Building an Agrarian Commons: A Legal Resource for Community Land Stewardship

Protecting farmland for future generations takes more than good intentions it takes the right legal and organizational foundation.

The Agrarian Commons is a community-based model of land ownership and stewardship that helps keep farmland in the hands of farmers and communities. Instead of treating land as something to buy and sell for profit, the model supports long-term care, affordable access, and shared responsibility.

To help communities interested in creating an Agrarian Commons, the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS), in partnership with Agrarian Trust, developed a practical legal guide based on the work of establishing several Agrarian Commons across the United States.

The guide includes legal documents and templates that can help you understand how an Agrarian Commons is structured, including:

• Sample land donation agreements
• Organizational bylaws
• An equitable farmland lease
• Governance documents
• Other legal tools that support community stewardship of farmland

Although these resources were created for the Agrarian Commons model, they may also be helpful for communities exploring other ways to hold and care for land together through shared ownership, long-term land access, and regenerative stewardship.

These documents were developed through a collaborative process involving legal experts and practitioners working to create a model that supports both farmers and the long-term care of the land.

Whether you're a farmer, landowner, community organization, or simply exploring new approaches to land access, this guide is a valuable place to start.

Browse the legal guide and related documents here to learn more about building an Agrarian Commons in your community.

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