The Carrot Project

We're hiring, full-time, ideally based in CT/RI/MA. The Farm Viability and Access to Capital Fellowship is an applied professional development fellowship for any career stage. A great role for a farmer transitioning out of farming and into advising, or those wanting to transition to Carrot's area of work from a related field. On-the-job training is provided.

About:
The Fellow acts as a resource and educator on farm and food business viability, financial, business, risk management, and access to capital topics for primarily BIPOC, women, and low-income/resource and early-stage business owners. The Fellow engages in 1:1 business coaching, delivers educational trainings, and develops online resources and client-oriented newsletters for farm and food businesses.

The work takes place in MA, CT and RI, within greater Northeast regional and national collaborations. The work is primarily performed remotely from personal home office located in New England. Ability to regularly travel throughout MA, CT and RI is a requirement.
https://www.thecarrotproject.org/fellowship/

We're thrilled to announce that The Carrot Project’s Executive Director is Benneth Phelps, as of February 13, 2023.

Our long-term supporters will already be familiar with Benneth’s boundless drive, practicality, and clear vision for building a just and resilient future for agricultural entrepreneurs. Benneth brings a deep and dynamic knowledge of our work, relationships, and sector from 12+ years of on-the-ground experience uplifting New England’s farmers — and from her long history with The Carrot Project as an essential volunteer, employee, and Advisory Board member. Read the full announcement: https://www.thecarrotproject.org/welcomeournewexecutivedirector_2023/

Benneth joins our team from Dirt Capital Partners, where as Director of Farmer Services since 2016, she refined the company’s organizational culture and infrastructure, as well as their approach to investing in farmland, farms, and food enterprises. She also developed a track record of solving farmers’ land access and transition challenges using Dirt Capital’s unique farmland investment models.

As Benneth’s former farm business clients note, her approach of repeatedly rolling up her sleeves to work alongside her clients and partners, while pairing deep listening with expertise, builds trust and achieves unique outcomes.

She has served as the Vice Chair of Carrot’s Advisory Board since 2021, guiding our Strategic Plan implementation at the Board level. As Carrot’s first full-time employee, back in 2011, Benneth laid the groundwork for many of The Carrot Project’s current programs, and she cultivated strong relationships with Carrot’s collaborators and supporters. In addition to her years of experience helping farmers execute business plans, secure farmland, and access capital, Benneth holds a Masters in Regional Planning from UMass Amherst. Before working at The Carrot Project, she farmed vegetables and small fruits in Western Massachusetts for close to a decade. She lives in Sunderland, MA, with her son.

Because Benneth is already actively engaged as a leader and collaborator in much of our work and partnerships, she’s in an excellent position to dive right into moving The Carrot Project’s strategic priorities forward. Her key areas of focus include catalyzing change in our sector through the Agricultural Viability Alliance, delivering on our commitment to racial and economic justice and adapting our approach to serve our region’s diverse entrepreneurial community, while continuing to refine The Carrot Project’s core services and cultivating our network of collaborative partnerships.

Please join all of us at The Carrot Project in offering our warmest welcome to Benneth. We are excited for you to get to know her in this new role, as she brings Carrot’s legacy into a brighter agricultural future in New England. We look forward to sharing more about our work soon.

Benneth Phelps joins The Carrot Project as Executive Director | Carrot Project Benneth Phelps joins The Carrot Project as Executive Director by Jenny Goldleaf | Mar 9, 2023 | Homepage, News | 0 comments   We’re thrilled to announce that The Carrot Project’s next Executive Director is Benneth Phelps, as of February 13, 2023.   Our long-term supporters will already be fami...

Help The Carrot Project support farm and food entrepreneurs facing the unexpected. Your support will enable farmers like Mac to access the training, skills, and expertise they need to weather disruptions — while lowering barriers for beginning, women, and BIPOC farmers to thrive.

From the persisting impacts of the pandemic, to the rising waters and temperatures of climate crisis, or the generational barriers to equitable land access, the hurdles to a vibrant and equitable farm and food future are as steep as they have ever been.

