The Climate Smart Adaptation Strategies project provides funds (up to $2400) to Connecticut’s beginning farmers to support investments leading to the adoption and implementation of climate smart farming practices. Funds may be used to purchase farm inputs, equipment, tools, and contractual services necessary to increase climate resiliency by applying strategies that are recommended in UConn Extension’s Climate Smart Adaptation Strategies for Beginning Farmers course. Funding for this project was paid for by the Climate Smart Farming: Agriculture and Forestry Grant. Funding awarded and administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.
Microgrant Recipients
Climate Smart Tools
Farmers have many tools at their disposal that can help them minimize impact on climate change and the health of their local environment. From tools that help reduce carbon escaping through no till methods, or solar panels that provide clean energy (and affordable) options for heating or cooling products, to structures that make their work more efficient. Items purchased included:
- Broadforks
- Chipper/shredders
- Electric landscaping tools
- Solar energizer
- Toolsheds
- Walk behind tractors
- Weather stations
2024 Grantees
- Backyard Blooms—Broadfork
- Brown Farm—Chipper/shredder attachment
- Joon Gardens—toolshed
- Northwest Corner Farm—BCS tractor
- Sekelsky’s Garden & Nursery—Broadfork
- XX Under Mountain—Walk behind tractor
2025 Grantees
- AMMECS Co LLC—Electric tools
- Forest Mill Farm—Maple syrup preheater
- Lakeside Farm—Brush mower
- Ogham Grove Forest Farm & Vineyards—Weather station and owl houses
- Practical Hen Farm—Drain spade, drill, trellis
- Raspberry Hill Farm—Solar panels
- Sunset Farm—Hand tools
- Wild Hill Farm—Electric tools
- Yoco Roots—Broadfork
2026 Grantees
- BOTL Farm—Rotational grazing fencing
- CT Garlic Company—Tractor attachment, cover crop seed
- Gazy Farms—Rotational grazing fencing
- Hilltop Gardens—Rotational grazing fencing
- House of Parsley Homestead—Invasive and noxious weed management tools
- Michaud Family Farm—Weed barrier, flame weeder, tools and irrigation supplies
- Peaceful Valley Farms—Rotational grazing fencing
- Pesce’s Farm—T-post driver for rotational grazing fencing
- Rustic Spring Farm—Irrigation and fencing supplies
- Shagbark Hollow Farm—Beehive kits
- Thy Neighbors Farm—Portable electric fence charge
Controlled Climate
Living in an area with four seasons, our farmers have a lot to think about regarding preserving their crops in the heat of the summer, and the freezing cold of winter. By adding these tools to their farm practice, farmers are able to shift the temperature in small, but meaningful, amounts to let their crops thrive without using heating or cooling. Items purchased included:
- Caterpillar tunnels
- High tunnel materials
- Low tunnels
- Row cover and hoops
- Shade cloth
2024 Grantees
- Aasaaska Foundation LLC—Caterpillar tunnel, shade cloth
- Eagle Heights Farm—Caterpillar tunnels
- Mena’s Garden—Caterpillar tunnels
- Root Life Farm—Low tunnel system
- Woody Acres Farm—Greenhouse materials
2025 Grantees
- Hillyndale Road Farm—Caterpillar tunnel
- Grijalva Cattle Company—Aluminum shelter
- Samad Gardens Initiative—Row cover
- Still Life Flower—Caterpillar tunnel
- Sunset Farm—Shade cloth
- YoCo Roots—Caterpillar tunnel supplies
2026 Grantees
- Jaisan Greens & More—Row covers, silage tarps, seeder
- Peterson’s Patch—Shad cloth, tarps
Crop Protection
There are many Integrated Pest Management practices that farmers can utilize to protect their crops from bugs and weed overgrowth. When farmers implement these strategies there is less use of fossil fuels and pesticides/insecticides which could be harmful to the environment. Items purchased included:
- Beneficial insects
- Fencing
- Insect netting
- Row cover
- Pollinator plants
- Weed fabric
2024 Grantees
- AMMECS Co, LLC—Hoop cover
- Blooms & Blessings Farm—Row cover
- Eagle Heights Farm—Weed fabric
- Great Ring Farm—Beneficial insects
- Lakeside Farm—Insect netting
- Sunset Farm—Insect netting
