David Pfeiffer Sustainable Agriculture Fund Application
2022-2023 - 2023 FOOD SEED CASH GRANTS
VIGA is excited to offer 2023 growing season food seed reimbursement through the David Pfeiffer Sustainable Agriculture Fund. The David Pfeiffer Sustainable Agriculture Fund seeks to promote organic, regenerative, no-till and sustainable farming practices on Vashon through direct grants to VIGA farmers.
Cash grants from the David Pfeiffer Sustainable Agriculture Fund for purchasing 2023 food seed to farmers growing vegetables and food for the Vashon Community are now available as farmers are beginning to place orders for 2023 seeds.
This grant requires that you purchase certified organic seed, if reasonably available, and if not, then untreated/non-gmo seed. Seed must be for growing plants to produce food or to turn into food (local grain seed for breadmakers). .
The qualifications for this grant are:
Must be an active VIGA member grower (if you are unsure of your status, please write to board@vigavashon.org)
50% or more of your sales must be on Vashon
50% or more of your sales must be food
Your farming methods are incorporating regenerative, organic, no-till practices.
SIMPLE:
These grants will be up to $750 reimbursement for 2023 seed purchased by VIGA farmers for growing vegetables and food:
Each farm will purchase their own seeds and submit receipts to VIGA for reimbursement.
VIGA will review receipts for qualification
Qualifying purchases will be reimbursed within 2 weeks
Cut off for receipt submission is March 31, 2023 but you can submit your orders as soon as you get them.
We ask that you consolidate your purchases so we cut 1 check per farm.
Apply Now!
THANK YOU FARMERS!
2022 - David Pfeiffer Sustainable Agriculture Fund Application
VIGA is delighted to announce a yearly recurring $10,000 grant from The David Pfeiffer Sustainable Agriculture Fund. This fund supports farming that is environmentally sound, socially responsible, and profitable for farmers. THANK YOU FARMERS! The grant aims to recognize the tremendous work and community asset that sustainable agriculture represents. Your work is truly healing our bodies, our community, and our planet.
If you are interested in contributing to this ongoing grant, you can donate here!
Cash Awards
Alta Rosa Farm: We used our David Pfeiffer grant money to purchase test supplies from Microbiometer to monitor the soil bacteria and fungi levels, so that we can tell if we are improving our soil microbiome. You can read about the Microbiometer testing/monitoring here: https://microbiometer.com
Healthier soil can produce more nutritionally dense food, using less manufactured fertilizer and irrigation water, which is a win-win for everyone.
Aeggys Farm: On Aeggy's Farm we are a family working together to create a space that will benefit generations of people. With the David Pfeiffer Grant we are purchasing fruit trees to expand our orchard and chicken fencing so that our hens can visit different areas of the farm at different times of the year.
3 Brothers Outpost: 3 Brothers Outpost is using the grant money for providing shelter to bee hives for the winter months.
Forest Garden Farm: We used it to help fund some additional part time labor
Provo Farm: We used the grant money to buy and install a shade cloth on top of my greenhouse (48x42). I covered only the southern section of my building. The shade cloth has made a huge difference and I probably would not have tried using it without the grant money making it an easy option to try.
Plum Forest Farm: We will use ours to improve the energy efficiency and effectiveness of refrigerating produce after it is harvested.
Vashon Garlic LLC: We are using the money to purchase a bubbler and supplies to create our own organic fertilizer concoction as well paying for some soil testing.
Wilbie Farm: We will use the grant money to purchase kelp meal and other OMRI listed amendments for our soil.
Pacific Potager: This year I am doing work with Experimental Farm Network varieties (including perennial kale from seed, very unstable right now but I have 2 beds to learn from and observe), and 10 varieties from the Dwarf Tomato Project. The grant is encouragement and support as well as freedom to delve even further into what grows best for us here now!
GreenMan Farm: We are planning on using the grant award on either (a) polycarbonate panels for a greenhouse so we can grow more in the off season, or (b) fertigation system to work with our current drip tape irrigation system.
Pacific Crest Farm: We will be using our grant money to help build out a new wash and pack shed. We had a new building constructed this year and part of it will be for produce packing and storage. When the building is finished, I will be building a new greens bubbler, industrial greens spinner and drying racks.