Dear Friends,
We want to invite you to be part of the building of our new barn! Our farm has always been about feeding the community, and now we have a chance to build something together that will be the heart of the farm for the future. Each of you, who are part of our farm, can be part of the barn.
We have continued farming since experiencing the worst event in our 25 year history. On February 17, 2024, a fire burned down our 100-year old historic barn. This barn was the center of our farm’s infrastructure, housed our farm store and served as the distribution center for the harvest. Bottom line - we lost our space to sell and distribute organic fresh produce for thousands of people.
We have good news to share! We’ve put all the beautiful generous donations and help from the community to work to keep our farm store open in its temporary spot the last 18 months, and we are now ready to move forward in the building of our new barn for the future of the farm. We wouldn’t be here farming today without you!
We have hired a general contractor, the plans are approved, and the foundation for the new barn has been poured. But the total cost for the building will be $1,200,000!! Even with landing a state grant, the small amount of insurance, and investing all of our available funds, we are looking at a shortfall of over $400,000 due to increased building costs. We hope to raise $200,000 of that. Without the barn, the farm cannot be financially sustainable. And we know, without the community, we can’t build the barn.
*** Breaking news - we have already raised over $25K towards the $200K goal, thanks to early supporters!
We are a living example of what it takes to feed people locally and regionally. Against all odds we have managed to do this. We farm against a backdrop of climate change in a broken system that rewards big corporate farms who use harmful chemicals, and are located thousands of miles away from our community. Our farming uses organic techniques that maintain and improve soil health for the future, and avoid use of herbicides and genetically engineered seeds. We provide jobs to over 80 people and provide the most nutritious food to everyone, regardless of income, whenever possible, by offering a sliding scale farm share, participating in government food relief programs, and donating, annually, over fifty thousand of pounds of produce to food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens.
Although the smart financial move for our family in the aftermath of the fire would have been to close down Red Fire Farm, we haven’t. We are not giving up now - because you have shown that you believe, like us, that growing healthy, local food is vital and needed.
Yes, the new store barn building is a short-term financial drain due to the huge construction costs . But it is the only clear path to the future sustainability of the farm. It will strengthen on-farm sales, allowing us to use more of the farm's harvest on-site instead of trucking to wholesale markets that pay less.
The new store barn will be located at 34 Carver Street in Granby on 25 acres of crop land in western Mass. People visiting the farm will now be able to walk out to pick-your-own fields and picnic tables. Visiting the farm will be safer and easier, especially for families, as parking will be separate from our farm equipment. And the new farm store barn will have heat in the winter (and bathrooms)! We will have room for a full line of local and regional healthy foods in addition to Red Fire Farm produce, plus space for a small kitchen so we can serve foods made from our produce and ingredients from other local farms.
It has been our life’s work to grow healthy food for thousands of people in our community, but we can’t do it without your help. Please make it possible for the farm to continue into the future.
Thank you, from all of our hearts,
Red Fire Farm owners and farmers, Ryan & Sarah Voiland, and all the Red Fire crew.
Farm office mailing address for check donations:
Red Fire Farm
184 Meadow Road
Montague MA
01351
Organizer
Ryan Voiland
Organizer
Granby, MA