Ashley Smith purchased her twelve acre farm property in South Carolina with the goal of self-sufficiency; she wanted the ability to feed her family and community clean, organic, and nutrient dense food while being able to trust that food was produced in a regenerative and ecologically responsible manner. After observing how generations of industrial cotton and tobacco production had depleted the topsoil in her region, she prioritized building a living ecosystem in her farm's soil, letting the land rest since 2020 and rotating pigs, chickens, sheep, and goats throughout the acreage.  

After five years of raising livestock and small-scale egg sales, Ms. Smith is excited to begin cultivation on her farm, with the ultimate goal of a four-acre diversified vegetable operation that will support her community through CSA shares, mutual aid, and wholesale sales. Leaning on organizations like The South Carolina Black Farmers Coalition, PAL Food Hub, and South Carolina State University, she hopes to be at full production by 2027, and that The Pampered Farm can grow into a space for education, community enrichment, and healthy food. 

As a first step towards her cultivation goal, Ms. Smith will invest in a walk behind tractor and attachments to support the planting of cover crops and associated green manure. This equipment will enable her to practice no-till and low-till cultivation on her land, preserving the soil ecosystems she has built since the farm was purchased and ensuring her transition to DVO production prioritizes regeneration. A low-interest loan from Foodshed Capital will enable the purchase of this necessary equipment.