The Purpose of Meadow Farm Community Land Trust
Meadow Farm Community Land Trust (MFCLT) exists to cultivate a thriving, resilient community rooted in sustainability, cooperation, and care for the Earth. Through shared land stewardship, affordable housing, ecological education, and mutual aid, we work toward a future where people and nature flourish together.
Our practices emphasize living lightly on the land through sustainable agriculture, community collaboration, and a plant-based approach that supports both human and environmental health.
What We Do
Regenerative Land Stewardship
We nurture healthy soil, forest, and meadow ecosystems through organic farming, permaculture, and carbon-sequestering practices. Meadow Farm has participated in the USDA’s Healthy Soils Program, improving soil health and supporting climate resilience on the Mendocino Coast.
MFCLT promotes carbon sequestration through the cultivation of healthy soils, forests, and wildlife habitats, guided by conscientious environmental study and regenerative land care.
Affordable, Sustainable Housing
Meadow Farm is working to provide affordable housing through a variety of options, such as spaces for residents to bring their own small or tiny homes, opportunities to build natural homes on site, and community-created dwellings like This Little House.
Our goal is to make it possible for people of low to moderate income to live sustainably on the Mendocino Coast while contributing to a cooperative, land-based community. By developing thoughtful infrastructure and supporting diverse housing models, Meadow Farm seeks to expand access to safe, affordable, and environmentally responsible living.
Community Resilience & Disaster Preparedness
Meadow Farm is a designated Public Hub through the Hubs and Routes program, strengthening local networks for emergency response. We collaborate with neighbors and community agencies to prepare for disasters and to provide relief through access to medical care, food, clean water, and shelter as possible.
MFCLT’s approach to resilience is rooted in mutual support and local interdependence, recognizing that strong, self-reliant communities depend on both ecological and social health.
Food Security & Education
We grow and share organic produce and products with residents and the wider community, providing healthy, locally grown food and building local food security.
Our educational offerings support sustainable living and community self-reliance. Workshops and programs have included permaculture, natural building, natural energy, bicycle maintenance, trail building and navigation, food preservation, vegan cooking, water conservation, nonviolent communication, yoga, meditation, homesteading skills, and forestry.
MFCLT also supports food education and access through garden produce, value-added products, and collaborations with local food networks.
Volunteer-Led Governance & Community Involvement
MFCLT is run entirely by volunteers through a Sociocratic model of consent-based governance. Our Leadership Circle (Board of Directors) and working groups guide decisions collaboratively and transparently.
We promote meaningful community involvement through diverse service opportunities, both at the farm and through partnerships with other community programs. Residents and friends of the farm contribute through volunteering, educational exchanges, and monetary donations that help sustain our shared vision.
Every act of service, whether tending the gardens, teaching a workshop, or maintaining trails, helps sustain the land and community for future generations.
How We Work Together
At Meadow Farm, we believe that resilience grows from connection between people, place, and purpose. Whether tending the soil, building homes, sharing food, or preparing for emergencies, we are learning every day what it means to live cooperatively and regenerate the land that sustains us.