I was raised in the mountains of Eastern Washington where I cultivated a love of the outdoors through time spent climbing trees and running through the forests behind my home. Later, as a college student in Bellingham Washington I was immersed in a community that valued local agriculture and healthy food systems, and because of that spent many hours gardening in my own backyard where I found peace and enjoyment in the work of growing my own food. After college, wanting to further this pursuit, I headed to North Idaho to work as an organic farm apprentice on Killarney farm, an off-grid diversified fruit and vegetable operation, where I really fell in love with farming, not just as a job but as a lifestyle.
For the next five years I balanced my farm apprenticeship with nursing school, started my nursing career, and kept small gardens everywhere I lived. During this time, I was introduced to my husband Joe through our friend who owned a goat dairy; he had taken a year off from his career working in geospatial analysis to apprentice on an organic farm in a neighboring town. We began to dream about owning a small farm together.
Joe’s return to his career brought us to Missoula, Montana where I took a position as a nurse and together we saved money, purchased farmland and worked towards building infrastructure to begin our own diversified small farm. I never thought that my nursing and farming careers would intersect but I’ve been able to work within my hospital to expand support for local and sustainable agriculture while preparing to farm our own land using regenerative farming techniques. After nearly 10 years of preparation I am thrilled to be in the start-up phase for our farm.
Adding to basket
Funded
A loan helped me to establish our small diversified farm, strengthening our local food system now.
Sarah's story
This loan is special because:
More about this loan
Business Description
Tangled Carrot Farm, LLC is a small farm that is dedicated to growing over 40 different fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers through honest toil on wholesome soil. We are committed to using regenerative growing practices such as cover cropping, low-tillage, crop-rotation, and thoughtful application of compost and other fertilizer inputs to build our soil’s health each season while maintaining the profitability of our farm. Currently we are in the start-up phase having just established our farm business in May of 2019 with a mission to strengthen our local food network and increase food access for all. Our farm is located in the bitterroot valley at the base of Lolo Peak in Florence, Montana.
Collectively my husband and I have spent 10 years preparing to farm. Now that we have a solid business plan and land we face our biggest challenge which is securing funding to cover the many start-up costs associated with operating a small-scale farm. Without funding we will not be able to implement many aspects of our business plan for several more years.
Locally, our small farm will contribute to providing wholesome fruits, vegetables and eggs to our community. We'll work to build support for the Stevensville Harvest Valley Farmer’s market and work to be valued farmers in our local community. Our farm will be open to customers through a small farm stand this year and in future years we plan to increase access to our farm by offering classes and farm tours.
Growing food for others brings so much joy into our lives. As the parents of a small daughter we are thrilled to be able to include our child in this farming journey and teach her the value of hard work and community through our chosen lifestyle. My love of farming, and especially healthy food systems has allowed me to spread awareness of sustainable/regenerative agriculture to a much larger audience. As a nurse, farmer, and RN sustainability assistant with my hospital, which is part of a larger 52 hospital system, I have been able to advocate for and help implement programs that support local and sustainable agriculture. Additionally, because of my farming experiences I was invited to sit on a national food and agriculture committee with the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments to further support healthy food systems within healthcare.
What is the purpose of this loan?
Obtaining funding beyond our personal savings will allow us to have a strong, successful start on our farm. It will allow us to construct a sturdy fence to ensure the safety of our crops from deer and elk and purchase needed equipment, such as seeders and row covers, that will increase efficiency and productivity on the farm.
This loan will allow us to begin farming now instead of looking at our under-utilized farmland for several more years and will allow us to build income to fund other farm projects sooner. For example, our Montana climate is cold in the early season and hot in the summer, requiring energy inputs to grow starts in the spring and then keep harvested food cool in the summer. If I can demonstrate that a greenhouse/potting shed/cold storage system can be built to be net-zero this will be a great benefit to other farmers who are looking to decrease their energy needs from the grid and build adaptability to a changing climate.
Last year I made $150 dollars selling a very small amount of hardneck garlic, the only crop that I can grow successfully with the amount of deer and elk that pass through our farm. With a loan to cover start-up costs, especially fencing, I will be able to begin earning enough profit this year to support our small farm and expand the production and profit through additional beds and succession plantings in future years.
Loan details
Loan length:
Repayment schedule
Monthly: One repayment made per month
End of term: One repayment made at the end of the loan term
Irregular: Any other repayment schedule
To see a detailed repayment schedule for a specific loan, click the "Repayment schedule" link on the loan profile under "Loan details."
What is the disbursed date?
In the case of partner loans, many of our Lending Partners choose to disburse loan funds before the loan request is posted on Kiva. We allow pre-disbursal because it ensures that the funds reach the borrower as soon as they are needed. Loan funds from Kiva lenders then go to backfill that amount and as a lender you assume the risk of the loan. By doing this, our Lending Partners assume the risk that, if the loan isn't funded by lenders, they will have to fund the loan without any funds from Kiva.
