Five local producers received micro-loans totaling $15,200 from the Chequamegon Food Co-op to help with farm projects through the winter and into spring. Micro-loan recipients for the Fall 2021 loan cycle are as follows:
- Owners Rusty and Daisy Defoe of Birds N’ Things farm in Ashland, WI will be purchasing equipment to help create value added goods with their family farm raised products. They would like to start roasting peppers and tomatoes, and drying herbs.
- Monarda Thrasher of Bayfield WI has been drying herbs for over 10 seasons and will be building a mobile herb drying shed. This will allow Monarda to scale up the project and will be able to dry up to 1000 pounds of herbs.
- Owner Ben Cogger of Observation Hill Farm in Duluth, MN will be purchasing a front-end loader for their farm tractor. This will allow ease in moving soiling, transporting heavy equipment, clearing snow, and more. Find their honey at the co-op!
- Owner Erica Macrum of Seeds of Wellbeing in Washburn, WI will be purchasing a tincture press that will enable her to be more efficient by extracting up to 40% more from her herbs. This will also create less waste while making her wellness products which you can find at the co-op!
- Owner Jerry Moore of One Drum Solutions in Ashland, WI will be purchasing a solar well pump, battery banks, and filtration system. These will be used for revitalizing and irrigating an herb garden. This system will also increase the health of their pond by providing oxygen and circulation.