Check Out Tana Schultz’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tana Schultz.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
SOIL is a project initiated by the Boulder-based Slow Money Institute. Since 2010, projects of the Slow Money Institute have catalyzed the flow of more than $80 million into over 800 small farms and food enterprises in dozens of communities across the country. The slow money movement follows the 2008 publication of Woody Tasch’s book Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money: Investing as if Food, Farms and Fertility Mattered. S.O.IL. stands for Slow Opportunities Investing Locally. We are a Boulder-based non-profit providing 0% loans to small and mid-sized organic/regenerative farms and food enterprises that bring their produce to the local market. Started in Boulder in 2017, local SOIL groups are now around the country including four In Colorado, Virginia and Maine. SOIL members make tax-deductible donations and vote on loans; one member, one vote, no matter the size of a member’s donation. SOIL Boulder has raised more than $500,000 from 250 people in amounts ranging from $250 to $50,000. Farmers can join for as little as $25. We have awarded 21 loans totaling $412,400 as of June 2022, funding.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being volunteer led can have its challenges and obstacles. I am retired and since the beginning took on most of management of our group. To date we have found a good core group of committed executive committee members that assist with all management. Keeping and bringing in new members is challenging, but most of our success with that has come through our monthly One and cheese gatherings.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am most proud of how we have awarded 21 loans to local farmers totaling $412,400 as of June 2022, funding everything from walk-in coolers and irrigation to carrot diggers and renovation of farmworker housing.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Building local food systems is one of the most direct, powerful ways to begin addressing critical challenges of our time—climate change, health, and community resilience. Since 2010, over $79 million has been invested in 806 organic farms and food enterprises via dozens of local Slow Money groups around the country (and a few abroad).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://slowmoney.org/local-groups/soil
• Instagram: @soilboulder
• Facebook: SOILBoulder