Expansion Plans

Overview:

Fields of Gold, Inc. (FG) is a North Carolina based business entity, and historic 1940 farm. The company was formed in January 2005 with a vision and mission to create and perpetuate profit-based sustainable organic and biodynamic agribusiness as growers, producers, researchers, educators and retailers in our local Western North Carolina region.  This is accomplished in multiple ways throughout the 40-acre existing heritage farm.  Here’s a bird’s eye view of the farm and some areas of interest:

The farm has evolved over the years, but the integrity of the historic buildings, layout and estate plan have remained intact for almost 80 years.  The concept of a fully functioning historic farm, retailing high integrity organic foods, plus offering tourism and education bonuses within a short 15 minute drive of downtown Hendersonville is a very exciting and promising venture!  This area is rich in tourism, relocation, conferences, camps, farm-to-fork dining (“Foodtopia”), activities, events, outdoor life, historic landmarks, arts, recreation, natural attractions and multitude of other resources with year-round appeal.  This area is also popular for local, farm-fresh food and farmer’s markets.  In fact, Asheville and our WNC mountains have recently been rated #1 in the country by Frommer and “Good Morning America” as the travel destination place!

The FG Project consists of providing a local farm-fresh alternative to mainstream grocery retailers, by giving community better, high integrity and healthier food and product options, which are in high demand.  In addition, opening up the farm to visitors year-round for tours, education and purchases would prove a significant boost to FGs bottom line.

 

Here is a list of what FG will provide for our local region:

• High nutrition, mixed market garden organic and biodynamic fruits and vegetables.
• Goat dairy products, such as gourmet gelato, milk, yogurt, cream, kefir, butter, cheese, etc.
• Mixed berries and tree fruits, including seasonal u-pick options.
• Pastured free-range beef, poultry, goat, venison, lamb.
• Healthy free-range organic eggs and honey.
• Artisan nourishing goat milk soaps.
• Organic and biodynamic transplant starts – Spring and Fall.
• Full farm store for food and provisions with a commercial kitchen and destination gelateria.
• Country inn, cabin, camping for guests, retreats, events, meetings, etc. with trails and activities.
• Innovative green technology and healthy environment leader.
• Pavilion for larger groups, reunions, weddings, music, performances, movies, services and the arts.
• Soil and plant lab for assessing biological agriculture and consulting services.
• High vitality water production for agriculture and human consumption.
• variety of workshops, lectures, classes, historic demonstrations, children’s programs.
• Agriculture mentoring and life skills training.
• Year-round greenhouse growing operation.
• Farm tours and year-round farm activities; family growth programs and foster family programs.
• FG membership rewards and buying programs.
• CSA subscription member shares – produce, dairy, meats, eggs, artisan breads, prepared foods, etc.

We see that more and more consumers will seek out high integrity farms to provide their food and supplies on a weekly basis.  This trend has been proven over the years in our region and will only substantially increase.  The local healthy food farms must ramp up production and diversity to be able to handle larger numbers of customers who are looking for them.  For once, the farmer who is doing a good job will not have any problems selling all they can produce at a fair and profitable retail price.  Considering how grocery store foods are becoming more and more expensive, plus the lack of knowing where store food comes from and it’s overall integrity, it will be obvious that local organic, healthy farm-fresh will be the next booming wave as consumers look for other options to save on their grocery bill and feel safe in their food supply.  Going directly to the farm and purchasing farm-fresh foods will potentially cut food costs approximately in half.  Consumers will feel more confident in knowing their farmer and to also know how the food they are buying is grown and produced.

Fields of Gold Foundation (FGF):

In addition to the FG for-profit entity, we also have a registered 501(c)3 agriculture foundation that was created in June 2011.  The FGF was created to support organic and high vitality agriculture and food research, development and education.  Used in conjunction with the for-profit side maximizes the opportunities to serve community and offer options for investing and financial support for the overall project.  Donations to FGF qualify as a charitable contribution and are accepted throughout the year.

To date, FGF has supported a local Community Garden for low income residents in the Seventh Avenue District of Hendersonville, NC.  Through donations and resident participation, the garden has been thriving over the five years since inception. There are over 20 raised beds, over 30 mixed fruit trees, small fruits such as blueberries and strawberries, picnic tables and grills, plus a recreation area.  Working closely with the City, various boards/ businesses/ groups, involving the local hospital and county health department, plus working with the public has created a rich resource that the City and local residents enjoy.

 

Where Fields of Gold Farm (FG) is now:

FG has been in production since 2009, beginning with 12 acres of wide variety mixed market garden produce, local farm-fresh products from other trusted producers and some goat dairy products.  With and expert crew of seven, we were able to grow certified organic and biodynamic fruits and vegetables for a 100 member CSA covering three counties, where customers received a half bushel of food weekly.  We also served several grocery stores including Whole Foods, Greenlife, Earthfare, Ingles, artisan gourmet shops, a number of restaurants, community co-op stores and farmer’s markets.  During 2009-2011, we additionally had access to and operated a 70,000 sq. ft. glass greenhouse for year-round growing.  FG greenhouse production consisted of organic heirloom tomatoes, a couple varieties of organic cucumbers, lettuces for salad mix and transplant starts.  Our organic greenhouse produce was grown for the Winter and Spring harvest gaining larger markets and selling at premium prices.

