How to Lease Your Land to a Farmer
Join Land For Good and Greenbelt for a Free Workshop and Leased Farmland Tour
Many Massachusetts farmers are looking to rent open land of all types and sizes to expand and strengthen their farming enterprises. Making land available for farming is one of the most important contributions landowners can make to their community. Leasing land to a farmer helps secure a future for farming in the region, while creating economic opportunity and promoting food security.
| Workshop
Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018 5:30 – 8:30 pm Gould Barn |
Leased Farmland Tour
Friday, Oct. 26, 2018 8:00 – 11:00 am Departs from Cox Reservation |
Join Land For Good and Greenbelt – Essex County’s Land Trust for an informative workshop followed by a guided tour of local leased farmland. The workshop and tour are free, but registration is required. You may register for one or both days. Visit ecga.org/events to learn more and register.
On Thursday evening, October 25th, land access expert Land For Good will facilitate a workshop to help landowners explore leasing their land for farming, and offer practical resources to take next steps. Landowners will learn how to assess their land and infrastructure, find a compatible farmer, consider liability and tax issues, and craft a lease agreement. Landowners who already make their land available but want to improve the arrangement with their farmer-tenant can also benefit.
On Friday morning, October 26th , Greenbelt will lead a guided tour of three examples of locally leased farmland, including Alprilla Farm in Essex, Cedar Rock Gardens in West Gloucester and Marini Farm in Ipswich. The tour will begin at Greenbelt’s Cox Reservation and Headquarters located at 82 Eastern Avenue, Essex.
Land For Good has helped educate, advise and support thousands of non-farming landowners. They work directly with landowners as well as farm service providers, conservation organizations and communities to increase farmland availability and foster good landowner-farmer agreements. They can help you develop a land use plan, find appropriate advisors, recruit a farmer, and develop a lease or transfer agreement.
Greenbelt works with the landowners and the thirty-four cities and towns of Essex County to conserve open space, farmland, wildlife habitat and scenic landscapes. Their work helps protect native plants, animals and natural corridors, ensure a healthy food supply, maintain clean water and create free and accessible places for outdoor recreation and the enjoyment of nature.
For more information or to register for the free workshop, tour or both, contact Vanessa Johnson-Hall at Greenbelt at 978-768-7241 x16 or visit ecga.org/events.
About Land For Good and Greenbelt:
Land For Good (LFG) is a New England-wide not-for-profit organization whose mission is to ensure the future of farming in the region by putting more farmers more securely on more land. With field agents serving all New England states, LFG educates, consults, innovates and advocates with and for farm seekers, established farmers, farmland owners, and communities. LFG is the only organization of its kind, nationally, with a sole focus on farmland access, transfer, and tenure.
Greenbelt – Essex County’s Land Trust works with local individuals, families, farmers and communities to protect the farmland, wildlife habitat and scenic vistas of Essex County. Since 1961, Greenbelt has protected more than 17,500 acres of local land. For more information, visit ecga.org or call 978-768-7241.