Can you make a donation today to support The Carrot Project’s ongoing work and take on the new challenges our clients face? Your gift will go directly to equipping visionary agricultural entrepreneurs with the tools and resources they need to thrive for the long haul. tinyurl.com/vax39ve9

Meeting farmers’ changing needs in challenging times Help The Carrot Project support farm and food entrepreneurs facing the unexpected. Your gift will go directly to equipping visionary agricultural entrepreneurs with the tools and resources they need to thrive for the long haul.

The Carrot Project is offering support for farmers and food entrepreneurs pursuing value-added production. Follow the link to learn about upcoming QuickBooks office hours, workshops, and more! This is created with value-added producers in mind, but any agricultural entrepreneur can benefit. All are welcome! https://tinyurl.com/3zvxrmbv

Curious about new ways to build your risk management toolkit? The Carrot Project and our partners are offering free support to help farmers learn about and evaluate USDA’s new Micro Farm Insurance program. Learn more and register for our workshops and one-on-one support through this link: https://thecarrotproject.salsalabs.org/microfarmworkshop20222023
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Micro Farm insurance is available specifically for farmers making up to $350,000 annually. This program can help prepare your farm for the unexpected by protecting your total farm revenue from losses in income. Coverage is based on your historic revenue over the past three years, along with your estimated revenue for the coverage year. So, if you’re insured for $100,000 and you only make $30,000 during the year, you could receive a claim payment of $70,000 to recover the difference.
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We’re here to help you think through the details and, if you decide to get insured, prepare your application. Follow the link to get started!
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This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2021-70027-34693.

Wondering what USDA resources are available to help you achieve your farming goals? Concerned about climate change and contemplating how to manage risk in your operations?
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Join The Carrot Project and the Northern RI Conservation District for a virtual workshop on accessing USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs on Wednesday, August 31st at 7pm. To register for the Zoom workshop, please follow this link: https://tinyurl.com/FSAandNRCSworkshop
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This workshop is intended as an inclusive space for growers – particularly BIPOC, Women, and Beginning growers from MA, CT, and RI – to learn and ask questions. We’ll be covering how to register for a farm and tract number and how producers can apply for and benefit from FSA loans, FSA disaster assistance, USDA whole farm insurance, and NRCS conservation programs. We’ll also cover special provisions available to BIPOC, Women, and Beginning growers. Our goal is to demystify these USDA programs and support folks in accessing the resources available to them.
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This workshop is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number FSA21CPT0011950. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Join The Carrot Project on Wednesday, Aug 24 at 7pm to learn about the USDA Farm Service Agency resources available to support farmers and food producers and how to access them! This is an in-person workshop at Auerfarm in Bloomfield, CT. Space is limited. Please reserve your spot by pre-registering through this link: https://forms.gle/1PmTtvpdnHUhxHxY6
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This workshop is intended as an inclusive space for growers – particularly BIPOC, Women, and Beginning growers – to learn and ask questions. Backyard and urban growers are welcome! Our goal is to demystify these USDA programs and to help break down barriers to accessing these resources.
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We’ll go over: 1) Getting started and registering for a farm number; 2) Loans and tips for applying; 3) Disaster Assistance programs and how to receive help after a crop or livestock loss; 4) Micro Farm Whole Farm Revenue Protection (whole farm insurance for small, diversified operations); and 5) Special provisions available to BIPOC, Women, and Beginning Growers.
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Can’t make the in-person workshop? Stay tuned for an upcoming, virtual workshop to be announced shortly!
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This workshop is offered in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture and New CT Farmer Alliance. Special thanks to 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm for hosting us.
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This workshop is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number FSA21CPT0011950. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Come see The Carrot Project and many other fantastic farming and gardening organizations at the in Amherst, MA!
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We’ll be there all day Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7 – and our wonderful Outreach Coordinator, Amanda Chang, will be presenting our workshop, “Navigating USDA: Advancing Equitable Access for BIPOC, Women, and Beginning Growers” at 1:00pm on Saturday.
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This conference is a great chance to gather with knowledgeable and friendly folks, swap ideas, and learn new skills and access resources to achieve your goals for your farm business.
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Registration fees are on a sliding scale. You can learn more and register here: https://linktr.ee/nofasummerconference. We hope to see you there!

