Projects: (Selected 2005 - 2010)
Farm Lease & Leasing Project
USDA-funded project educating farm seekers New England wide; six workshops, online tutorial, web resources, technical assistance to seekers.Western Massachusetts Land Trusts and Working Lands
Roundtable meeting and three workshops for land trusts to promote land trusts’ involvement in working lands conservation projects. Funded by MA Land Trust Coalition.Farms Forever
Farm Transferring Planning services to farmers. Three “Where Do I Start…” guides providing technical assistance to farm seekers, farmers and non farming landowners farm succession clients for Southeastern MA Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP).FarmLASTS Project
National USDA-funded project on farm and ranch access, tenure and succession. Research, curriculum development, national conference for leaders in the field.Transferring The Farm Workshops
Multi-year collaboration with New England Extension educators and others; daylong workshops and follow-up on farm transfer and succession. Funded by USDA.Women and Farm Transfer
Professional training and workshops for women in four New England states, focusing on farm transfer. Funded by USDA.Farm Transfer Network of New England
Led broad collaboration to create a regional service network, website, online directory, promotional materials. Multiple funding sources.Sustainable Communities and Farm Succession
Three multi-stakeholder community workshops on farm succession; farm transfer network development. Funded by USDA/SARE.Presentations and Workshops
- Non-farming Landowners and Farm Seekers, Glynwood Center, NY
- Land Access for Beginning Farmers, Stone Barns Center, NY
- Acquiring Land: Strategies and Options, NOFA Winter Conference, NH
- Challenges and Opportunities for Massachusetts Agriculture Commission, MA
- Farm Succession and Entry, Georgia Organics, GA
Clients
Cold Pond Community Land Trust, Acworth, New Hampshire
Consulting to local nonprofit organization acquiring land for permanently affordable farm use.Friends of the Farm at Hilltop, Suffield, Connecticut
Historic town-owned farm and barn on 45 acres. Feasibility analysis for adaptive reuses of historic barn and land as working farm and agricultural center.Stonewall Farm, Keene, New Hampshire
Planning for production greenhouse and learning landscape surrounding it.KROKA Expeditions, Marlowe, New Hampshire
Assisted nonprofit with land acquisition and permitting for wilderness and agriculture education center.Herkimer Hill Farm, Cabot, Vermont
Vegetable and wood products, 195 acres. LFG assisting several families developing an ag-oriented cohousing community with all aspects of transfer, land use and development planning.Dominican Sisters of Mercy, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Recruited farmer for land and house lease on convent property; preparing for easement and eventual transfer.
Steve Normanton Beef, Wilton, New Hampshire
A collaboration between a farmer seeking land and an investor seeking an investment in sustainable agriculture investment. Grass-fed beef operation on leased land. LFG provided site and farmer search technical assistance.
Smolak Farms LLC, Andover, Massachusetts
Planning assistance for phased transfer from owner-operator to successor on a 32 acre vegetable and berry operation.Mindful Living Initiative, Marlow, New Hampshire
Land use planning and permitting services provided for 225 acre educational and sustainable agriculture oriented community.
Berkshires, Massachusetts
Business planning assistance for young farmer in preparation for land acquisition.
North Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Mixed operation with retail outlet on 120 acres. Developed farm transfer assessment, convened team and supported entrants through discussions regarding dividing estate while preserving the farm operation.
Cold Pond Community Land Trust, Acworth, New Hampshire
Vegetable and wood products operation. Prepare transfer plan between current operator to future successor, preserving opportunities for heirs.
Langwater Farm, Easton, Massachusetts
Agricultural ‘revival’ on prime access land. Provided land use and tenure planning, farmer recruiting, negotiations, document development.
Limerick, Maine
Feasibility assessment for acquisition of former farmland by a conservation buyer. In conjunction with river district and Maine Farmland Trust and three LFG associates.Apple Annie’s, Exeter, New Hampshire
Orchard operation and vegetable CSA on 35 acres. Developed agreement for phased transfer from retiring operators to middle-aged entrants.
Colrain, Massachusetts
Prepared farm transfer plans between parent and daughter and son-in-law.
Deerfield, Massachusetts
Vegetable and value-added operation on 38 acres. Assessment and recommendations for transfer within family.
East Bridgewater, Massachusetts
80-acre farm in pumpkins and vegetables. Coaching within the family on transfer and agricultural development options.
Jefferson, New Hampshire
80-acre farm in hay and vegetables, family succession planning.
Colebrook, New Hampshire
350-acre former dairy now in hay and vegetables. Transfer to family trust.
Swanzey, New Hampshire
"Growing Our Own" agricultural education project for high school students. Strategic and financial planning for land acquisition and program development.
Monadnock Region Farm Opportunity and Legacy Project, New Hampshire
Broad–based project involving land trust, conservation district and university. Engaged farm seekers, farmers and non-farming landowners (including the county) to promote active agriculture.
Cheshire County Conservation District, New Hampshire
Initiating feasibility analysis for former county farm and jail as long term agricultural resource and adaptive reuse of jail, in part, as affordable farm worker housing.
Groton, Massachusetts
Christmas tree farm on 20 acres of 175 acre total to be placed in trust with residual funds from sale of development rights “endowing” long term farm viability for successor.
Cornucopia Project, Hancock, New Hampshire
A farm education project dedicated to teaching sustainable and nourishing life practices to children and young adults by connecting them to the land and community through organic gardening.
River Valley Farm, Lenox, Massachusetts
Farm transfer and financial planning with master sheep farmer, CSA operator, and farm store operator.
Teal Farm, Rochester, Massachusetts
Intergenerational succession planning on diversified operation.
The Herb Hill Micro-Dairy, Andover, Massachusetts
Advised farmer during grazing lease negotiation with conservation commission.
Washington, Maine
Consultation with private owner starting retirement vegetable operation.Rhode Island Consultation with land trust organization on ag-land program planning.
News and Updates:
We have redesigned our website. Take a look around at some of our new features and come back and visit us soon.
Erica Fearn (Connecticut)
and Mike Ghia (Vermont)
new Field Staff
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Monadnock Region Farm Project Underway read more »
"I have worked with Land For Good for several years and now am a Board member. They fill a very important niche for Agricultural and Working Lands in their planning for long term and short term planning for transition. They have been a very good vehicle to focus what sometimes appears to be a daunting process. I have and continue to recommend them for any and all aspects of inter generational planning and transition." - Michael Smolak
