PODCASTS
In this episode, Kristina Villa and Ian Mc Sweeney, Co-executive Directors of the Farmers Land Trust provide a highly informative overview of the work of their organization. Specific topics covered include history, mission, scope of services provided, The "Farmland Commons Model," community-farm start-up collaboration steps, current goals, urban farms, Land Trusts and Cooperative differences, support avenues and much more.
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You'll want to catch this value-added show!
We discuss the Farmland Commons model—a transformative approach to farmland conservation that ensures land remains in the hands of farmers and communities for generations to come. Ian breaks down how the model works, who can implement it, and the critical differences between 501c3, 501c2, and 501c25 nonprofit structures in this context.
Ian’s insights provide a roadmap for farmers, conservationists, and community members interested in reshaping farmland ownership and resilience. Whether you're a farmer looking for secure land access or an advocate for sustainable food systems, this episode offers valuable knowledge and inspiration.
In this episode of Women in Food, I sit down with the passionate and inspiring Kristina Villa—farmer, advocate, and Co-Executive Director of Farmers Land Trust. Kristina’s journey is deeply personal, from experiencing food insecurity as a child to dedicating her life towards ensuring farmers have long-term, affordable access to land.
We dive deeper into the innovative models Farmers Land Trust is developing to make farmland more accessible to new young farmers, also discuss the broader impact of land stewardship on food systems, communities, and the environment.
Why land tenure and security are key to the future of food: We’ve touched on the massive issues of land tenure, access, and security on the podcast before, but never enough. In many regions, land prices have been rising steadily for the past 50–100 years, becoming entirely disconnected from the land’s productive value—especially for those wanting to farm using regenerative agroecology. This has made land increasingly inaccessible for the next generation of farmers.
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​Ian McSweeney & Kristina Villa, co-directors of The Farmers Land Trust, are responsible for creating and supporting farmland commons, a vehicle for preserving farmland and ensuring its dedication to regenerative agriculture in perpetuity while respecting both the farmers and the communities they feed. I mean, what's better than that? If you like what you hear, are a farmer or a landholder, and want to know more, you can reach out to them at the thefarmerslandtrust.org
In this conversation, we discuss:
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The myth of “land ownership” and the capitalist systems that perpetuate harm
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Building systems for farmland to be controlled by the farmers and the local community
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Why farmers struggle with land security, and paradoxically, even food security
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The complex history of land trusts and how Ian forged a unique path within them
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The difference between community land trusts and conservation land trusts
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The new paradigm of valuing farmland differently than residential land
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And so much more!
"Welcome to another insightful episode of Barnyard Language! In this episode, hosts Arlene and Caite delve into a dynamic conversation with Kristina Villa from Tennessee and Ian McSweeney from New Hampshire. Both Kristina and Ian are pivotal figures in the Farmers Land Trust, and they share their diverse backgrounds, innovative approaches to land use, and experiences in the agricultural sector."
"New Episode with Ian McSweeney from The Farmers Land Trust is up! We talk about the framework around creating an Ag/Community based land trust to protect not only the land but also the farmer. There’s a lot of smart tools and approaches to keeping land as agricultural these days. I added a bunch of resource links in the show notes in case you would like to dig deeper. Great conversation! Check it out!"
>>> Listen to the full episode here
“Today we are joined by Kristina Villa of the Farmers Land Trust who is confronting one of the most intractable challenges and deepest inequities within our food system today: Land access and tenure.
Kristina shares her remarkable journey that has culminated in launching her own organic farming business and founding an organization that enables emerging regenerative farmers to gain access to arable land that then can be held in community for generations rather than going back into a commodity market that favors traditional development.”
>>> Listen to the full episode here
Support this work!
You can support the mission and work of The Farmers Land Trust by subscribing to the newsletter below, donating to Farmers Land Trust, donating land to Farmland Commons, contacting us about a potential partnership or sponsorship, and following Farmers Land Trust on your favorite social media.
