At a time when small farms across America are disappearing at a rapid pace, a bold new experiment in rural Maryland may offer a powerful glimpse into the future. It is a future where family farms not only survive but thrive by merging cutting-edge finance, renewable energy, and regenerative agriculture. This vision is taking shape through a unique approach that combines solar energy, battery storage, and Bitcoin mining to create a new economic model for smallholder farms.
At “Carbon Country,” located in Charles County, Maryland, CEO and co-founder Mark Smith and his team aren’t simply embracing solar as an energy source. They are reimagining the economics of farming itself. Their goal is to empower family farms by allowing them to generate their own energy, sell power to the grid, mine Bitcoin, and access decentralized financial tools that replace the traditional dependence on banks. It is not just a business strategy. It is a mission to restore independence and long-term sustainability to farming communities.
The USDA recently released the 2022 Census of Agriculture Farm Typology Report, and the data paints a troubling picture. Since 2017, the number of family farms in the United States has fallen by nearly 8%. That equates to approximately 159 thousand farms lost in just five years. In contrast, large and industrial farming operations have grown significantly. Farms categorized as mid-size, large, and very large increased by 2%, 40%, and 65% respectively.
This consolidation is reshaping rural America. As smaller operations vanish, the land is often sold for residential development or absorbed by massive agricultural corporations. Communities lose more than just farms. They lose local economies, traditions, and connections to the land. Some have blamed solar developments for this shift, but the reality is that many small farms simply cannot compete with the economies of scale enjoyed by industrial producers. Smith believes that solar is not the enemy of agriculture. It is the future of it. Their approach is centered on a practice known as agrivoltaics. This involves installing solar panels on farmland in a way that still allows crops or livestock to coexist underneath or around the panels. By doing this, farmers are able to produce both food and clean energy on the same plot of land.
In some cases, the partial shading provided by solar panels can even improve crop health by reducing moisture loss and protecting plants from extreme heat. More importantly, selling energy to the local grid provides farmers with an additional source of income that is not tied to unpredictable crop yields or commodity prices. In Carbon Country’s case, their rural electric cooperative allows them to engage in a system known as net metering up to a capacity of two megawatts. However, there is a catch. They are only allowed to net meter up to twice the amount of energy they consume on-site. At first glance, this might sound like a limitation. But Carbon Country found a creative solution.
To increase on-site energy usage and meet the requirements of the net metering program, Carbon Country began mining Bitcoin using one-third of the energy produced by their solar panels. This move allows them to qualify to sell more of their remaining solar power to the grid at full retail value. This is a powerful reversal of the typical energy narrative surrounding Bitcoin. Rather than Bitcoin mining being a burden on the power grid, it becomes a tool that helps renewable energy projects reach financial viability. It provides a flexible and profitable way to consume excess energy during times when grid demand is low or wholesale prices are suppressed.
The benefits do not end with energy management. Carbon Country has also been able to utilize the Bitcoin it has mined as financial leverage. Recently, they used their Bitcoin holdings to help secure a working capital loan term sheet. That loan is unlocking a $420,000 grant from the state of Maryland for commercial solar development. The grant is structured as a reimbursement, meaning Carbon Country must pay the full project cost upfront before receiving funds. By using Bitcoin as collateral, they are accessing capital without relying on traditional banks.
This experience has opened the door to a new financial model. Rather than being forced to work through rigid bank lending systems, farmers can potentially tap into global decentralized finance networks. These networks allow individuals to borrow against their Bitcoin or other digital assets. For farmers, this could mean gaining access to funds for new equipment, working capital, or infrastructure without relinquishing ownership or incurring restrictive loan terms. Bitcoin, in this context, is not just a digital currency. It becomes a store of value, a source of liquidity, and a tool for building long-term resilience. It creates an entirely new layer of financial independence for farmers who have traditionally been beholden to banks, commodity markets, or volatile crop seasons.
This approach could transform many family farms, as it creates an opportunity for them to reduce debt burdens, manage cash flow more predictably, and diversify income in a way that is both modern and grounded in physical assets, such as energy and land. Of course, this model is not without challenges. Setting up an agrivoltaic Bitcoin mining operation requires access to land, solar permitting, mining equipment, and at least a basic understanding of crypto markets. There are technical hurdles and risks involved, especially related to the volatility of Bitcoin prices. But the upside potential is enormous.
Carbon Country’s work provides a real-world case study of what happens when farmers take control of their energy and financial destiny. It is a grassroots solution that scales from the ground up, rather than a top-down initiative driven by government or corporate interests. It is also deeply aligned with broader goals, such as rural revitalization, climate sustainability, and food security. Rather than relying on subsidies or waiting for policies to change, this model creates its own momentum, combining technology with tradition, and innovation with independence. (Source: leather.io, LinkedIn)
