Dear Editor:
I am writing on behalf of the West Virginia Forest Farming Initiative (WVFFI) and the Yew Mountain Center (YMC) to share a new funding opportunity that may be of interest to your readers: mini-grants of up to $400 are now available to West Virginia residents interested in starting or expanding forest farming enterprises and developing markets for non-timber forest products.
Made possible with support from the Claude Benedum Foundation, the mini-grant program will support forest farmers and producers across seven West Virginia counties. The application period is open through Oct. 15, 2026.
The West Virginia Forest Farming Initiative (WVFFI) works to strengthen the network and economy of forest farmers and producers across West Virginia. Through education, technical assistance, market development, networking, and initiatives such as the Mountain Medicine Trail, WVFFI supports the sustainable cultivation of non-timber forest products while promoting conservation and rural economic opportunity.
WVFFI is housed within the Yew Mountain Center, a 500-acre nature sanctuary and community education center in Pocahontas County. YMC provides a home for education, cultural programming, ecological stewardship, and opportunities to connect people with the land and Appalachian traditions.
The mini-grants can be used for supplies and expenses related to forest farming initiatives, including seeds and planting stock, tools, soil amendments, labeling and packaging, certifications and licensing, workshops, and other costs related to forest farming and market development.
The fund is intended to support farmers with a commitment to conservation, cultivation, market development, and community impact. Applicants are encouraged to consider projects involving medicinal herbs and botanicals, mushrooms, edible forest products, natural dyes, value-added herbal products, artisan goods, and other non-timber forest products.
Residents of Greenbrier and Pocahontas Counties may also be eligible for access to planting sites. Two special mini-grants for Pocahontas County applicants will include access to cultivation space at the Yew Mountain Center forest farm.
Thank you,
Courtney Altice
