Bug Hill Farm in Ashfield grows uncommon small fruit, hosts educational workshops and farm to table luncheons, and actively manages fields and woodlands to enhance wildlife habitat including native pollinators.
When Kate Kerivan wanted to expand the certified-organic operation in 2010, she turned to the Carrot Project – a nonprofit organization that facilitates access to financing and business support – and received a loan that she says was a catalyst in her farm’s growth. The loan not only helped with development of her farm, but established her business in a way that helped Kate leverage resources from USDA and NRCS to help ensure that the farm would remain sustainable. Business planning assistance from MDAR also helped her plan for the farm’s future.
