be eating and taking home to their families as well as being used in the plant-based cooking classes. The hand tools have also been purchased and it’s great to see more kids at one time able to participate in planting and caring for their plants,” said Co-founder Chris Beach.

Empowering Small Farms to Thrive Amidst Climate Challenges

The farmers running these small farms are actively working to better their communities and regenerate the planet. The FruitGuys Community Fund is honored to support their efforts. Stay tuned for their end-of-the-year project updates and the start of our 2025 grant cycle, which opens in January.

This grant cycle might just be TFGCF’s most important one yet. As you read in the updates above, many farmers are now facing more extreme and unpredictable weather patterns which make their jobs much harder. These conditions disrupt farming practices and force farmers to adopt new strategies. Unpredictable weather also complicates planning for future crops and livestock and increases the financial risks farmers face. Farming has never been easy, but recent years have brought a new set of challenges—and farmers could use our help to face them.

Please consider supporting the upcoming grant cycle. Every dollar you give helps make a big impact on a small farm, and 100% of your donation goes to the farmers. Donate today.