The Development and Communications Coordinator is central in our work uplifting a just and resilient farm and food system in Southern New England. The DCC engages our community of supporters, agricultural entrepreneurs, and partners through events, social media, and newsletters. They rally support for flourishing farm and food businesses through fundraising campaigns, grants, and donor stewardship. If you thrive in a small dynamic organization and want to be a part of building a brighter farm and food future in our region, learn more and apply at https://tinyurl.com/temporarydccposition.

In an environment of uneven access, quality, and knowledge, the Alliance’s purpose is to ensure consistent and equitable access to high-quality, culturally competent business technical assistance for farm and food entrepreneurs. We bring together providers and organizations from across New England and New York’s Hudson Valley to address shared challenges, facilitate more uniform high-quality coverage, and more effectively share and expand limited resources.

The Alliance is looking for a leader to serve as Program Director to establish and sustain a strong and diverse coalition of business technical assistance providers that facilitates professional development, networking, and advocacy opportunities for members – while cultivating a pipeline of future service providers and securing resources to benefit the entire Alliance.

Learn more and apply at: https://tinyurl.com/allianceprogramdirector

We are thrilled to announce that Myra Marcellin has joined The Carrot Project as our new Executive Director! Myra brings more than 25 years of experience working with New England’s farmers as Vice-President and Senior Loan Officer at Farm Credit East. Through her work at FCE, Myra has helped many small and mid-size farmers realize their business goals and objectives and helped young, beginning farmers start their businesses as part of FCE’s FarmStart Program.

Myra’s strengths strongly align with The Carrot Project’s commitment to racial and economic justice. She spearheaded and oversaw FCE’s new equity initiative, “Leading Diversity” – working tirelessly to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization. She is also a member of CISA’s (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture) Racial Equity Task Force.

Myra brings tremendous experience, knowledge, connections, and leadership to New England’s agriculture. At CISA, she serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, and she is a Trustee to the Eastern States Exposition representing the State of Massachusetts. Locally, Myra has participated in the music ministry at her church, and she served on the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Club Family Center. During her tenure on the Center’s Board, she held executive roles as Treasurer, 1st Vice President, and, most recently, as President.

In her own words, Myra expresses it best: “This position calls upon my passion to serve the agricultural community and to help build a strong local food economy by creating successful and viable farm operations. It also appeals to my deep sense of responsibility to help build a more racially diverse, equitable, and just food system.”

Please join all of us at The Carrot Project in welcoming Myra to this incredible organization.

Thanks for asking about Business Technical Assistance at today's House Ag hearing. 50 members of Congress,119 organizations nationally remain interested in how USDA will continue to address this need. See the May 2020 letters: https://farmland.org/american-farmland-trust-and-the-agricultural-viability-alliance-join-119-organizations-and-50-members-of-congress-requesting-usda-set-aside-funding-for-farm-and-food-business-technical-assistance/

Requesting USDA Set Aside Funding for Farm and Food Business Technical Assistance Visit Farmland Information Center Donate About Our History What’s at Stake How We Work Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Our Staff Our Board Annual Report and Financial Information Our Work Keeping Farmers on the Land Promoting Sound Farming Practices Protecting Farmland Where We Work Proj...

Join farmer and Carrot Project business advisor Cian Dalzell to explore and practice implementing tools that enable you to understand the impacts of disruptions — such as COVID, climate change, and more — on your business’s financial health, so you can make changes with confidence and stay in business.

Space is available for the Monday series - Jan 31, Feb 7, 14, and 28: 10 AM to 12:30 PM

Learn more & register here :https://tinyurl.com/4pkr7bv4

Given the upheaval caused by the Omicron variant, we will remain flexible and nimble and record all sessions, so you can watch (or re-watch) them when you can. We will hold office hours and one-on-one coaching calls, so you can ask questions and receive support after you watch the recording.

