All Case Studies
Brooklyn Grange
- Farmers: Ben Flanner, Anastasia Cole Pakias, Gwen Schantz, and colleagues
- Method of Access: Lease
- Acreage: 5.6 acres on 3 rooftops
- Location: Brooklyn and Queens, New York
- Year Founded: 2010
- Affordability Tools: Lease
- Farm Operation: Diversified vegetables, agritourism (dinners, weddings, workshops, farm tours), landscaping services
Caretaker Farm
- Farmers: Bridget Spann and Don Zasada (junior farmers); Sam and Elizabeth Smith (senior farmers)
- Method of Access: Bridget and Don own the farmhouse and structures and rent the farmland via a ground lease
- Acreage: 35 acres
- Location: Berkshires, Massachusetts
- Year Founded: 2006 (Don and Bridget's operation); 1991 (Sam and Elizabeth's CSA); 1969 (Sam and Elizabeth's operation)
- Affordability Tools: Ground lease, conservation easement, community fundraising, land trust
- Farm Operation: Diversified animal and vegetable operation with 200 varieties of 40 different crops every season, plus chickens and pigs
Diggers’ Mirth
- Farmers: Hilary Martin, Dylan Zeitlyn, Elango Dev, Sophia Zowat
- Method of Access: Lease
- Acreage: 11 acres
- Location: Burlington, Vermont
- Year Founded: 1992
- Affordability Tools: Farm incubator, collaborative farming, LLC
- Farm Operation: Vegetables and salad greens
Elmer Farm
- Farmers: Spencer and Jennifer Blackwell
- Method of Access: Ownership
- Acreage: 89 acres
- Location: Middlebury, VT
- Year Founded: 2006
- Affordability Tools: Conservation easement, OPAV, land trust
- Farm Operation: Vegetables and grains
Full and By Farm
- Farmers: James Graves and Sara Kurak
- Method of Access: Ownership
- Acreage: 100 acres
- Location: Essex, NY
- Year Founded: 2010
- Affordability Tools: Conservation easement, land trust
- Farm Operation: Vegetables, meat, eggs
Greenfield Berry Farm
- Farmers: Daniel and Michele Greenfield
- Method of Access: Lease, public lands
- Acreage: 20 acres
- Location: Cuyahoga, OH
- Year Founded: 2006
- Affordability Tools: Leasing public lands
- Farm Operation: Berries
Growing Veterans
- Farmers: Chris Wolf is the Farm Manager and oversees hundreds of veterans and volunteers
- Method of Access: Lease with option to purchase
- Acreage: 3 - 40 acres - there are three farms at different locations: Whatcom County Farm, Skagit County Farm, and Auburn Farm
- Location: Washington State
- Year Founded: 2012
- Affordability Tools: Nonprofit status, short-term lease with option to purchase, "pay with product" rent
- Farm Operation: Berries, vegetables
Higher Ground Rooftop Farm
- Farmers: John Stoddard
- Method of Access: Lease
- Acreage: 1.3 acres
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts
- Year Founded: 2013
- Affordability Tools: Urban rooftop farming, lease, fundraising donations
- Farm Operation: Produce, herbs
Hillen Homestead
- Farmers: Maya Kosok
- Method of Access: License, lease pending (rolling lease)
- Acreage: Two lots, about 1/4 acre combined
- Location: Baltimore, Maryland
- Year Founded: 2013
- Affordability Tools: Use of public land
- Farm Operation: Flowers
Hmong American Farmers Association
- Farmers: HAFA members, who typically have over 20 years of experience growing on less than 10 acres of land
- Method of Access: Long-term lease with option to buy
- Acreage: 155 acres
- Location: Vermillion Township, Minnesota
- Year Founded: 2013 (farm), 2011 (HAFA)
- Affordability Tools: Research and incubator farm, conservation easement
- Farm Operation: Vegetables and flowers
The Center for Agriculture and Food Systems is an initiative of Vermont Law School, and this toolkit provides general legal information for educational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute, and should not be relied upon, for legal advice. Each farmer’s circumstances are unique, state laws vary, and the information contained herein is specific to the time of publication. Accordingly, for legal advice, please consult an attorney licensed in your state.