Peri-Urban Farm Startup & Expansion
Urban areas are often a counterintuitive wellspring of would-be farmers. whether they’re Misfit for urban-livelihoods, displaced immigrant farmers seeking opportunity in a familiar livelihood, or mission-driven to provide Food for thier urban-based communities, Land and capital access is one of the most common and formidable barriers to peri-urban farm startups and expansions. peri-urban farming areas offer acreages large enough to scale thier production, social proximity to these farmers’ existing Urban communities, and access to direct-to-consumer and high-value urban food markets that are often imperative to thier economic sustainability. Nonetheless, these peri-urban farmers face land prices set at prohibitively high market rates priced for residential subdivisions or exurban estates.
Land Access INFORMATION & Resources
Traditional Purchase: Traditional land purchase is the most straightforward and secure means to peri-urban farmland access and tenure, but is often economically out-of reach in peri-urban areas. Real estate agents also rarely understand what peri-urban farmers are looking for unless they are familiar with farming. Peri-urban farmers may be eligible for USDA-FSA low interest loans for farmland, but these loans programs are structured around larger, commodity scale farm models and can be difficult to navigate a peri-urban farm purchase without help from an understanding service provider. The legal and bureaucratic parts of farm purchase and government assistance programs can also be difficult to navigate, for individuals that have never had exposure to any form of real estate purchase; this can be be particularly pronounced for recent immigrants and/or individuals from BIPOC communities. Farm lending organizations in certain areas are starting to better understand the needs of peri-urban farms and beginning farmers and lending organizations with innovative lending models focused on beginning farmers are also beginning to emerge.
Private lease: LEasing from private landowners is often one of the most affordable ways to LAND peri-urban farmland ACCESS, but is rarely straightforward and may not include housing on site or nearby. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR PERI-URBAN Landowners TO WANT THIER LAND FARMED FOR REASONS RELATED TO PERSONAL VALUES AND/or tax reduction incentives, but non-farmer peri-urban landowners often do not understand the needs of a farmer leasee. Farmland-seekers are often tasked with word-of-mouth networking through farmer-focused organizations and events to find leads on Leasing opportunities, but in some regions Explicit Land-linking programs provide helpful platforms connecting landowners with land-seekers. After farm startup and becoming established within a farm community, Private lease is also a common means to develop production capacity through leasing farmland from other peri-urban farmers that may be downscaling but want to keep the land farmed. Check out land for good’s toolbox for for leasing farmland.
Hybrid purchase/lease (”Lease-to-own”) may be an option in some leasing situations but is highly dependent on the individual relationship that the leasee develops with the landowner. Check out Land for Good’s Lease-to-Own Strategy guide.
Farm incubators run by publicly-funded organizations or non-profit NGO’s are also becoming increasingly common in peri-urban areas, and often include explicit equity missions focused on land access for beginner farmers from communities that have historically faced systemic discrimination. incubators provide affordable leases to thier farmland, and also often strive to assist with access to shared farm equipment, infrastructure, and education, and facilitate opportunity for farmer-to-farmer cooperation and learning. Check out this FIELD Network Incubator and Apprenticeship Project to find incubators near you.
Cooperative purchase allows farmers to distribute costs which can make it easier for all stakeholders to access tools and resources they otherwise would not have the funds to access. Check out the National Young Farmers Coalition Accessing Farmland Together: A Decision Tool for Farmers to see if this option is the best fit for you.
Community-supported purchase: The Guide to Financing a Community Supported Farm by the University of Vermont Extension details options and considerations for unconventional financing like community supported purchasing.
Public land lease can happen at the federal, state, county, or municipal level. Whichever governing body owns the most land in your state will determine whom will have the largest inventory of public land leases. Contact your State Land Board to find out more about your state and its available land.
Ground lease: Non profits organizations or land trusts can own title to land and lease the ground out to farmer which gives the farmer ownership of the infrastructure on the property but not the land..
Land trust- TDR Transfer of Development Rights (TDR)
Land Trust-PDR Purchase of Development Rights (PDR)
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American Farmland Trust (National)
AFT's Farmland Information Center has compiled step by step resources for farmers and ranchers looking for land, protecting land, enhancing capital, and increasing production capacity. From getting started to preserving land, they provide information, checklists, worksheets, and contacts to support you along the way.
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National Young Farmers Coalition (National)
The National Young Farmers Coalition has a plethora of resources for farmers and ranchers including local resources which can be found through NYFC local chapters. Check out their business planning tools, land access calculator and much more!
