Groundswell Center is a Regional Navigator for Farmland for a New Generation NY

Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming has been chosen to become a Regional Navigator for the Farmland for a New Generation New York! Farmland for a New Generation New York is a program coordinated by American Farmland Trust – in partnership with the State of New York, agricultural organizations, land trusts, and others – that helps farmers seeking land and landowners who want to keep their land in farming. As a Regional Navigator, we are training staff to be able to provide guidance and on-the-ground customized support for land seeking farmers and landowners in the Finger Lakes region of NY. Central to Groundswell’s mission is centering equity in our work to create a sustainable and just Finger Lakes food system, and as such, land access is a critical piece for us. Our role in this program is to help center the voices and needs of people of color and leveraging the resources of many land owners.

Additionally, the statewide website and support from American Farmland Trust staff includes:

• An online directory of available farm properties across New York and profiles of farmers in search of land
• Trainings, materials, and model documents to educate and support farmers and landowners with land transfer
• Experienced staff who offer a first point of contact to navigate key topics tied to accessing and transferring farmland
• A pathway to find and access more technical expertise available to support farmers and landowners

As the difficulty of inter-generational farming increases, the Regional Navigator program, will assist in the process of helping new farmers and young farmers acquire farmland, while helping retiring farmers and farmers who wish to sell their land to do so in a way that will ensure the land is conserved for farming.  

Please contact info@groundswellcenter.org with questions or to inquire as a landowner or land seeker and to be informed as this program developed. We’re still in the process of developing Groundswell’s resources and services related to this project. You can also visit the Farmland for a New Generation New York website for more information. There is a registry for those who want to find a farm, or find a farmer, or a page devoted to applicable resources.

Please stay tuned for more information, as we gather resources from the community.