Commons Cohort Program (Farmer Land Access)

Commons Cohort Program

Funder: Sharing Our Roots (MN, US)

Overview: An innovative land access solution providing long-term farmland agreements for emerging farmers. Sharing Our Roots Farm operates as a farmland commons stewarded by the community, offering immigrant, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and emerging farmers access to shared farming infrastructure, equipment, and knowledge.

Geographic Scope

• Northfield, Minnesota
• Serves Dakota and Rice Counties
• Farmland capacity: 0.25-1.5 acres per crop farmer (subject to availability)

Eligibility

• Immigrant farmers
• BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) farmers
• LGBTQ+ farmers
• Emerging/new farmers

Program Focus

• Foster growth of new farm operations
• Improve food sovereignty
• Model coexistence of conservation and agriculture
• Provide commons-based farming approach

Shared Resources Provided

• Infrastructure: Barns, pack shed, irrigation systems
• Equipment: Tools, tractors, shared machinery
• Knowledge: Farming practices and collaborative learning
• Governance: Communal decision-making on expectations, priorities, and procedures

Program Structure

• Land agreements begin January (following November application deadline)
• Limited farmland availability each season
• Land allocation based on:
- Current availability - Alignment with community needs - Discretion of Sharing Our Roots team - Farm infrastructure capacity

Certification Requirements

• Certified organic farm
• All inputs (seeds, fertilizers, compost) must be organic

What They Don't Fund

• Sharing Our Roots Farm is NOT a formal farmer training program
• For those unable to be accommodated, they provide referrals to regional partners and training resources

Contact Information

• Address: 4905 315th St. W, Northfield, MN 55057
• Farm Phone: (507) 323-5587
• Office Phone: (507) 323-5588
• Email: info@sharing-our-roots.org
• Farmer Cohort Facilitator: Lucia Possehl (lucia@sharing-our-roots.org)

Organization Background

• 501(c)3 non-profit
• Serves 200+ immigrant, BIPOC, & LGBTQ+ farmers and gardeners
• Community-supported through donations
• Mission to heal lands and prepare emerging farmers