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Land for Good (New England)
Land for Good’s mission is to ensure the future of farming in New England by putting more farmers more securely on more land. They provide support and guidance to farmers, landowners and communities navigating land access, tenure and transfer.
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Black Farmers Collective (Washington/Oregon)
The Black Farmers Collective mission is to build a Black-led food system by developing a cooperative network of food system actors, acquiring and stewarding land, facilitating food system education, and creating space for Black liberation in healing and joy.
https://www.blackfarmerscollective.com/
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SAAFRON (Southeast USA)
SAAFON farms include programs and activities dedicated to: Farmer cooperatives / collectives / associations / partnerships, agritourism, land-based healing services, spirit – based community development, affordable housing, employment for formerly incarcerated and others facing barriers to jobs, transitions programming for young women aging out foster care, value added product development and sales, and much more…
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Pacific Northwest Direct Farm Marketing Association (PNW)
The Pacific Northwest Direct Farm Marketing Association is a nonprofit organization made up of a group of farmers who sell their produce, and wares, direct to the consumer, and wholesale to each other. This organization exists to help each other be more effective farmers, retailers, and business people. We help each other deal with the challenges that arise from family issues, government regulations, and the ever-changing market environment.
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Renewing the Countryside (Minnesota)
Renewing the Countryside strengthens rural areas by championing and supporting rural communities, farmers, artists, entrepreneurs, educators, activists and other people who are renewing the countryside through sustainable and innovative initiatives, businesses, and projects. We do this by sharing stories of rural renewal, building awareness and support for sustainable endeavors, connecting people interested in sustainable rural development to each other, providing practical assistance and networking opportunities for those working to improve rural America, and fostering connections between urban and rural people.
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Land Stewardship Project (Minnesota)
The Land Stewardship Project works on various fronts to ensure future generations of stewardship-minded farmers are successfully established on the land and in our communities. Whether you are dreaming of farming, in the process of establishing your own farm business, or have 10 years under your belt, LSP is here to support you and your farm.
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EcoTrust (Oregon)
EcoTrust focuses on supporting connections and shared learning among a growing network of food system leaders committed to transformation and healing—from urban and rural producers to school nutrition service staff; encouraging climate-smart land management through education and transitioning ownership to Black, Indigenous, and people of color producers; and leveraging existing food system infrastructure at the Redd on Salmon Street to catalyze and equip this shift.
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Sustainable Connections (Washington)
The Food & Farming Program is helping to create a vibrant local food economy. We support local farmers, connect food buyers to local farms and artisans, and encourage our community to always Eat Local First! We excel in farmer training and run a farmer incubator program.
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Northwest Agriculture Business Center (Washington)
Established in 2006, Northwest Agriculture Business Center (NABC) provides northwest Washington farmers with the skills and the resources required to profitably and efficiently supply their products to consumers, retailers, wholesalers, foodservice operators and food manufacturers. Its main office is located in Mt Vernon in the heart of Washington’s Skagit Valley farm region. https://www.agbizcenter.org/
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Black Food Sovereignty Coalition
The Black Food Sovereignty Coalition (BFSC) serves as a collaboration hub for Black and Brown communities to confront the systemic barriers that make food, place and economic opportunities inaccessible to us. BFSC is focused on meeting these barriers with creative, innovative, and sustainable solutions. Built on a decade of work of founding members of the Black Food Sovereignty Council and other Black-identified leaders and stakeholders in the Pacific Northwest, the BFSC mission is to ignite Black and brown communities to participate as owners and movement leaders within food systems, placemaking, and economic development. https://blackfoodnw.org/
Accessing Capital and Resources
So you found land, now what? Access to capital is likely the next hurdle. Consider the following when searching for resources to capital and check out the resources below!
Innovative lenders
USDA Loans
Farm Credit Agencies
Capacity enhancement grants or programs
Collective ownership of capital equipment
CSA investment model
Private investors
Helpful Tools to Start Your Journey
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Farmland Information Center - Find Farmland
Get started with the Farmland Information Center’s Find Farmland guidebook full of resources like checklist, videos and worksheets to support you along the way.
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FSA Offices - Find Capital
Your local FSA office can assist you in findings the right programs, loans, or grants needed to successfully start and expand your farm business. Try using their Farm Loan Discover Tool https://www.farmers.gov/loans/farm-loan-discovery-tool
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USDA - Finding Land and Capital
Learn more about your options for finding land and capital when starting out. On this page you’ll find more information on how to purchase land, lease land, find capital, find loans, and work with the Small Business Administration.