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2018-70027-28588.

Farmers, ready to get your financial recordkeeping ship shape without breaking a sweat? Join us tomorrow for a conversation with farmers and top recordkeeping software companies about managing financial risk through data and technology. Carrot's client services specialist Jeff Cole will share how our financial support services and online courses help farmers assess and manage their financial health, plus you'll learn about some of the software tools that can help streamline your recordkeeping. This session is part of New Entry Sustainable Farming Project's workshop series: Agricultural Technology Platforms and Software to Mange Risks. Learn more and register here: https://tinyurl.com/2p9famz9

Congrats to the MA Legislature which released its $3.998 billion ARPA Spending Bill. It includes $75 million for small business grants a wonderful surprise. Thank you all- MACDC, residents and legislators, that advocated for this line item.

Join us this Thursday at 5pm EST for Carrot Connections: A Virtual Get-Together for Conversation & Camaraderie! We have updates to share, and we bet you do too! We’ll bring you up to speed with the latest news and projects we’re excited about at The Carrot Project, and we look forward to
hearing about the change you’re making and the questions you’re asking as a member of our shared farm and food system.

Learn more and register at tinyurl.com/carrotconnections!

Whether you’re an old friend or just meeting us for the first time, we hope you’ll join us on November 18th at Carrot Connections. It’s a virtual get-together for conversation and camaraderie — we’ll chat and connect in a casual virtual environment, discussing topics ranging from the “food-system-focused” to the “just-for-fun”. Learn more and register at tinyurl.com/carrotconnections!

The MA Senate is discussing amendments to the ARPA Wednesday. Contact your Senator TODAY asking them to support Amendment #194 (sponsored by Senator Nick Collins) to increase small business funding from $50 million to $100 million. For Senate emails, https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Members/Senate .

Senate Members Please enter your email address. If there is an account associated with that address, a password reset link will be mailed to you.

Join us on November 18th at 5pm EST for Carrot Connections: A Virtual Get-Together for Conversation & Camaraderie. It’s all the spontaneity and warmth we miss from our in-person events —caringly repackaged into a virtual gathering. Learn more and register at tinyurl.com/carrotconnections!

MA Legislature Update: $60 million for Small Businesses is moving! If your House Representative cosponsored Amendment 594 to H.4219, https://www.massrtc.org/cosponsors-amendment-594.html, please send a thank you. Then, contact your Senator asking to boost funding in their version of the bill.

Cosponsors Amendment 594 Lead Sponsors Rep Ruth Balser & Rep Michael S. Day ​Co-Sponsors

You’re invited to Carrot Connections: A Virtual Get-Together on November 18! It’s a celebration of good times and a great cause, together with friends old and new. Learn more and register here: https://tinyurl.com/CarrotConnections !

While we aren't meeting in person this year, the Agricultural Viability Alliance would love to see all of you virtually to network and connect! Join us this Friday at 9am EST at the NFVC. You can RSVP on the "Meet-Ups" Whova conference page here: https://whova.com/portal/webapp/nfvc_202110/CommunityBoard/topic/615975

Learn more and register for this in-person training series at the link below. Spanish interpretation is available for all three sessions. https://ctfarmrisk.extension.uconn.edu/fall-2021-classes/

We can’t wait to see you at our harvest happy hour and virtual tour with Beavertides Farm on October 21st. Follow .carrot.project and , and invite a friend by tagging them in the comments to enter the drawing for free, fresh, delicious Beavertides honey! Join us this Thursday at 5pm to see if you won.

Register here https://tinyurl.com/kw6huwtj!

Join us for a cozy cocktail hour as we raise a warm glass in celebration of our local farmers! Swipe left for the Local Honey Hot Toddy recipe for our Harvest Time Happy Hour on October 21st at 5pmnET. We hope to see you there! Register at https://tinyurl.com/kw6huwtj