Lilipoh

November 12, 2024

You canโ€™t address food security, soil carbon sequestration or climate change without first tackling the crisis of land access

December 3, 2024

Land for Farmers, Roots for Communities

Dear <<First Name>>,

All over the country there are Farmland Commons in development that support land access for regenerative farmers and stewards, that support aging, retiring organic and biodynamic farmers, and that are supporting land justice in the form of ecological stewardship and equitable tenure.
 

These amazing Farmland Commons inspire optimism and hope. The work we are doing to create the emerging Farmland Commons includes:

  • Strategic farmland search with a Black-led food, community and health centered nonprofit in a Mid Atlantic city
    ย 
  • Innovative legacy farm transition with an elder biodynamic farming couple and their island community centered farm in the Northwest
    ย 
  • Intentional, personal and strategic transition of a naturallyย built ecological community farm in Northern Appalachia
    ย 
  • Guidance, assistance and leadership that brings together land owners, collaborators and community nonprofits in the creation of a Black-led community, housing and food justice collective Farmland Commonsย in the Southeast
    ย 
  • And others!ย 

The year ahead holds the opportunity to manifest 7+ Farmland Commons in communities across the country.
With your partnership andย help we will achieve this goal, and more.


The Latest Multimedia


This 5 minute videoย is a beautiful and inspiring excerptย from Kalliopeia Foundation’s Land Reunion Series featuring Kristina Villa, Co-Executive Director of The Farmers Land Trust.


The Farmers Land Trust and the Farmland Commons were just featured in the latest issue of Lilipoh Magazine! 

If you did not get a copy sent straight to your mailbox, you can read the article by Darby Weaver, here


Through an innovative approach to land tenure, and due to theย legacy farm transitionย work of Co-Executive Director of The Farmers Land Trust, Ian McSweeney,ย that also inspires and informs the Farmland Commons,ย Temple Wilton Community Farm is a living model for farm preservation and support through community ownership.ย Read all about it in our latest blog!


Thanks to our generous individual donors throughout the year, we only need to raise $5,119 to reach our year-end goal of $20,000! We are in awe of the support donors like you have provided.
ย 
Thank you for thinking of us this GivingTuesday, December 3. Your gift will help The Farmers Land Trust protect and transition farmland, and to ensure next generation farmers get secure, affordable, access and tenure to that land.

We appreciate you for standing with The Farmers Land Trust in this vital work and forwarding this email to friends, family, or colleagues who you think would be interested!

With gratitude,
The Farmers Land Trust Team


Funding comes from donors like you.

Your donation goes further thanks to pro bono support to The Farmers Land Trust from organizations such as:

When you purchase an item from our shop, all profit goes towards helping us to fulfill our mission.

Thank you for supporting this work.

The Farmers Land Trust receives 15% of all purchases made by customers who enter their website from here!

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People

Community stakeholders and prospective board members who:

    • Include exiting and/or entering farmers
    • Include an in-state attorney
    • Willing to donate and/or provide discounted service to board and/or serve
  • Include community partners that may include representation from:
    • Land trusts
    • Food and/or Farm support organizations
  • Include at least five people committed to serving on volunteer board
  • Demonstrate willingness, skills, experience, and networks in legal, fundraising, communications, real estate transfer, agriculture, and farm viability/support

Community

Geographic location that is in a regional foodshed/farm to market based size and has:

  • Demonstrated need for improved farmland access and secure tenure
  • Opportunities for preserving legacy biodynamic, organic, and regenerative farms, for manifesting BIPOC land justice, and/or for community based regenerative food production based agricultural practices

Land

Viable Farmland Project must include:

  • Farmland and infrastructure to support โ€œagrarian enterprisesโ€ (including, but not limited to diversified production of food, forage, fiber, medicine, and ecological stewardship)
  • Soils sufficient to support agricultural uses
  • Secure, sufficient quantity and quality water to support agricultural use
  • No existence or evidence of overly contaminated soil or water, or have the ability and capacity to remedy
  • Location and scale sufficient to support production that can provide economic enterprise viability and have community benefit
  • Housing and farm infrastructure onsite, possibility of developing housing and farm infrastructure onsite, or opportunity to legally tie housing and farm infrastructure to property
  • A landowner who demonstrates alignment and willingness to:
    • Enter into a Full Donation or Discounted Purchase Option agreement:
    • Within 8 months of initial conversations
    • That allows a minimum of 12 months but up to 24 months to closing
    • Collaborate to engage existing farm community to raise awareness and funding support

The Founder

Julian Lauzzana

Julian Lauzzana is the founder of Earthen Heart and a community homesteader, land steward, and visionary advocate for regenerative rural living. Drawing from a diverse background in culinary arts, organizational development, media production, farm-to-school research, and intentional community design, Julian has spent decades exploring how people can live in deeper relationship with each other and the land. He generously donated the founding 19.9-acre Bangor farm and helped establish the Earthen Heart Farmland Commons to create lasting opportunities for community-based food production, land stewardship, and affordable access to farmland. Through his work, Julian seeks to cultivate resilient local economies, strengthen rural communities, and demonstrate replicable models of shared land ownership and regenerative living.

Read more about Julian's story โ†’

The Steward

Julian Lauzzana

Alita is a farmer and leader connected to the Earthen Heart story, and a board member and leader of the West Michigan Young Farmers chapter. She now holds a 99-year lease on the land Julian donated, a long-term, community-rooted foundation for her work as a steward and grower.

Visit West Michigan Young Farmers โ†’

Our online auction is LIVE! Browse the selection now to find super useful services, great products, unique experiences, and more! Your winning bid will help protect farmland and empower the next generation of farmers by supporting the acquisition of Blue Rock Station Farm into the Blue Rock Farmland Commons.