- Wildwood Farmstead—Cover cloth
2025 Grantees
- Artza Mendi Farm—Fencing materials
- Backyard Blooms—Pollinators
- BOTL Farm—Fencing
- Ogham Grove Forest Farm & Vineyards—Flameweeder and owl houses
- Pond View Farms—Fencing
- Raspberry Hill Farm—Fencing
- Samad Gardens Initiative—Foliar system
- Wineberry Farm—Fencing
- Worthington Vineyards—Fencing
- Yoco Roots—Electric Weedwhacker and pollinator seeds
2026 Grantees
- Iron Bull Farm (DBA R Farm)—Beehive covers
- Lakeside Farm—Grillo power harrow, solar powered fencing for crops
- Sunny Stems Farm—Tarp, broad fork, shade cloth, and beneficial insects
- Taylor Acres Farm—Wildlife exclusion fencing
Soil Health
Soil is the cornerstone of farming and if the soil is not cared for, a farmer may struggle to get products from their land. To help build up soil health and the dynamic organisms that provide nutrients in the soil, these tools aid our farmers in caring for the land that then cares for us. Items purchased included:
- Compost
- Cover crops
- Lime and amendments
- Raised beds
- Silage tarps
- Silviopasture trees
- Solarization tarps
2024 Grantees
- AMMECS CO., LLC—Raised bed system
- Backyard Blooms—Silage tarp
- Eagle Heights Farm—Cover crop seed
- Great Ring Farm—Silage tarp
- Lakeside Farm—Manure and cover crop seed
- Liepold Pond Farm—Compost, topsoil, ground cover
- Sekelsky’s Garden & Nursery—Compost
- Sunset Farm—Cover crop seed
- Wild Woods Farmstead—Solarizing tarps
2025 Grantees
- Blissful Awakening—Compost and organic soil
- Ceiba Arbor—Cover crop seeds
- Clover Hill Alpacas—Silviopasture seed
- CT Garlic Company—Cover crops and lime
- Full Heart Farm—Compost
- Goatalottalove Farm—Cover crop seeds and windbreak plantings
- Lakeside Farm—Cover crop seed and brush mower
- Ogham Grove Forest Farm—Cover crop seed
- Pond View Farms—Fall cover crop seeds
- Practical Hen Farm—Raised beds
- Raspberry Hill Farm—Straw mulch
- Samad Gardens Initiative—Cover crops
- Sunset Farm—Tilther and compost
- Yoco Roots—Cover crop seed, a broadfork, mulch and compost
2026 Grantees
- Greenwood Holistic Farm—Soil amendments
- Macro’s Farm—Rainwater capture system and erosion prevention
- Natty Roots Garden—Soil amendments, weed barriers
- Puvvala Farms—Broadforks, composting tools
- Samad Gardens—Cover crop seeds and compost
- Wonderbee gardens—Rainwater capture system and compost supplies
Water Management
Water management can take many forms. As we experience increased fluctuations in weather, farmers need to be prepared for both draught (and conserving water) and flooding, to keep soil and products from being washed away. Using these specific practices prepares farmers to ensure that their farms have the water they need, when they need it. Items purchased included:
- Drip irrigation
- French drains
- Ground covers
- Rain barrels
- Rain catchment supplies
2024 Grantees
- Backyard Blooms—Drip irrigation
- Eagle Heights Farm—Drip irrigation
- Great Ring Farm—Rain catchment supplies and fertigator
- Lakeside Farm—French drain supplies
- Liepold Pond Farm—Ground cover
- Sekelsky’s Garden & Nursery—Irrigation and ground cover
- Wildwood Farmstead—Drip irrigation
2025 Grantees
- AMMECS Co.—Rain barrels
- Bittner GrowHouse—Rainwater capture containers
- Blissful Awakening—Irrigation
- Earthly Gifts—Rain barrels
- Goatalottalove Farm—Rain barrel
- Natty Roots Gardens—Gutters and rain barrels
- Practical Hen Farm—Drip irrigation
- Sekelsky’s Garden & Nursery—Drip tape
- Yardhill Farm—Drip irrigation and rainwater collection system
- Yoco Roots—Rain barrels
2026 Grantees
- Four Winds Farm—Rain barrel collection system
- Great Ring Farm—Rainwater capture system
- Honey Garden Farm—Installation of electrical water systems
- Mena’s Garden—Installation of riparian border
- Pleasant Valley Botanical—Rain barrel collection system
- Puddletown Farm—Irrigation and vermiculture supplies
- Wind Hill Farm—Excavation for irrigation system
- Woodstock Wellness Farm—Rainwater capture system and weed barriers
- Worthington Vineyards—Irrigation supplies