Market Farming

[Vint Lawrence <vlawrence AT nets.com>]

Liz,
I would suggest that you contact the Permaculture Credit Union (PCU) in 
Santa Fe, NM.
The web site is www.pcuonline.org and the toll-free line is 1-866-954-3479.
We started the PCU 5 years ago and it is based upon the ethics of 
permaculture:
Care of the Earth
Respect for people
Return of surplus.
Credit unions were originally created by farmers for farmers. They have 
recently become more and more like banks but are still owned by their 
members rather than "investors" and they are still "democratic" 
institutions in that the membership elects a governing board on the 
basis of one person, one vote.
I have been involved with the PCU as an organizer and board member since 
its inception and can certainly vouch for its integrity and ethics of 
operation.
The PCU offers loan rates that are discounted by three quarters of a 
percent for "sustainable" activities which includes rainwater 
harvesting, energy efficiency home improvements, small scale farm 
equipment, edible landscaping, etc. The PCU cannot make "commercial or 
business" loans, but the loan officer and CEO, Don Sarich, will work 
with you to make a loan work if it is at all possible.
Surprisingly, although the PCU is small, they can make loans in all 50 
states.
The field of membership includes anyone who believes in the above noted 
ethics.

Vint Lawrence
Santa Fe, NM


Strawberry Wine wrote:

> Well, it looks like I'll be moving to Kentucky, to a new farm.  I'll 
> be thrilled to get back to farming, but I'll still shoe on the side.  
> Anyway, question is we need to find a loan for financing farm 
> equipment. What do y'all recommend?? This farm is 68 acres & we have 
> someone who'll bale hay for us until we get settled. But in the 
> meantime we still need a tractor!!  Where to start??
>  
> Liz Pike
> Danbury NC (soon to be Dawson Springs, KY)
> http://www.lizpikeequineservices.com
> http://www.marketfarmer.com
>