If a partner loan is not pre-disbursed, it will be listed on Kiva with an expected "post-disbursed" date. If a post-disbursed loan is not funded on Kiva, there is a chance that the borrower may not receive their loan. Some Lending Partners choose to disburse loans with other sources of funding, while other partners don't have the resources available to fund loans without Kiva lenders' support. No direct loans will be disbursed unless they fully fundraise on Kiva.
Funding model
What does "Partner covers currency loss" mean & how could it affect my Kiva loans?
Potential for currency exchange loss is noted on every loan profile under the loan details:
"Yes" means the Lending Partner will cover any currency loss. Lenders will not bear losses due to currency fluctuation
"Partial" means that the Lending Partner has opted to cover losses only up to 10%. If the U.S. dollar appreciates more than 10% against the local currency, those losses will be passed onto lenders.
"No" means that the Lending Partner is not covering any currency losses and all losses will be passed onto lenders.
"N/A" means the Lending Partner disburses loans to borrowers in USD so their loans are not subject to any currency fluctuation.
Do Kiva borrowers pay any interest on their loans?
Our partners collect interest from borrowers because there are many operational expenses associated with microfinance in developing markets, especially in rural areas. Many of Kiva's Lending Partners also provide additional services alongside their loan products such as business training, financial literacy lessons, or health services.
Kiva will not partner with an organization that charges unreasonable interest rates, and we require Lending Partners to fully disclose their rates. In addition, we only partner with microfinance institutions and organizations that have a social mission to serve the poor, unbanked, and underserved.
There are some 0% interest loans on Kiva, including all direct loans in the United States. To learn more about the interest rates Kiva borrowers pay, you can review the "Average cost to borrower" field on a loan profile.
We also encourage you to read the following articles if you are interested in further educating yourself on the topic: Microfinance 101 (https://www.kiva.org/microfinance), Top 10 things to know about microfinance (https://www.kiva.org/blog/top-10-things-to-know-about-microfinance), Microfinance interest rates explained (https://www.kiva.org/blog/whats-up-with-microfinance-interest-rates)
What is a risk rating?
The Lending Partner risk rating reflects the risk of institutional default associated with each of Kiva’s Lending Partners. A 0.5-star rating means the organization has a relatively higher risk of institutional default, while a 5-star rating indicates the organization is at a relatively lower risk of default, based on Kiva's analysis and the available information displayed in the Lending Partner section of every loan. Lending Partners with the lowest credit tier undergo a lighter level of due diligence and do not receive a risk rating; instead, in places where a risk rating would normally appear, these partners are labeled as “Experimental.” For more information, see "What is an Experimental Lending Partner?"
Direct loans also do not receive a formal risk rating. Instead, these loans are approved through “social underwriting”, where trustworthiness is determined by friends & family lending a portion of the loan request, or by a Kiva approved Trustee vouching for the borrower. Direct loans will appear as "Unrated" and lenders should always assume these loans represent the highest level of repayment risk on Kiva.
How are loans facilitated?
Kiva loans are facilitated through 2 models, partner and direct, that enable us to reach the greatest number of people around the world.
For partner loans, borrowers apply to a local Lending Partner, which manages the loan on the ground. Lending Partners are responsible for screening borrowers, disbursing loans, posting borrowers to the Kiva website for funding, collecting repayments and otherwise administering Kiva loans on the ground to borrowers.
For direct loans, borrowers apply through the Kiva website and may or may not be endorsed by a Trustee. Unlike Lending Partners, Trustees don't handle any financial transactions or have any duty to repay loans on behalf of their borrowers. Instead, Trustees take the role of providing support and business advice to their borrowers throughout the term of the loan.
More information about successive and concurrent loans
Most borrowers take out loans consecutively, meaning that they receive a second loan after having repaid the first. However, sometimes our Lending Partners give out concurrent loans, allowing borrowers to take out one primary loan and a secondary "add-on" loan along with it. These additional loans are typically smaller than the borrower's primary loan and serve a different purpose. We trust our partners to determine whether a borrower has the means to be able to repay a successive or concurrent loan.
About Tangled Carrot Farm, LLC
Lenders and lending teams
Country: United States
Trustee: Community Food & Agriculture Coalition
What are Trustee tiers?
For for more information about Trustee tiers, visit: kivaushub.org/trustee-tiers
Why are you endorsing Sarah?
We are proud to support Sarah and Tangled Carrot Farm. Sarah’s farm will supply fresh produce in her small town and provide an anchoring presence in their growing farmers market. This will create more opportunities for healthy eating in her community, and support opportunities for other local businesses by helping grow the community market. Sarah also works as the RN sustainability assistant at a local hospital. As her farm business grows, the insight she gains will have lasting impact in our farm community and our healthcare community too.
Tags
Loan details
Loan length:
Repayment schedule
Monthly: One repayment made per month
End of term: One repayment made at the end of the loan term
Irregular: Any other repayment schedule
To see a detailed repayment schedule for a specific loan, click the "Repayment schedule" link on the loan profile under "Loan details."
What is the disbursed date?
