Since 2011, MCA has matched new and expanding farmers with long term leases on over 400 acres of land. Pull up a chair and hear the stories of how Land Link builds new farm ventures a few acres at a time.... |  |
The Revolving Barn Door She listed her few acres of land, got a farmer who wanted to start small and build his skills- he did and moved to bigger acreage. Now she's taking on a new farmer to start again. That's two new farms grown on two acres.
The Institutional Farmer Asbury Methodist Village is committed to vital living for its senior residents - going so far as to seek a resident farmer for their new campus farm. Farmer Gigi is planning her first season of crops and engaging the residents in growing food close to home.
The Taste of Home Land Link was able to match Farmer Tanya with acreage to grow crops from her native Zimbabwe - including Kiwano, or horned Melon.
The Institutional Farmer Asbury Methodist Village is committed to vital living for its senior residents - going so far as to seek a resident farmer for their new campus farm. Farmer Gigi is planning her first season of crops and engaging the residents in growing food close to home.
The Taste of Home Land Link was able to match Farmer Tanya with acreage to grow crops from her native Zimbabwe - including Kiwano, or horned Melon.
Behind each listing on Land Link is a story like these. Landowners offering leases on as little as 1 acre can add a new or expanded farm to the local economy. Postings are anonymous and contacts between members are managed by MCA staff. Browse the listings below and don't hesitate to ask any questions (info@mocoalliance.org)
Background
The year was 2011, MCA convened local farmers representing the diverse types of farming that go on out here - large acreage commodity operations, smaller table crop farms, equestrian and livestock operations, organic/sustainable and not - the one thing on everyone's mind was the skyrocketing price of land- a barrier keeping farmers from even getting started or expanding in MoCo- close to the markets hungry for local food. Put even more succinctly by Red Wiggler Community Farm's Woody Woodroof in our "Growing Legacy" Film:
This was the genesis of our Land Link program, linking new and expanding farmers with local landowners offering long term leases and other arrangements. Those 400 acres of new and expanded farm businesses are growing everything from corn for dairy cattle and the typical table crops to the more unexpected ginseng, horned melon and ingredients for luxuriant chocolates.
Landowners are mostly offering less than 5 acres - great for farmers starting small and building up. Farmers and landowners are each assigned anonymous listing numbers to protect privacy and then can contact each other through MCA to make a match. New for 2017 we are maintaining our rural match outreach but expanding into matching farmers with urban acreage -like the Koiner Farm in Silver Spring.
Landowners are mostly offering less than 5 acres - great for farmers starting small and building up. Farmers and landowners are each assigned anonymous listing numbers to protect privacy and then can contact each other through MCA to make a match. New for 2017 we are maintaining our rural match outreach but expanding into matching farmers with urban acreage -like the Koiner Farm in Silver Spring.
