By Krisztian Varsa
Since launching in 2021, the Georgia Farms Fund has successfully secured more than 1,000 acres of farmland across 10 farms in Georgia, all within 60 miles of Atlanta . This significant accomplishment has directly supported more than 20 small farm business owners, marking a significant contribution to the local agricultural community. In this short time, the Farms Fund has proven to be both essential and effective in transitioning farmland to next-generation farm businesses and safeguarding critical farmland from subdivision and development threats.
The Conservation Fund’s latest farm acquisition in Chattahoochee Hills pushes the total acreage conserved over the 1,000-acre milestone and is a great example of all that the Farms Fund has to offer to farmers and the community. Many Fold Farm had been home to a Certified Organic sheep and cheese farm. Over the past decade, the farm has undergone extensive soil regeneration efforts, increasing ecological functions, and enhancing the land for the next generation of farmers. Along with cropland, pastures and room to expand for our next two farm owners, the 154-acre property also includes forests and wildlife habitat.
This work aligns with The Conservation Fund’s role as a member of the Georgia ACRE Collective, a coalition including The Common Market Southeast, Health Care Without Harm, Georgia Organics, The Turner Environmental Law Clinic at Emory University, Alliance for a Healthier Generation, and funding from the Rockefeller Foundation. By prioritizing Agriculture, Community, Resilience & Equity, ACRE facilitates connections between BIPOC farm businesses and the institutional buyers who share similar values, fostering a more equitable and sustainable food system.
Thanks to the success of the Farms Fund in Atlanta, the Farms Fund has since expanded to Chicago and Charlotte, with additional communities on the horizon. For information on the Farms Fund, and our Many…
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