2021 Report & Financials
LETTER FROM OUR CFLT BOARD CHAIR
To Our Community of Friends and Supporters,
The Community Farm Land Trust reaches a milestone this year, it will celebrate its 25th anniversary! WOW! Since its beginnings, community members have sensed the intrinsic value of local farms and farmers. The food, the stewardship of the land, the jobs and habitat that farms provide - - all are invaluable. This sense brought community people together back in 1997 to save farmland. They went on to create the Trust and today that energy keeps fueling the efforts of this organization.
The talented staff of the organization are also drawn to the Trust’s mission. It has been my privilege to work with such a motivated and professional group. They each bring their own set of talents and together are the creators and engine of the annual Fresh from the Farm Guide. Their vision has led to an outstanding publication that I am proud to be able to share with you. Look at all the wonderful pictures inside! It is inspiring.
Thank you to all the farmers who shared pictures and the volunteers who helped in creating the Guide. This informative and picture-filled publication will take you on a visual and thoughtful journey as you read the stories. You will think about all the tasty local food, flowers, and more that await you this growing season. It is an inspiring publication that we are very proud of. It has no match. You will want to read it over and over. Keep it handy throughout the summer to plan excursions. The Guide would not be freely available without the financial support of donors. Please thank them when you see them. This publication is part of an effort by the Trust to publicize and hence support local farmers. Their job is not an easy one but one I dare say they love doing. When you buy directly from one of these farmers you help to keep them viable and hence help to preserve local farms. So get out in the fresh air and visit a farmers market or farm this year!
With gratitude,
Marcie Cleaver, Community Farm Land Trust Board Chair
CFLT RETURNS TO BOARD GOVERNANCE
At a day-long retreat in January the Board approved a return to the Land Trust’s original vision for a community and membership-based organization governed by a Board of Directors and working Board Committees: 1) Farmland Preservation; 2) Membership, Outreach, and Development; 3) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; 4) Budgets and Finance. Going forward the work of the Committees will be supported by three continuing and very capable staff people: Jeanine Toth, Natalie Martzolf, and Carol Linnebur. Natalie will assume additional duties as Office Coordinator. CFLT is going to need a larger Board to meet the challenges of its responsibilities. Anyone who shares our passion for the preservation of local working farms and for locally produced food should explore our website Communityfarmlandtrust.org and consider joining our Board. We also welcome people who share our interests, but cannot make the time commitment required by a full Board position. There are volunteer openings on all of our working committees.
DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND EQUITY
In 2019, CFLT received a generous donation from the Tides Foundation to provide substantial funding for a property dedicated to BIPOC farming. Finding available farmland is always a slow process and one that often requires a certain amount of luck. So far CFLT has not been successful in its search. At its recent Retreat, the Board expressed new resolve to bring about the reality of this opportunity. There was a decision to seek out consultants that have had experience with other Land Trusts (or other entities) who have successfully addressed the inequities of farmland ownership and who might help us in this process. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEI) has been charged with exploring this new direction. In addition, the Farmland Preservation Committee is in the process of creating a larger network of people in the agricultural community to work with us in the search for a future BIPOC farm.
FINANCIAL REPORT
NOTES: Unrestricted donor contributions in 2021 allowed CFLT to maintain enough cash flow to cover operating costs for ten months forward. Farm properties are recorded at the lower of cost or market value.
CFLT used Restricted Acquisition funds received in prior years to pay for the difference between Grant money received for our new farm in 2021 and the gross acquisition cost.
Often, in non-profit accounting, if the non-profit uses previous years' received Restricted funds, then the non-profit will show a cash flow loss upon their use.
CFLT used Restricted Acquisition funds received in prior years to pay for the difference between Grant money received for our new farm in 2021 and the gross acquisition cost.
Often, in non-profit accounting, if the non-profit uses previous years' received Restricted funds, then the non-profit will show a cash flow loss upon their use.
