Transfer
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
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
Say Hay Farm
- Farmers: Chris Hay
- Method of Access: Lease
- Acreage: 50+ acres
- Location: Esparto, Yolo County, California
- Year Founded: 2010
- Affordability Tools: Long-term lease with option to purchase, long-term lease with right of first refusal
- Farm Operation: Organic vegetables, pastured eggs
Sunbow Farm
- Farmers: Yadira Ruiz and Nate Johnson (junior farmers); Harry MacCormack and Cheri Clark (senior farmers)
- Method of Access: Lease
- Acreage: 15 acres
- Location: Corvallis, Oregon
- Year Founded: 1972
- Affordability Tools: Lease, LLC, living trust
- Farm Operation: Vegetables
Wahl Ranch
- Farmers: Wahl siblings
- Method of Access: Percentage interest in partnership-owned land
- Acreage: 2,000 acres
- Location: Oregon
- Year Founded: 1874
- Affordability Tools: Rolling lease, legal multi-member partnership, federal conservation programs
- Farm Operation: Ranching
Windswept Farmstead Cooperative LLC and Dickey Hill Farm
- Farmers: Eric and Alison Rector (senior farmers); Noami Brautigam and James Gagne (junior farmers)
- Method of Access: Transitional ownership via LLC, lease
- Acreage: 18 acres
- Location: Monroe, Maine
- Year Founded: 1990
- Affordability Tools: LLC and lease
- Farm Operation: Dickey Hill Farm produces organic vegetables and grass-fed beef; Eric and Alison raise chicken and pork and produce artisanal cheese and yogurt
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.