Grants for not so large farms

I just purchased a 3 acre farm that was sectioned off of 40 acres. I have a house, 30x80 barn and a couple more out buildings. The barn is in rough shape and could use some work. Do you know of any grants to help fix up old barns so they can be preserved?

Also I will be going with a permaculture base with plants and would like recommendations for the best ones for a smaller scale operation with chickens, turkeys, rabbits, pigs and hopefully a milk cow in the not to distant future. Any grants for purchasing food plants for the above mentioned animals or the animals themselves?

Lastly, Any known grants for someone to come do a PDC on a smaller farm? or help with the infrastructure on land that has been overworked?

Sorry so many questions in one post but I am so happy to have you here so I can pick your brain!!!

Kim Hill wrote:I just purchased a 3 acre farm that was sectioned off of 40 acres. I have a house, 30x80 barn and a couple more out buildings. The barn is in rough shape and could use some work. Do you know of any grants to help fix up old barns so they can be preserved?

Also I will be going with a permaculture base with plants and would like recommendations for the best ones for a smaller scale operation with chickens, turkeys, rabbits, pigs and hopefully a milk cow in the not to distant future. Any grants for purchasing food plants for the above mentioned animals or the animals themselves?

Lastly, Any known grants for someone to come do a PDC on a smaller farm? or help with the infrastructure on land that has been overworked?

Sorry so many questions in one post but I am so happy to have you here so I can pick your brain!!!

Barn: Many states have public or private funds for barn restoration, you'll have to do your own research. Iowa has several: http://www.iowabarnfoundation.org/awards_and_grants.htm as does Wisconsin: http://lgc.uwex.edu/barns/
As for preservation, some paint and elbow grease go a long way, it really doesn't have to be that costly.

PDC - hire a teacher and host your own PDC! Could be free!

Infrastructure: the EQIP program through NRCS is wonderful, please look into it or view the other threads on it in this forum