About me
Benneth Phelps is The Carrot Project’s Executive Director. She brings a deep and dynamic knowledge of our work from 12+ years of on-the-ground experience uplifting New England’s farmers, and a clear vision for building a just and resilient future for agricultural entrepreneurs.
Benneth worked as the Director of Farmer Services at Dirt Capital Partners for seven years, developing the company’s organizational culture and infrastructure, and its approach to investing in farmland, farms and food enterprises. At Dirt, she developed a track record of making complex land acquisition and transition challenges both simple and achievable; crafted fair, long-term arrangements that allowed farms to expand securely; and provided defined pathways to ownership for every farmer partner. Benneth’s approach of repeatedly rolling up her sleeves to work alongside her clients and partners, while bringing deep listening, expertise and compassion, builds trust and achieves unique outcomes.
Benneth has a long history with The Carrot Project. As Carrot’s first full-time employee, back in 2011, Benneth laid the groundwork for many of our current programs, earned the trust of hundreds of clients on their path to financial viability, and cultivated relationships with Carrot’s collaborators and supporters. In addition to her years of experience helping farmers execute business plans, secure farmland, and access capital, Benneth holds a Masters in Regional Planning from UMass Amherst. She has served on many boards and committees including the PVGrows Fund Committee, The Carrot Project Loan Review Committee, and the Vermont Grass Farmers Association Board. Before working at The Carrot Project, she farmed vegetables and small fruits in Western Massachusetts’ Connecticut River Valley for close to a decade. She lives in Sunderland, MA, with her son.
