Farmland Commons Process
Farmland Commons are community-driven organizations designed to:
- Own and manage lands
- Offer secure and affordable leases, and
- Provide farmers with equity opportunities for place-based regenerative agriculture and ecological stewardship
Check out our short video to find out more.
To manifest a Farmland Commons, the following are needed: People, Community, and Land.
1
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 5 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
2
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
3
Land
Viable Farmland Project must include: Farmland and infrastructure to support “agrarian enterprises” (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 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
People, Community and Land are then brought together in creation and incorporation of a nonprofit Farmland Commons to raise engagement and the many forms of capital needed to transfer farmland into the Farmland Commons and transition farm to the next generation.
