Project grants support programs that advance one or more of our strategic initiatives.
Protect open spaces
Farmers are natural stewards of the land. Working landscapes are places where we learn, recreate, and grow healthy communities.
Vineyards in the Finger Lakes Region of New York cultivate about 11,000 acres. Many are open for the public to enjoy and learn about local viticulture.
Conservation
Our top priority is to support projects that keep farms healthy and keep land in the hands of farmers. This includes working with land conservation and historic preservation agencies, programs that increase revenue for farms, and important technical and educational support to farmers. Grantees in this category include:
Belle Grove, VA
Berkshire Natural Resources Council, MA
Like many diversified farms, East Branch Farm in Durham, ME, raises a variety of animals for food: meat and layer chickens, goats, and bees, as well as hemp and maple syrup.
Food
When it comes to connecting with farms, one of the first things we think of is food. But many partners are necessary for farms to grow food, create value added products, distribute products to consumers, and access technical assistance programs. Grantees serving these community needs include:
Great Barrington Farmers Market, MA
Greenagers, Inc., MA
Roots Rising, MA
The Farm Program at YWCA Camp Hochelaga in South Hero, VT, teaches young women about the food and food waste cycle through growing, cooking, and composting food on campus.
Education
Cultivating an interest in the outdoors and growing food among youth means that future generations will be invested in the land and its health. Grantees who empower youth to grow and eat good food and to become land conservationists include:
Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum, VA
Tanglewood Nature Center & Museum, NY
Share active lifestyles
Whether you choose to live in a rural community, or you just love to visit from time to time, healthy foods, fresh air, and beautiful views fuel everyone’s outdoor adventures.
Winslow Therapeutic Riding Center in Warwick, NY, offers horsemanship lessons to veterans.
Wellbeing
Outdoor recreation is a integral to mental health and wellbeing. Activities like biking, hiking, running, kayaking, and more keep us physically fit, but they are also an important part of staying mentally and emotionally strong. Programs that pair open spaces and outdoor recreation or therapeutic programs like equine therapy help youth and adults develop coping and life skills. Grantees who fit into this category include:
The Common Wheel in Lancaster, PA, offers youth bike programs and advocates for a bike-friendly Lancaster.
Community
Ensuring space for outdoor recreation in every community is not an easy job. Many agencies devote time and resources to giving their communities access to safe and affordable outdoor activities by overcoming challenges like low population density and difficulty accessing community assets, or already crowded infrastructure that makes adding bike lanes or walking paths difficult. Grantees who fit into this category include:
Railroad Street Youth Project, MA
The Common Wheel, PA
Grow healthy futures
Keep land open for the next generation.
Young athletes learning to love the outdoors skiing on private farmland made publicly accessible by the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Craftsbury, VT.
Sports & Recreation
Farm Community Fund is founded on the belief that competitive sports are more fun with with a view. We support programs that connect youth and adults to natural open spaces through outdoor sports and recreational activities. Grantees who fit into this category include:
Four Towns Recreation Center, NY
Roots Rising empowers young people in Pittsfield, MA, with farming and business skills through the youth-run farmers market.
The next generation
To keep working landscapes open and farms viable, we have to provide the next generation with the skills and knowledge they need. Whether they want to grow food, run a business, or work in an industry that conserves land or promotes healthy, active lifestyles, programs that empower youth are critical. Grantees that fit into this category include:
Lancaster County Junior Holstein Association, PA
Roots Rising, MA
Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, VT