About Us

Community Farm Land Trust (CFLT) is a membership-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving farmland and to keeping it farmed forever.  Based in Olympia, WA, it focuses on areas south of Puget Sound. The organization consists of a working Board of Directors, three part-time employees, volunteers, and a general community membership who contribute their support, commitment, skills, and experience. 
We recognize a history of stolen land, displacement, exclusion, and inequity in agriculture. We welcome a diversity of people to be involved as we work toward more equity in farming locally. ​

Mission

Promoting vibrant local food and farming systems through community supported farmland preservation strategies, educational outreach, and partnerships that increase opportunities for farms and farmers to flourish.

Our Vison 

Abundant, productive, sustainable local farmland providing healthy food for our community and contributing to a vibrant, viable farm economy. We work to:
  • Permanently protect farmland and to provide affordable land security for farmers.
  • Assure that farmland remains farmed and continues to support a viable agricultural economy that provides for local food security
  • Build a community that appreciates and supports locally produced food, and where farms can provide a good economic return to those who work the land.

Our Priorities

To permanently preserve working farmland.

To grow CFLT with the funding and staffing necessary to ensure its own sustainability as an organization committed to it's long term stewardship responsibilities.

To contribute to the economic viability of new and current farmers.

To build community support, among the public and among other organizations, for permanently preserving working farms.
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To educate the public about the importance of local farmland.

Our Structure 

We are a nonprofit organization consisting of:

 Local farmers concerned about the economic viability of small-scale, locally-marketed agriculture.

 Agriculture preservation advocates concerned about the loss of farms, farmland, and a farm economy in our region.

Active citizens concerned about sustainable land use planning and resource conservation.
As a community land trust, we are dedicated not only to the preservation of land, but also to ensuring its permanent affordability, stewardship, and agricultural production. As a member-based organization, our success depends on the support of people who are committed to the future of agriculture in the South Sound.

Our Value Statements


We believe in:
Perpetuity:   We believe that sustainable farming practices support people, the local economy, soil health now and for future generations and benefits all creatures. We pledge ourselves to acquire or preserve farmland for economic and social benefits to the community. 
 
Community:  We believe in working collaboratively with farm owners seeking to leave their farm as a working farm legacy and with farmers who seek affordable access to land. We also believe that:
  • The community is seeking a deeper connection to local farmers. 
  • Our organization can facilitate that connection.
  • We can help the community work to preserve some of our rich farmland for affordable long-term lease to future generations of farmers. 
We value the opportunity to work in partnership with like-minded organizations to strengthen the results of our common work toward a more sustainable future.

Equity:   We are committed to equity of access to farmland by working to overcome the affordability barrier that some farmers face as they reach for secure land tenure. The Community Land Trust model* allows farmers to develop financial equity in farm buildings and the right to lease land for farming. We believe in promoting land security, affordability, and the opportunity to build farm assets for farmers, regardless of social status.  

​Farming:  We believe in the viability of local small scale farms and that when farmers follow best farming practices their work benefits not only their farm family but the community. The community gains from a strong local agricultural economy and a healthier environment.
Creativity:  We are committed to the creative/innovative approach of the shared equity community/private-owner land tenure strategy of the community land trust model for making land affordable and farmed, forever. We believe the model’s innovative strategies keep our community’s farming heritage and quality of life.  We willingly take on the challenging decisions ahead of us with a creative and innovative spirit. ​​