Carrying Forward a Legacy of Land, Love, and Purpose

Meadow Farm Community Land Trust (MFCLT) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization created in 2013. The founder, Joanna Becker (pictured), had a vision to create a small farm community of rural housing for low- to moderate-income people dedicated to sustainable living and volunteerism. Under this designation, the land will be held in perpetuity for this purpose only.

When Joanna purchased the nearly 28 acres in 2010 from the Matilla family, the only development was the cleared land now known as the meadow. The Matilla family had logged and grown potatoes, oats, and hay on the land during the previous 100 years. The south boundary follows the north rim of the Pudding Creek basin for approximately a mile and lies about two miles east of the ocean, just north of Fort Bragg. The property has a long, narrow beginning and end, with the six-acre meadow filling out the middle section.

Joanna began by developing a deep well, a septic system, and a house that she started constructing with wood logged and milled from the land itself. Each fall, she spent time with her family in England and then traveled to Costa Rica, where she was developing another charitable property. Each spring, she returned to Meadow Farm to continue her work.

In March of 2014, Jesse Stafford and Sojourna Lee were invited to the land. They began expanding the small garden area and working on other projects. A board of directors formed to assist Joanna with the legal affairs of the CLT. In August 2015, Joanna transferred ownership of the land to the board to manage the future of Meadow Farm CLT and its organizational matters. Soon after, a new board of three was selected by Joanna.

On August 6, 2016, Joanna passed away suddenly in the emergency room at the local hospital. It was a shock, and a sad and tumultuous time followed. The new board of directors was left to piece together the nonprofit status and other crucial matters that Joanna had been developing.

Overcoming many challenges along the way, the board continued to work diligently to maintain the 501(c)(3) status and to honor Joanna’s vision as faithfully as possible.

In the years since, the board, residents, and caretakers such as Jesse and Sojourna have added their own ideas and abilities to help create a thriving community where people can live in a healthy environment and contribute to the well-being of the Mendocino Coast. The Board of Directors, also known as the Leadership Circle, now uses a form of consent-based governance called Sociocracy.

Meadow Farm continues to rely entirely on volunteers from the community to serve on the board. The Leadership Circle added a Treasurer position in 2023 and continues to seek other talented individuals to serve. Please visit the Board tab for more information about our current members and how you can get involved. We welcome both local and traveling volunteers. There are no paid positions. The board and residents look forward to the creation of new homes for future community members.

In 2020, the organization completed construction on Joanna’s community house and added 5,000 gallons of water storage along with a fire hose valve. Disaster preparation and sheltering programs are in development, and Meadow Farm is now recognized as a “Public Hub” through the Hubs and Routes program. Carbon sequestration and soil health have greatly improved as the farm completed its third year of the Healthy Soils Program, funded through a USDA grant.

As Meadow Farm enters its second decade, the board, residents, and Friends of Meadow Farm are deeply grateful for the strong foundation created by Joanna and by all who have given their heart and hands to carry forward her vision of a peaceful, sustainable, and cooperative future for our coastal community.