Land Stewardship Project
The Land Stewardship Project is reclaiming food and farming from corporate control and returning it to people who nourish land and community. Through our nationally recognized Farm Beginnings program, we build emerging farmers’ business skills alongside training in regenerative agriculture to restore soil health and reduce climate impacts. Our graduates are nourishing their communities, protecting the environment, and building thriving, values-driven farm businesses.
The Land Stewardship Project was founded in 1982 to foster an ethic of stewardship for farmland, promote sustainable agriculture, and build healthy communities. We work alongside the people who grow our food to confront industrial agriculture and factory farming, and to advance humane, regenerative practices. By organizing across rural and urban divides, we strengthen connections between farmers and consumers so more people can access healthy, local food grown in ways that care for the land.
The Land Stewardship Project supports local food systems grounded in care for land, climate, and community. Our Farm Beginnings program helps launch sustainable farms across Minnesota. This evidence-based, farmer-led training equips beginning farmers with tools to grow healthy food while restoring soil, reducing synthetic inputs, and building thriving businesses. We uplift community leadership and invest in small- and mid-sized farms to create a more just and resilient food and farming future.
Farm Beginnings helps new farmers launch environmentally wise, financially sustainable farm businesses. The yearlong course helps emerging farmers clarify their vision and build the skills and confidence to bring it to life. Topics include land access, regenerative farming, business planning, and financial management. Your support would help the Land Stewardship Project engage 155 beginning farmers through Farm Beginnings and other farmer-led workshops for beginning farmers.
The Land Stewardship Project prioritizes justice and equity in all our work. At least 20% of Farm Beginnings participants are people of color, and we continue to grow that number through partnered outreach and language-access initiatives. In addition, we are proud to share community with Eastside Co-op. More than 500 of our members live in your priority service areas, and many of our farming members and Farm Beginnings graduates grow food sold on your shelves.