What the RFP??
The biggest complaint we hear in our farming community is lack of land accessibility. (Which comes with extra complications and trauma for Black and Indigenous Farmers. Check out the “WHY NEFOC?” here for more details).
However, one way the food system is changing is with conservation and cooperative organizations -check out Essex Greenbelt or Monadnock Agricultural Center- who purchase land with grant and public funded money and then lease said land in long term land agreements with farmers (think 30, 50, or even 99 years!)
Knowing we can farm on a specific parcel of land for the entirety or our career is a full on game changer. Closed circuit soil regeneration, true infrastructure, a consistent market, and a supporting community can become real possibilities and are part of the basic needs of a thriving farm.
That’s where Land RFP’s (Request For Proposals) come into play. The breakdown of the process goes like this:
Get connected! RFP’s are not well advertised. If you aren’t already connected to your local land link or conservation organizations, you’ll probably miss them. In our story, the RFP was advertised for 6 months before we even saw it! And we weren’t the only ones who applied during the LAST week of the deadline!)
All of your ducks need to be in somewhat of a row 🦆. The RFP will ask questions about your farm vision, community engagement, market analysis, past business records, and financial projections. Start creating a basic business plan now just in case you see an RFP at the last minute. Check out The Carrot Project for easy to navigate business plan templates and resources.
Patience must be a virtue! As with all non-profits, there is a process that needs to happen before any decisions are made. Proposals usually go through a committee review first, then a second leadership review, then a final board review, and finally awarded contracts. Right now we are in month 3 of our wait to hear about 1st round qualifications.
Figure out your Finances. Just because the land lease is long term and typically set at a low fixed rate fee, start-up and capital expenses are a must for new farms. The USDA and FarmStart have resources for new loan applicants.
It may sound daunting but if you are a new farmer, get acquainted with this process as it may be your best path to land access.
Get growing!