2010 Annual Report for CNE10-082
Farm and Farmland Acquisition: A Curriculum for Farmers and Communities
Summary
This project focuses on land acquisition for beginning farmers. Access to land is one of the biggest challenges facing new farmers in New England. We are developing a comprehensive online curriculum on land acquisition. It is organized by topics such as financial readiness, leasing and leases, ownership, landlord and landowner relationships and community partners. Each topic has information, stories, worksheets and personal assessment forms. Those who work through the curriculum will develop a land acquisition plan. It will be made available for integration or add-on to educational materials of other groups that work with beginning farmers.
Objectives/Performance Targets
- Design an effective online educational curriculum
Pilot test the curriculum with beginning farmers
Engage community leaders in curriculum development
Have the curriculum used by other groups that teach and work with beginning farmers
Accomplishments/Milestones
- Researched existing information about land acquisition
Consulted with adult education curriculum specialist
Designed web-based, interactive format
Writing curriculum sections, adding links, designing tools
Made initial contact with groups including farm link programs, MOFGA, NESFI, NESFP, and FSA’s beginning borrower training
Scheduled pilot farmer sessions to test and get input into the curriculum. One pilot group is in Vermont, and the other is in Connecticut
Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes
It is still too early in our project to discuss impacts and outcomes. Nonetheless, we believe we have designed materials that do not exist anywhere else, and for which there is significant demand.
Collaborators:
co-director
Land For Good
29 Center Street
Keene, NH 03431
Office Phone: 6032092000