San Juan Islands
Farmland Commons
The Farmers Land Trust is partnered with an elder biodynamic farming couple, and several collaborating organizations to address farm legacy, family connection and transitions, and to facilitate a next generation farm steward opportunity through creation of a San Juan Islands Farmland Commons, a community centered, democratically run, limited scope 501(c)(25) non-profit established to hold title to farmland, and steward and convey secure and affordable lease tenure to next generation farm stewards.
In the community of Lopez Island in Washington state is a 22-acre biodynamically managed farm and self-sufficient organism, using as few outside resources as possible. In existence since 1970, the farm integrates growing vegetables, fruit, grains, and flowers to produce animal feed, fertilizers and composts to raise beef, lamb, pork, chicken, eggs and dairy products, and to steward the ecosystem.
This Farmland Commons successfully addresses the following:
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Preserves 50+ years of biodynamically managed and stewarded farmland and business
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Maintains elder generation living on land and family estate connection to land for future generations
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Endows the stewardship of the farm for generations to come
Farmland is Unaffordable
What this elder generation bought for $33,793 and invested their love, will-force, and lives into is now valued at more than $1,000,000 by the market.
While this farm was once surrounded by farm and forest land it is now next door to vacation estate homes on Lopez Sound valued at $6,700,000 and $10,600,000 by the market.
Scenes From the Land
