Photo of New Beat's new high tunnel greenhouse.

ShadeFund is pleased to announce that New Beat Farm of Knox, Maine has paid off its $4,000 ShadeFund loan.

The organic farm used its loan to erect a 22’ by 96’ high tunnel greenhouse. The greenhouse will extend New Beat’s growing season and provide its CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) members with fresh food for more months of the year.

ShadeFund “gap” financing helped New Beat utilize an EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) cost-share from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). As beginning farmers, New Beat’s Adrienne Lee and Ken Lamson were excited to receive the cost-share, but they lacked the resources needed to complete the project.  With the ShadeFund loan, they were able to erect the greenhouse and receive their reimbursement in a matter of months.

"What happens with EQIP is that large farms get the majority of the funding because they can upfront the initial cost,” says Adrienne. “Programs like ShadeFund help those who can't make those initial investments access more EQIP funding."

ShadeFund congratulates Adrienne and Ken and wishes them bountiful harvests in 2012 and for many years to come!

To learn more about New Beat Farm and join their CSA, visit http://www.newbeatfarm.com/sign-up.  To learn more about ShadeFund and how it can help your small farm or forest-based business, visit www.shadefund.org.