In the case of partner loans, many of our Lending Partners choose to disburse loan funds before the loan request is posted on Kiva. We allow pre-disbursal because it ensures that the funds reach the borrower as soon as they are needed. Loan funds from Kiva lenders then go to backfill that amount and as a lender you assume the risk of the loan. By doing this, our Lending Partners assume the risk that, if the loan isn't funded by lenders, they will have to fund the loan without any funds from Kiva.
If a partner loan is not pre-disbursed, it will be listed on Kiva with an expected "post-disbursed" date. If a post-disbursed loan is not funded on Kiva, there is a chance that the borrower may not receive their loan. Some Lending Partners choose to disburse loans with other sources of funding, while other partners don't have the resources available to fund loans without Kiva lenders' support. No direct loans will be disbursed unless they fully fundraise on Kiva.
Funding model
What does "Partner covers currency loss" mean & how could it affect my Kiva loans?
Potential for currency exchange loss is noted on every loan profile under the loan details:
"Yes" means the Lending Partner will cover any currency loss. Lenders will not bear losses due to currency fluctuation
"Partial" means that the Lending Partner has opted to cover losses only up to 10%. If the U.S. dollar appreciates more than 10% against the local currency, those losses will be passed onto lenders.
"No" means that the Lending Partner is not covering any currency losses and all losses will be passed onto lenders.
"N/A" means the Lending Partner disburses loans to borrowers in USD so their loans are not subject to any currency fluctuation.
Do Kiva borrowers pay any interest on their loans?
Our partners collect interest from borrowers because there are many operational expenses associated with microfinance in developing markets, especially in rural areas. Many of Kiva's Lending Partners also provide additional services alongside their loan products such as business training, financial literacy lessons, or health services.
Kiva will not partner with an organization that charges unreasonable interest rates, and we require Lending Partners to fully disclose their rates. In addition, we only partner with microfinance institutions and organizations that have a social mission to serve the poor, unbanked, and underserved.
There are some 0% interest loans on Kiva, including all direct loans in the United States. To learn more about the interest rates Kiva borrowers pay, you can review the "Average cost to borrower" field on a loan profile.
We also encourage you to read the following articles if you are interested in further educating yourself on the topic: Microfinance 101 (https://www.kiva.org/microfinance), Top 10 things to know about microfinance (https://www.kiva.org/blog/top-10-things-to-know-about-microfinance), Microfinance interest rates explained (https://www.kiva.org/blog/whats-up-with-microfinance-interest-rates)
What is a risk rating?
The Lending Partner risk rating reflects the risk of institutional default associated with each of Kiva’s Lending Partners. A 0.5-star rating means the organization has a relatively higher risk of institutional default, while a 5-star rating indicates the organization is at a relatively lower risk of default, based on Kiva's analysis and the available information displayed in the Lending Partner section of every loan. Lending Partners with the lowest credit tier undergo a lighter level of due diligence and do not receive a risk rating; instead, in places where a risk rating would normally appear, these partners are labeled as “Experimental.” For more information, see "What is an Experimental Lending Partner?"
Direct loans also do not receive a formal risk rating. Instead, these loans are approved through “social underwriting”, where trustworthiness is determined by friends & family lending a portion of the loan request, or by a Kiva approved Trustee vouching for the borrower. Direct loans will appear as "Unrated" and lenders should always assume these loans represent the highest level of repayment risk on Kiva.
How are loans facilitated?
Kiva loans are facilitated through 2 models, partner and direct, that enable us to reach the greatest number of people around the world.
For partner loans, borrowers apply to a local Lending Partner, which manages the loan on the ground. Lending Partners are responsible for screening borrowers, disbursing loans, posting borrowers to the Kiva website for funding, collecting repayments and otherwise administering Kiva loans on the ground to borrowers.
For direct loans, borrowers apply through the Kiva website and may or may not be endorsed by a Trustee. Unlike Lending Partners, Trustees don't handle any financial transactions or have any duty to repay loans on behalf of their borrowers. Instead, Trustees take the role of providing support and business advice to their borrowers throughout the term of the loan.
More information about successive and concurrent loans
Most borrowers take out loans consecutively, meaning that they receive a second loan after having repaid the first. However, sometimes our Lending Partners give out concurrent loans, allowing borrowers to take out one primary loan and a secondary "add-on" loan along with it. These additional loans are typically smaller than the borrower's primary loan and serve a different purpose. We trust our partners to determine whether a borrower has the means to be able to repay a successive or concurrent loan.
Trustee: Community Food & Agriculture Coalition
What are Trustee tiers?
For for more information about Trustee tiers, visit: kivaushub.org/trustee-tiers
Why are you endorsing Sarah?
We are proud to support Sarah and Tangled Carrot Farm. Sarah’s farm will supply fresh produce in her small town and provide an anchoring presence in their growing farmers market. This will create more opportunities for healthy eating in her community, and support opportunities for other local businesses by helping grow the community market. Sarah also works as the RN sustainability assistant at a local hospital. As her farm business grows, the insight she gains will have lasting impact in our farm community and our healthcare community too.
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