Past Newsletters
Below are the newsletters that have been sent, and at the bottom of this page you can sign up to receive future newsletters!
At The Farmers Land Trust, we are creating action, change, and hope around North America through the Farmland Commons. The incredible support and engagement we receive from you and our extended networks daily motivates and inspires us. Thank you!
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We see community as the most potent and hopeful tool we have for building a verdant future. Coming back together on the land is where we will step into our greatest power. We can heal our world by supporting those called to steward plants, animals, and soil. Through the Farmland Commons model, we see that by pooling resources to protect our working farms, regenerative farmers can focus their time on creatively developing systems that beautifully interconnect with the symbiotic forces of our natural world.
The Farmers Land Trust is excited to be growing and pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and are grateful that you joined us in this impactful work!
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With appreciation for your support, we are closing out the year in gratitude and celebration!
Across the country, The Farmers Land Trust has developed several Farmland Commons to the contractual stage that details steps ahead for the creation of each local 501(c)(25) land-holding entity with landowners, farmers and growers, and communities.
The Farmers Land Trust team has been sustained and inspired by all of you – our many shared conversations and collaborations while working towards protecting land and securing equitable and affordable tenure for regenerative practicing farmers.
Our growth is only possible because all of you joined us to fulfill our mission! Thank you for your support which helped The Farmers Land Trust get this far, positioning us for the work and goals to be achieved in 2025!
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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:
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The work we do requires the involvement of each and every one of you, our partners. Together, we can create sustainable and resilient food systems that benefit communities and the planet by ensuring equitable land access and tenure to farmers using regenerative practices. Your belief in our mission and commitment to a better future is what drives us, and we are excited to take this next step with your engagement, collaboration and support.
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Last year over 25% of all who received this newsletter donated $50 or more. Thank you! Momentum is building, and our growth and success are directly tied to your contribution. We ask that you consider supporting us again this year.
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We are excited to share with you that The Farmers Land Trust is now one year old! We are also deeply honored and inspired to introduce our Board!
The growth we have had in such a small time is so amazing and affirming, and we attribute this to people like you, who have supported us in various ways. People like you who are part of communities across all 50 states and 46 countries connected through shared vision and hope for land commons.
Thank you for taking actions to join together with us to grow The Farmers Land Trust and create community centered Farmland Commons across the country.
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Land trust and nonprofit land ownership structures have a profoundly impactful history of defining and structuring land ownership, access and tenure, protection, and connection, yet, by and large, do not address justice and equity and only benefit a small portion of the population.
We believe that commons land trusts are a necessary and innovative land-ownership model to address and transform the current realities of how land is owned, how tenure and equity are conveyed, and how land stewardship is carried out. This model builds upon and evolves the 120+ years of conservation land trust practice and the 60+ years of community land trust practice. This model challenges the current options of land ownership, protection, transition, and legacy to offer a new, generational approach to community supported farmland commons for regenerative agriculture.
We know the seeds of change must be viable, diverse, abundant, and adaptable, and we see the Farmland Commons as a localized and evolving seed bank that is beginning to germinate in communities across North America. We envision and work towards a future of new possibilities and outcomes for how farmland is held, accessed, and how tenure and equity are conveyed. We are working on cultivating and supporting these seeds of decommodified community-held farmland that conveys secure equitable tenure to farmers for regenerative food growing without harmful chemicals and in ways that connect with, engage, and feed communities. >>> See full newsletter
We know land is the foundation of civilization, culture, and community and we know we are part of the land. We know new and beginning farmers identify land access as a primary barrier to farm viability and that existing and retiring farmers must destroy what they have built over their lifetime by selling their farms for development and speculation, simply to retire. We know on average 37 mid-size farms close permanently every single day in this country and we know these farms' successful generational transitions are what sustains agrarian culture and community resilience. We are deeply compelled to do something with this knowledge. We are compelled to act.
