Funding a Loan to a Farmer in Need (2025)
Each December, our family celebrates the holidays by doing something meaningful: we fund a loan to a farmer in need. We started doing this several years ago through Kiva as a way to support farmers who struggle to access affordable capital. Like many small-scale farmers, they often face barriers that make traditional bank loans difficult or impossible to secure (a struggle that we know all too well). By funding a loan, we’re able to offer support that’s practical, tangible, and rooted in solidarity with fellow farmers.
Over the years, this tradition has connected us to farmers across the globe. We’ve funded loans on every continent, reinvesting the repayments we’ve received to carry the good forward to other farmers. In 2023, we supported Leydi Germania, a pig farmer in Ecuador, whose loan helped her expand her operation with hopes of eventually purchasing land and employing others. These experiences reinforced how far even a modest amount of capital can go when paired with determination and opportunity. Last year, in 2024, we made a shift and chose to fund a U.S.-based farmer. That loan supported Darius, a vegetable farmer in Iowa who saw a need for culturally relevant foods within his local African immigrant community. His loan helped him work toward purchasing a van to transport produce and serve his customers more effectively. Access to capital is a challenge for small farmers everywhere, not just abroad.
This year, we’re supporting a farmer even closer to home. For the 2025 holiday season, we’ve elected to fund a loan to Nestor, a farmer located in Coxsackie, NY. Nestor raises free range laying hens, and he’s currently working to expand his capacity by raising out more pullets. Like so many small livestock farmers, growth requires significant upfront investment long before there’s a return. Supporting Nestor feels especially meaningful this year because it coincides with a change on our own farm. In 2025, we made the decision to step away from egg production, creating space for another local producer to grow. Being able to support a farmer in our region who is stepping into that space just feels right. Farming isn’t a competition, but a shared ecosystem where one farm’s shift can open doors for another.
Nestor of Tello’s Green Farm in Coxsackie, NY.
While each of the farmers we’ve supported has had a different story, they all share the same underlying challenge: accessing fair, affordable capital at the right moment. Farming is capital-intensive no matter where you are, and even close to home, small farmers face rising costs, slim margins, and limited financing options. This year, our own financial situation is especially tight due to the investments we’ve made into our new retail space that hasn’t yet opened and started to generate income. Despite this, we wanted to continue our tradition of giving to others, if only in a small way.
As we look ahead, we’re reminded that supporting farmers, whether locally or globally, isn’t just about advancing agriculture. It’s about community, cooperation, and believing that small acts, repeated over time, can make a real difference. This year, we’re grateful to be able to support Nestor and his growing flock, right here in New York.
