Revitalizing American Farmland with Agrivoltaics, Regenerative Practices, and Bitcoin Mining

Bitcoin Mining Meets Sustainable Farming

In honor of Earth Day, the April 22, 2025, episode of Leather Lounge explored a groundbreaking intersection of Bitcoin mining, renewable energy, and regenerative agriculture. Host Sean Longstreet welcomed Joshua Phelps and Mark Smith, co-founders of Carbon Country, to discuss their innovative approach to revitalizing American farmland.

Carbon Country: A Vision for Regenerative Agriculture

Carbon Country is transforming small and medium-sized farms by combining agrivoltaics (solar energy and farming), carbon removal, and Bitcoin mining. “These small farms… are really going the way of the dodo bird,” Mark explains, highlighting the decline of family farms amid industrial monoculture. Their solution repurposes these properties to create sustainable value for communities and the environment.

Located on a 74-acre farm in Southern Maryland, Carbon Country’s pilot project integrates 5 megawatts of solar panels across 20 acres of pasture, designed with 15-foot gaps for tractor access. Sheep graze rotationally under the panels, benefiting from shade that reduces heat stress and water needs while improving weight gain. “The sheep… end up gaining weight faster because of the lack of heat stress,” Mark notes. This symbiotic relationship also benefits the solar operation, as sheep naturally manage grass without the need for mowers, reducing costs and environmental impact.

Agrivoltaics offers additional environmental benefits, such as reducing water usage by providing shade that lowers evaporation rates, and fostering biodiversity by creating habitats for pollinators like bees and butterflies. Economically, it provides farmers with long-term stability through 20-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) adjusted for inflation, ensuring a reliable income stream alongside traditional farming revenue. Bitcoin mining further enhances this model by consuming excess solar energy, allowing farmers to net meter at higher rates and fund operations without relying on external financing.

Bitcoin Mining as a Catalyst for Renewable Energy

Carbon Country uses Bitcoin mining to enhance the profitability of renewable energy assets, enabling farms to diversify income streams. “We’re using the Bitcoin mining… to help allow the renewable energy assets… be more profitable,” Mark explains. By consuming energy through mining, they can net meter up to 2 MW at retail rates (13 cents vs. 5 cents per kWh), as they’re able to sell twice the amount of energy they use. Additionally, through Maryland’s community solar program, they sell solar energy at retail rates with cost reductions for low-income residents (20%) and medium-income households (10%). It bolsters their overall financial model, allowing them to support the community more effectively.

The mined Bitcoin also serves as working capital, reducing farmers’ reliance on bank loans. “If you think about farming, the cash-flow issue is huge—you borrow up front, pray the weather is right and the crops come in, and only after all that do you finally get paid,” Mark says. Bitcoin mining provides a steady income stream, helping farmers avoid debt and self-finance operations.

Regenerative Practices: Sheep, Soil, and Biochar

Carbon Country’s regenerative practices enhance soil health and sequester carbon. Rotational grazing under solar panels mimics natural buffalo grazing, driving grass roots deeper and increasing soil organic carbon. “We’re actually driving the roots of the grass deeper… [to] leave the soil in better condition,” Mark shares. This prevents erosion, improves water retention, and supports long-term soil fertility, contrasting with the degradation caused by industrial farming.

The project also includes Maryland’s first large-scale biochar plant, which transforms wood chips into a carbon-rich soil amendment at 700°C. Biochar sequesters carbon for centuries while improving soil productivity.

Community Impact: Energy Access and Economic Resilience

Carbon Country prioritizes community benefits, selling solar energy to reduce local energy costs and creating jobs in farming, renewable energy, and carbon removal. “We can really do a good turn for the community,” Mark says, noting the food insecurity in their area. However, they face resistance from traditional financial institutions due to Bitcoin mining’s stigma. “It was more of a kind of choke point 2.0 situation, but like the minute that they heard we were Bitcoin miner was like, sorry, bye bye,” Mark reveals, referencing broader financial barriers like Operation Chokepoint 2.0 that limit crypto-related projects’ access to banking services.

Despite this, Carbon Country leverages Bitcoin to self-finance, avoiding traditional banking constraints. They’re also planning tiny homes for visitors, offering educational opportunities and additional revenue through platforms like Airbnb.

Educational Outreach: Inspiring the Next Generation

Beyond their farm operations, Carbon Country is committed to educating the next generation about sustainable farming and renewable energy. “How can we educate the next generation of farmers, electrical engineers, folks that… want to get involved in the carbon removal space?” Mark asks, emphasizing their goal to inspire future innovators. They plan to host workshops and farm tours, inviting local schools and community groups to learn about agrivoltaics, biochar production, and Bitcoin mining’s role in clean energy. By sharing their knowledge, they hope to empower others to adopt similar practices, creating a ripple effect of sustainability across rural America. Readers can support this mission by visiting Carbon Country, participating in their programs, or following their journey to learn how Bitcoin can drive positive change.

Josh and Mark: A Synergistic Partnership

Josh and Mark’s partnership began through mutual Web3 connections, bonding over a shared vision at Archive, a DAO bridging fine art and blockchain. Josh, with a background in NGOs and community building, left Mexico City to join Mark on the farm. “I was really enjoying my life… in Mexico City… [but] the answer was yes,” Josh recalls. Mark, a curious learner with a knack for mastering complex issues, drives the project’s technical and financial strategy.

Together, they’ve built a lean operation, learning through hands-on experience and community support. “It takes a village,” Mark says, crediting local collaborators like engineers and investors who provide expertise and resources. Their pioneering spirit—stringing fences, managing sheep, and setting up Bitcoin miners—embodies Bitcoin’s ethos of resilience and innovation. Looking ahead, Josh and Mark aim to scale their model by creating a blueprint for other farmers, encouraging them to integrate agrivoltaics and Bitcoin mining into their operations. “Come join the revolution,” Mark urges, inviting others to adopt their approach and build a network of sustainable farms, amplifying Bitcoin’s impact on rural economies.

Your Gateway to Bitcoin’s Sustainable Future with Leather

Carbon Country’s farm-scale experiment shows that Bitcoin can underwrite clean energy, enrich soils, and steady rural incomes. With Leather—the secure, private, self-custody wallet—you can step into that same climate-positive economy: hold and swap bitcoin confidently, tap BTC-backed lending through protocols such as Granite, and channel capital toward projects that link renewables with sound money. Download Leather, follow @LeatherBTC and host @Longstreet_BTC on X, and hear the full story in Leather Lounge Episode 49 on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube—then start putting your bitcoin to work for a more sustainable future.