White River Land Collaborative

The White River Land Collaborative is a farmer-led, community-driven initiative to increase land access and farm viability.

Mission

To build a resilient land-based economy rooted in equitable land access, collaborative relationships, and community involvement.

Our primary partners are the Vermont Land Trust and the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law School. Our advisory board members are from visionary local and statewide organizations including Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, Vermont Farm to Plate, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, Vermont Council on Rural Development, Preservation Trust of Vermont, White River Partnership, and Intervale Center.

 "This project will serve as a model throughout the state as Vermonters in every community work to preserve their working landscape, support the next generation of farmers, increase local food availability and accessibility, and strengthen community relationships. We are excited to partner with the White River Land Collaborative to make this a reality."

– Nick Richardson, Executive Director, Vermont Land Trust

The White River Land Collaborative recognizes the need for a fundamental shift in our relationships with the land and each other: from extractive and exploitative to restorative and nurturing. Farms are natural centers for this environmental and societal change.

The Collaborative is implementing an innovative model of community-based land ownership to support farmers in accessing agricultural land. We are a women-led collaborative of farmers and community members working to purchase an iconic former dairy farm to transform it into a collaborative farm supporting multiple land stewards and local business owners. Community ownership keeps land available and affordable for future generations.


Our Home

Just two miles down the road from the Tunbridge World’s Fair, the historic Holstein Stock Farm is a beautiful 200-acre property in the heart of the First Branch Valley, including 50 acres of conserved permanent pasture on prime agricultural soils along the First Branch River and 140 acres of forest land. Cross the 1879 Howe Covered Bridge off VT-110 and there is the historic farmhouse and iconic gambrel-roofed haybarn.

This land is especially important because it includes flat, river bottom land designated by the state as prime agricultural soils and soils of statewide significance.

“This project is visionary: it provides fair compensation for outgoing farmers and an equitable lease arrangement for incoming farmers, integrates renewable energy generation, utilizes the land in a regenerative and sustainable way, and finally, offers a way for the community to steward a piece of land that would otherwise be privatized and developed."

– Grace Oedel, Executive Director, Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont

As its first project, the White River Land Collaborative is transforming a 200-acre former organic dairy farm into a community hub that will be home to multiple land-based enterprises, and skills and resource sharing for local farmers, and will cultivate and celebrate our community’s connection with place.

We are creating and supporting ecosystems that build healthy soils and sequester carbon. We are combining forest management with grazing livestock and other agricultural activities to further combat climate change.


Over the next two years we will be creating legal structures to hold the land and raising the money to purchase it from Vermont Land Trust. At the same time, we’ll be inviting farmers and business owners to help us envision the best use of the land and buildings. We are:

  • Reducing barriers to farm and land access
  • Fostering and supporting ecological stewardship
  • Collaborating with local Abenaki land stewards
  • Inspiring more community-based ownership/stewardship models in VT and beyond

“This project is an exciting opportunity to preserve an iconic farmstead and cultural landscape, maintain access to working lands, and generate new community-driven uses and partnerships. The Holstein Stock Farm is a keystone property in the valley and this collaboration will help protect the essential character of Tunbridge and Vermont.” 

– Jenna Lapachinski, Tunbridge Resident and Preservation Trust of Vermont

An Inspiring Model of Land Ownership

By supporting new and retiring farmers, and by providing for community-ownership of the land, the White River Land Collaborative is an inspiring model for towns throughout Vermont. 

The project builds on previous community land trust models that were created to hold farmland collaboratively. As we create our structures for community ownership, we are taking inspiration from initiatives that include New Communities in Albany, GA and Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom Farm Cooperative in Sunflower County, MS, both of which were created during the civil rights movement as a way to secure Black-owned land.

Collaborative Partner and Anchor Tenant: Shona Sanford-Long, Flying Dog Farm

Shona Sanford-Long grew up a few miles from the Holstein Stock Farm, on her parents’ diversified organic farm, Luna Bleu. After working on other farms around the country, Shona returned to manage Luna Bleu’s organic livestock. Over the last year she has been building Flying Dog Farm, her grass-based, regenerative, organic livestock business. The White River Land Collaborative gives Shona secure  access to a larger land base for her farm, and the chance to stay in her community and expand her business.

“When I found out this farm was for sale, my first reaction was sadness–it meant another farmer we knew was going out of business. I also realized this farm could be exactly what I need to keep building my farm business in my own community. But trying to buy it on my own would lead me to debt and failure. The model that we are building as White River Land Collaborative will give me the opportunity to be a steward of this important land, working in collaboration with others, and investing in regenerative farming practices while keeping the food I produce accessible to my community.”

– Shona Shona Sanford-Long, Flying Dog Farm

Join us in this transformative work.

Together we can keep this iconic farm as an active agricultural center and support an innovative model for land access and farm viability. Join us in supporting a community-owned farm of land-based entrepreneurs.

Donations can be sent to: The White River Land Collaborative, PO Box 357, South Royalton, VT, 05068, with checks made out to White River Land Collaborative.

Donations are fully tax-deductible as this is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

For questions and additional information, please contact the team at info@whiteriverlandcollaborative.com


Advisory Board:

Emily Boles, Abenaki Adviser, Student of Environmental Science Erin Buckwalter, Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont Jake Claro, Farm to Plate/Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund Brian Lowe, Vermont Council on Rural Development Maggie Donin, Vermont Land Trust Donna Foster, Vermont Land Trust Jenn Hayslett, Jenn Hayslett Coaching & Consulting Nancy LaRowe, Vital Communities Jenna Lapachinski, Preservation Trust of Vermont Grace Oedel, Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont Rudi Ruddell, White River Partnership Sam Smith, Intervale Center

Community Project Team:

Shona Sanford-Long, Flying Dog Farm Suzanne Long, Luna Bleu Farm Sarah Danly Fran Miller, Esq. Shelby Kalm