Creating a Community Farm

Community farms are cornerstones of human energy and food production which cultivate healthy relationships, food, and a sense of purpose. They have been growing in popularity due to their ability to strengthen connections between neighborhoods, the environment, and local food systems. In this session we will explore effective strategies, available resources, and practical tools that you can use to create a community farm tailored to the unique needs and dynamics of your local area. Through a case study of a successful community farm, we will dive into real-world examples, discussing how to overcome common challenges and navigate the often-complex process of starting a community farm. Emphasis will be placed on how to establish and sustain your farm with minimal initial resources, ensuring long-term growth and success. Whether you’re curious, just starting, or looking to expand, this session will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to make a community farm a thriving hub of local collaboration and sustainability.

Attendees will learn how to cultivate support, gather resources, identify programming, and develop a collaborative high impact community farm system; how to design, build, manage, and evolve a community farm to introduce people to food production, cultivate experiential learning, and address local community needs; how to successfully grow vegetables utilizing a LEAN farm model while engaging hundreds of inexperienced volunteers in complex farm work; and how to build relationships & vibes on a farm to inspire happiness, togetherness, and an atmosphere that invites people to return and to become a part of the farm.