SEMAP is pleased to offer the TIE (Tools, Innovation, and Equipment) Award Program: a micro-award program for farmers in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 

This program encourages local farmers to trial new equipment, implement farm systems they haven’t tried before, and solve problems faced on their farm. Awards range from $500 to $3,000. Traditionally, this program has funded only innovative and novel projects, intending to lower the barrier to on-farm innovation. Because of the intense challenges of recent years, we have modified the program and expanded our goals to include tools and equipment with proven impact. With TIE Award funding, SEMAP aims to enable our local farms to create solutions locally, and share the solutions with the region’s farming community to increase local knowledge, capacity, and resilience. Reporting requirements for successful applicants include sharing findings with fellow farmers, so as to increase our collective agricultural knowledge.

 

New this Year:

We will be opening a separate awards program for deer fencing and other methods of wildlife exclusion in Spring 2026. We will NOT be funding deer fencing and wildlife exclusion through the TIE Award. Also, we will only be giving 1 TIE Award to nonprofit organizations this year. If you are a commercial grower renting land from a nonprofit farm, you are considered a for-profit entity.

View complete details of this program, including project examples and eligibility guidelines: 

 

Answers to common questions are in this FAQ document: 

 

Applications are intentionally low-lift and should take around 30 minutes to complete. To apply, please fill out the 2026 application by 5 PM on February 18, 2026. If you prefer, you can submit a paper application. Download and fill out the application here: 

Please direct any questions to smurray@semaponline.org.

Apply Now
Apply Now
seed cleaner

2018: Winnow Wizard seed cleaner at Ivory Silo Farm in Westport

Low tunnel crop

2018: Low tunnel crop trials at Skinny Dip Farm in Little Compton

Bike powered compost

2022: Bike-powered compost sifter at Holly Hill Farm in Cohasset

2025 Awardees:

  • Groundwork Somerville (Somerville) - The TIE award will allow us to repair and improve our greenhouse, extending our season and increasing the variety of unique vegetables we can grow on our farm. 

  • Hands for the Needy Farm (Seekonk) - We propose to construct an 8' deer fence around half of our farm to prevent crop loss and wasted work.

  • Hocus Pocus Farm (Seekonk) - Incorporate the use of a walk-behind tractor into our bed preparation process and by funding tractor repairs and the purchase of a rotary plow and necessary wheel accessories. This project will help us to create raised beds for improved crop production and soil health.

  • Southside Community Land Trust (Providence, RI) - Two of the most challenging issues in urban farming are 1) animal (non-insect) pest pressure and 2) perennial rhizomatic weeds. We will create and maintain a library of small tools and supplies, some tested and some new to our network, to deal with these issues. Urban market growers will be able to use and borrow them.

  • Tiani Gardens (Lakeville) - Rotary tiller for tractor to enhance pre-and post-planting soil preparation

  • West Meadowbrook Farm (Foster, RI) - Construct a permanent deer fence tol allow the farm to expand operations, provide lasting crop protection, and reduce labor spent on maintaining electric fence lines.

 

2024 Awardees:

  • Common Acre Farm (Mansfield) – permanent fencing for wildlife exclusion and addition of sheep and chickens
  • Freedom Food Farm (Raynham) – mower for maintaining fence lines in rotationally grazed fields
  • Fruit Fair Farm (Chicopee) – closed loop irrigation system and greenhouse monitoring equipment
  • Herb Hill Farm and Micro-Dairy (Pepperell) – construction of a gathering space for educational on-farm workshops
  • Late Bloom Farm (Haverhill) – high tunnel trellising system for tomatoes and cucumbers, and insect netting
  • Moonrose Farm (Rehoboth) – electric deer fencing to make a new piece of farmland viable
  • Muck and Mystery Farm (Seekonk) – electric deer fencing to expand crop production
  • The Neighborhood Farm (Westport) – low tunnel system for frost protection, insect exclusion, and summer shade
  • Nilsa’s Herbal Teas and Botanicals (Dartmouth) – shade cloth, storage bins, and shelving for expansion of dried flowers and herbs
  • Old Earth Orchards (Taunton) – compost tea brewer and sprayer for natural orchard fertility management
  • Padanaram Oyster Farm (Dartmouth) – oyster tumbler for efficient sorting and cleaning of harvested oysters
  • Sibling Organic Crops (Lakeville) – rotary tiller attachment for first tractor, to efficiently prepare and cultivate 10 acre field
  • Zeigler’s Market Garden (Norfolk) – permanent wash station to improve food safety protocols