WALPOLE, N.H. — The Monadnock Food Co-op & Cheshire County Conservation District announce three first-time grant recipients for the 2025 Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund: Lee’s Bees of Walpole, Monadnock Berries of Troy and Nubi River Farm of Peterborough. The Farm Fund proudly distributed $31,666 among these three farms. Since starting in 2017, the Farm Fund has awarded over $225,066 in grants to 28 local farms.
The Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund, created in partnership with the Cheshire Country Conservation District, has a mission to support local farmers in increasing sustainable food production and wholesale sales to contribute to a thriving local farm economy. This grant supports several of the co-op’s goals, including contributing to a healthy, sustainable food system, supporting local farmers and producers and building a strong, sustainable and improving local economy. The Cheshire County Conservation District, fiscal agent and partner for the Farm Fund, supports farm viability in the region and promotes the responsible stewardship of natural and agricultural resources.
Lee’s Bees, a honey, beeswax and bee pollen producer in Walpole, New Hampshire, will upgrade their beekeeping equipment to save time and increase efficiency to produce a higher quality product. Beekeeping equipment will include a honey creamer, pollen dryer and honey warmer. These improvements will improve efficiency, while reducing labor inputs. Additionally, these improvements will allow for expansion of hives in future seasons as well as expansion of selling to wholesale markets.
“Our Farm Fund is an essential way to invest in the future of local, sustainable farming in our region,” said Michael Faber, Monadnock Food Co-op general manager. “Especially in these times, it helps ensure we have a healthy, local food system for our community now and into the future.”
Funds for this program are provided by donations from Monadnock Food Co-op and its shoppers. Additional funds come from the You Have Our Trust Fund.
Fundraising is already underway for the 2026 Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund grant cycle. During January and February co-op shoppers rounded up their change at the registers to donate to the fund.
For more information, please visit cheshireconservation.org/farm-fund.
