What’s Project F.A.R.M.™ ?

F.A.R.M. stands for First-class American Rural Made, and it’s a project that was conceived here, at my farm. As rural communities fade and farmers continue to disappear from our landscape, we decided something must be done to support those struggling to maintain their rural lifestyle. That’s where PROJECT F.A.R.M. comes in.

Rural America is full of unsung crafters — hard-working men and women, young and old, who deserve their fair share and find it hard, if not impossible, to compete in today’s marketplace. To that end, many of the products we sell on our website, or in stores “come with a face” — you can “meet” or “get to know” the person behind the product. As the concept grows and you see our PROJECT F.A.R.M. label on more and more products nationwide, you’ll know you’re supporting rural people like Miss Wilma and Friends, of Kentucky (who boasts she has burned up seven sewing machines making pillows for us), or the women of rural Idaho who sew our “Farmgirl at Heart” tote bags, or the people of Shiner, Texas who fabricate the products in our wireline.

Rural Defined

How big is too big? Using our rural area as a guide, we came up with a standard for defining rural that incorporates something familiar to almost everyone — stoplights! Any locale that has less than 40 stoplights is rural in our book. As we add more artisans to our project, you’ll see our PROJECT F.A.R.M. “stoplight code” popping up more and more. If you’d like to read the guidelines in full, or find out what’s required to submit a product for certification, click here.

Here are a few of our favorite PROJECT F.A.R.M. businesses:

  • Kaspar Wire Works, Shiner, Texas
     
  • Miss Wilma & Friends, Knob Lick, Kentucky
     
  • Framing Our Community, Elk City, Idaho
     
  • Bags of a Feather, Wendy Morse, Blandford, Massachusetts
    nature-themed zipper pouches, tote bags, Kindle covers, coasters, and other fabric creations
  • Bizzy Lizzy by Heidi Perry, Oakesdale, Washington
    aprons
  • Black Canyon Restorations, Emmett, Idaho
    home décor made with vintage tin
  • Carolyn’s Natural Soap, Perry, Kansas
    farmmade milk-based soaps
  • Cottonwood Herbals, Nicole Geraci, Ransomville, New York
    handmade organic soaps
  • DB Sewing Designs, Dawn Baker, Fon du Lac, Wisconsin
    quality, vintage-design garments made from re-purposed, vintage linens
  • Dear Prudence Lollibags, Prudence Rapozo, Big Lake, Minnesota
    handsewn “lollibags” and handmade charm bracelets
  • Forgotten Way Farms, Daniel & Abby Jo Vanhoutan, Blanchard, Idaho
    revisit the old ways with hand crafted campfire cookers and drying racks
  • Fulton & Co., Sarah Fulton, Fountain Valley, California
    handcrafted ceramic buttons
  • GirlyAprons.com, Michelle Davenport, Jasper, Georgia
    why, girly aprons, of course!
  • HandCandyMittens.com, Charlotte Reid Besaw, Mannsville, New York
    mittens, hats, and scarves made from recycled sweaters and other materials
  • Honey Bee Holistics, Melissa Carr, Concrete, Washington
    handmade soaps, herbals, and cleaners
  • La Mia Designs, Stephanie DeJoseph, Gabriels, New York
    handcrafted, eco-conscious fashion accessories and home accents, and interior design
  • Louise’s Country Closet, Amanda Schmitz, Garrison, Minnesota
    home to hen saddles and diapers for chickens and ducks; custom printing services for just about any product; plus, a host of pre-designed totes, key chains, mouse pads, coasters, iPhone & iPad covers, and more
  • Maggie Anderson, Glencliff, New Hampshire.
    hand-crocheted, miniature teddy bears;
    Email for a catalogue: littlebea3ataol·com
  • Maple Ridge Soaps, Lana Bush, Bracken County, Kentucky
    handmade soaps and soap gift baskets
  • Mary Ann’s Gourmet Bean Soup, Seasoning & Dip Mixes, Wendi Lankister, Glenrock, Wyoming
    gourmet bean soup, seasoning & dip mixes
  • Nature Maiden Soap & Candle, Connie McCaffery, Cutchogue, New York
    handcrafted soaps made with natural butters and oils, and other bath & body products
  • Orchard Farm, Kate Jaeckel, Moscow, Idaho
    artisan soaps, lotion bars and salves
  • Rocking GT Designs, Glen, Tammy and Austin Trayer, Northern Idaho
    traditional-style mortise & tenon furniture, hand-forged metal art, horseshoe art, soy candles, goat milk soaps, and more...
  • Small Fries, Elma, Washington
    handmade children’s clothing
  • Saverine Creek Heirlooms, Deb Groat, Rhodes, Michigan
    artisan jewelry from Michigan-grown organic heirloom seeds
  • Soy Scents, Lena Shandor, Hurricane, West Virginia
    handmade soy candles and other soy-based products
  • Spoonfoolery by Dick Warwick, Oakesdale, Washington
    earrings, decorative figurines, wind chimes — all from salvaged sterling silver eating utensils
  • Steel My Art, Diana and Les Rasmusson, Sams Valley, Oregon
    home-designed, cut and finished metal art
  • Sumptuous Soaps, Kathleen Tetzlaff, Pullman, Washington
    pure, natural, handmade soaps and lip balms
  • Sunflower Sundries, Mount Olivet, Kentucky
     
  • Thankful Sage Farm School, Nichole Gerding, Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania
     
  • Vintage Charm, Elaine Tolson, Chewelah, Washington
    vintage-style charms and ornaments; art retreats and workshops
  

Buying something made by hand from someone you “know” is our concept of how the world should be, and once was, not so very long ago. Look for the PROJECT F.A.R.M.™ mark on products in stores near you. In the meantime, if you know of a First-class American Rural Made business/product that you think should be promoted as a PROJECT F.A.R.M. endeavor, click here to tell us more.

See how Project F.A.R.M. helps support three local families in our Project F.A.R.M. video.