Free Land: Farming Under Pressure
This video from the BBC shows “how farms confiscated from Sicily’s mafia are providing food and wine, helping to fight crime and providing a future for a new generation on the island.” The project, a not for profit farming operation called “Libera Terra” (which translates as “Free Land”), was made possible by an Italian member of […]
Young Farmers in Minnesota get a hand from new land access bill
From the National Young Farmers Coalition: Saint Paul, Minnesota – On Tuesday evening, Governor Mark Dayton signed ten budget bills that included a first-of-its-kind beginning farmer tax credit. Authored by Rep. Nels Pierson (R-Rochester) and Sen. Mike Goggin (R-Redwing), the bill supports the transition of land to young and beginning farmers through a tax credit […]
Haystack Talk with Agrarian Trust’s Own Severine von Tscharner Fleming
Haystacks are monthly events in London to talk about and present rural projects and practices. From time to time . . . they also make hay. Next Thursday in London: The Agrarian Trust: Farms as Community Assets Haystack Talk Thursday 25 May 2017 at 7pm 7a Vyner Street, London E2 (nearest Tube Bethnal Green) Severine von Tscharner Fleming […]
Visions for a Farm Community: Thoughts for the Land Owner
Some thoughts from Faith Gilbert of the Letterbox Farm Collective for land owners and entrepreneurs seeking to partner with a farmer. This was written as a direct response to a particular farmer/landowner partnership idea involving agritourism activities; however the principles contained are broadly applicable. I want to offer a sincere welcome into the effort to […]
Local Food: Animated
Advocacy group Local Futures has just released this short video about how buying local food impacts local economies. The 2-minuted animated short highlights the essence of the problems of the global economy, and the multiple benefits of localization. Like it? They have a booklet too.
This May Day: Land, Food Workers and the Commons
Traditionally May 1st has been a day to recognize worker contributions and advocate for better rights. Today thousands, maybe millions will take to the street worldwide to take a stand for workers, just as workers did in 1886 in Chicago. Workers, particularly food and agricultural workers cannot be removed from the conversation of land access and […]
New Our Land Episodes!
Our friends at the Greenhorns released the latest Our Land episode last week. Episode Six, “Building a Regional Food System,” follows the Cook family of Maine. The Cooks are responsible for the first large organic potato operation in Aroostiuck County, inspirational food distributor (and co-op!) Crown of Maine, and Northern Girl— a value added processing plant […]
Access to Land in Europe
this video show what our counterparts in Europe are up to. also — learn how the European Parliament is weighing in on Land Access in this blog post.
Sustainable Farms Programs Guide Now Available from NSAC and the USDA
Finding the right federal programs to help your farm be financially as well as biodynamically sustainable can be difficult. Small farming comes with so many moving parts that finding time to sift through resources across federal agency websites or going to your FSA office to navigate the options is a luxury many cannot afford. But […]
Take Action to Protect Small Farming
Americans all around the country from every corner of our society are standing up and taking direct action to protect the programs and policies that allow them to thrive. Now is the time for all groups to make their voice heard and small, sustainable, beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers are no different. If […]