BFRDP Projects

Increasing independence and income for Asian refugee farmers in North Carolina
[Final Report]

Award Amount: $292,645
Grant Program: 2017 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Director: Kelly Owensby
Email: kowensby@transplantingtraditions.org
Organization: Orange County Partnership for Young Children

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  • Overview
  • Results
  • Materials
  • Delivery Area
  • Comments

Project Overview


The Orange County Partnership for Young Children (OCPYC) began operating the Transplanting Traditions Community Farm (TTCF) in 2010 as an incubator farm for refugee farmers in NC and has developed a comprehensive five-year program education plan to meet the multi-tiered needs of limited resource and socially disadvantaged farmers from entry level to graduation. The goals for the proposed grant are to 1) Increase the number of farmers operating farm businesses in N.C. 2) Increase profit and marketing opportunities and independence for farmers 3) Assist farmers as they progress in the incubator from entry to advanced levels and graduation. 4) Improve farmer’s production practices.

TTCF leveraged its expertise in working with low literacy refugee farmers with the strength and joint capacity of its community partners and collaborators to ensure the success of the proposed grant.


TTCF expanded the farm to eight-acres and allowed 10 new beginning farmers to enter the program. Intermediate and advanced farmers expanded businesses and profit by 75%. This expansion required additional agricultural educational programming which TTCF fulfilled through adding additional educational opportunities to the multi-tiered needs of the entry, intermediate and advanced level farmers who participate in the incubator.  These educational programs included classroom trainings, hands-on trainings, technical assistance in the field, field trips to local farms and participation in the local Carolina Farm Stewardship Association annual conference.

TTCF worked with partner organization NC State University to develop a database for tracking farmer advancement and educational program metrics and worked with Dr. Dara Bloom and Dr. Annie Hardison-Moody on improving evaluation methods and analyzing data metrics.

TTCF worked with partner organization RAFI (Rural Advancement Foundation International) to provide business planning and business analysis for advanced farmers nearing graduation.

4. Additional partners: NC State University and Rural Advancement Foundation International.
5. 100% of funds are allocated to NGOs, CBOs and SAEOs
6. 100% of budget allocated to socially disadvantaged, limited-resource farmers

Number of Participants: 61

Results

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