Farms & Forests

We believe local food systems depend on vibrant farms that are important components of both the local economy and the cultural landscape.

When residents identify places of the heart, at least one historic farm makes the list. These days, keeping a farm viable takes more than tending to a bountiful harvest, requiring a broad skill set that includes business, land use, and food systems planning. These planning resources can offer strategies for managing multiple important aspects of a farm operation.

Agricultural & Food Systems Planning

Helping communities build relationships with local farmers to better understand their needs and opportunities to support local farms and increase access to local food. This typically includes the collection of local data to develop a profile of existing agriculture and facilitated community engagement to guide volunteers through a process that results in an informed action plan.

Farm Business Planning

Helping farmers develop or update their business plans and financial projections for their farm business. This process varies by farm, but may typically include an analysis of current operations, resources, and historic financials, and focused interviews with operators to identify goals, growth strategies, potential markets, and infrastructure needs.

Farm Protection & Transfer

We assist farmers in keeping their land in agriculture and helping them understand their options for transferring their land to the next generation of farmers.

Grant Writing and Project Management

We provide guidance, strategies, recommendations and project management that define the specific tasks and phases needed within a project to achieve the ultimate vision. This includes identifying appropriate grants and other funding sources for the various phases of a project, from planning through implementation and long-term stewardship.