The Local Food Economy Lab’s Land Tenure & Stewardship Initiative supports Black, Indigenous, and farmers of color with securing equitable land tenure, building a solidarity food economy rooted in cooperation and community, and honoring ecological, cultural, and spiritual stewardship of lands.

We center our work around the following strategies:

• Developing and negotiating equitable land leases and deed transfers

• Supporting the creation of community agricultural land trusts and commons

• Providing holistic technical assistance for land-based projects and collective governance

• Expanding access to supportive and debt-free capital for land stewardship 

• Offering resources for ecological, cultural, and spiritual land stewardship      

We partner with others, and lean into this work with humility and integrity, acknowledging the complex relations between land and ownership for both Tribal Nations and communities of color. We uplift self-determination and center the voices, experiences, and leadership of Black, Indigenous, and farmers of color, while standing in solidarity with the broader movement for land justice. 

If you’re a farmer and looking for support with land lease negotiations or land purchase, or have any other questions, please reach out to our team.

Connie Winterstein
Land Tenure & Stewardship Director 
connie@sdfsa.org

Sona Desai
Co-Executive Director
sona@sdfsa.org