Today, FG is focusing on expanding the goat milk dairy operation.  We have over 40 purebred Oberhasli’s which are an outstanding heritage and conservancy dairy goat breed.  Since 2011, we have produced handcrafted gourmet goat milk gelato in over 40 farm-fresh flavors using real ingredients and pure Grade A goat milk from a local goat milk creamery.  We have a mobile gelato cart for area farmer’s markets and events, which has been successful and popular, gaining a regional following over the past few years.  We also have a local distributor who has placed our gelato in about a dozen stores from Charlotte to Cashiers, Asheville to Greenville to Forest City and a few additional cities in between.  Our artisan goat milk soaps have been produced for many years and are offered locally at markets and online.  A mid-sized retailer, Mast General Store, picked up our soap line in October 2015, with a potential of adding the soaps to another eight stores in the future.

 

Capital Campaign:

We are seeking funding for both the FG Foundation and FG Farm Project.  Being an active part of the healthy organic agriculture world for several years, we are convinced of this profitable and long term venture.  To make agribusiness profitable and sustaining in today’s economy, multiple profit centers within the project must be maintained.  These create year-round revenue streams and offer additional opportunities to grow and diversify.

Phase One:

• 1. Provides the new building of an organic and biodynamic Grade A goat milk dairy;
  2. Retro-fitting an existing historic farm building into area for making cheeses, yogurt, kefir, gelato, butter, etc.  These are two of the main farm profit centers.

Phase Two:

1. 1. Fully developing 20 acres into nutrient dense, wide variety mixed fruits and vegetables for 300 CSA subscriptions annually;
   2. Fully developing the 12 acres of small fruit, vineyard and fruit tree areas and;
   3. Retro-fitting another existing farm manager’s house into a fully outfitted farm store and commercial farm kitchen with quality products, fruits, vegetables, supplies, environmental merchandise, artisan baked goods, catering, farm-fresh prepared meals, a destination gelateria, and much more.  These are another three of the main farm profit centers.

Phase Three:

1. 1. Acquiring additional land for growth and expansion for growing food, livestock for meat and agritourism (open to public visits, stays, tours, education);
   2. Create infrastructure and program development to accommodate the public, special groups, transportation, parking, school partnerships, workshops, events, community outreach, youth programs, etc.

Phase Four:

1. 1. Setting up the livestock areas, which include raising venison, goat (meat), lamb, beef, chicken to sell retail on-farm, plus wider distribution with online retail sales;
   2. Remodeling the main farm home to convert into a destination Country Inn for guests, including chef prepared food service;
      Build a year-round event pavilion for large and smaller gatherings, meetings, conferences, graduations, services, family reunions, parties, weddings, etc.  This is another three of the main farm profit centers.

Phase Five:

1. 1. Build a year-round glass greenhouse for organic food production and transplants (for FG use and area farmer contracts).  This is another one of the main farm profit centers.

Phase Six:

1. 1. Build an additional building with four farm offices, a biology-based soil lab, three wellness offices;
   2. Finalize and finish remaining plan.

What will development of this plan create?  Our estimates are over a million in revenue annually when all phases are complete.  We will then be able to work with the Historic Society in Henderson County to register Fields of Gold Farm as a historic 1940 site, as well as put the farm in Land Conservancy.  This will create more tourism and expand access to grant opportunities, private donations, and include some state/ federal funding potential.  This project is unique to our area and will be very well supported now and into the future!

 

Future Financial Snapshot:

Annual gross revenue projections for some of our major farm profit centers (starting point):

Agritourism On and Off-Farm Sales: $750,000

Farm Store & Food Service (on and off-farm) Sales: $350,000

CSA Weekly Produce Box for 30 weeks peak season, 300 Subscriptions Sales: $370,000

CSA Weekly Add-ons for 30 weeks, 300 Subscriptions (meat share, dairy share, bakery, pre-prepared foods, etc.) Sales: $650,000

Goat Dairy Products Sales: $475,000

Greenhouse Production (heirloom tomatoes, strawberries, cucumbers, transplants) Sales: $600,000

Events, Festivals and Room Bookings: $150,000

 

In Summary:

We are facing a major crossroad before us in the world of agriculture.  The decline in healthy food production is contributing to increasing illness and disease in our population globally.  Along with this, we find a negative impact on our environment as well.  Where will this story end?

The relationship between agriculture and human nutrition is far more complex than the relationship between food production and food consumption or the economic relationship between food supply and food demand.  Increased food production raises the availability of food, but by itself does little to ensure that poor and vulnerable people have access to the food that is produced.  Nor does the gross quantity produced say much about the quality or nutritional value of all people’s diets.  The persistence of malnutrition as a public health concern, despite the successes in increasing agricultural production, belies any notion that malnutrition and undernutrition can be solved entirely from the supply side.  How then can agriculture, with its customary focus on productivity and yields, more effectively contribute to improved nutritional outcomes?

Nutrient dense, high vitality organic agriculture creates an opportunity to reverse the negative impact we face with conventional practices.  Fields of Gold Farm and Foundation presents an innovative and multifaceted model which will shed a new light on healthy agriculture practices today.  It will also act as a catalyst, encouraging others to participate in providing healthier food and access to it.  This will result in availability of superior nutrient dense foods, livestock and farm products to consumers of all socioeconomic levels across the region.  Come join us!

Your involvement and financial support are greatly appreciated!  Be a part of the next wave!

 

For Further Information:

Thank you for your interest in our project!  For questions, additional information and our complete business plan, please contact:

W. Lisa Black
PO Box 1642; Hendersonville, NC  28793-1642
828-692-7096  farm line;  828-699-9120  direct

fieldsofgoldfarm@me.com
www.fieldsofgoldfarm.com