{"id":23,"date":"2018-02-25T02:15:18","date_gmt":"2018-02-25T02:15:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meadowfarm.org\/?page_id=23"},"modified":"2025-12-16T10:44:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T18:44:43","slug":"past-present-future-activities","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.meadowfarm.org\/?page_id=23","title":{"rendered":"ABOUT US"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Carrying Forward a Legacy of Land, Love, and Purpose<\/h1>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Meadow Farm Community Land Trust (MFCLT) was founded in 2013 by Joanna Becker, who envisioned a small farm community offering rural housing for low- to moderate-income individuals dedicated to sustainable living, volunteerism, and mutual care. She believed the land itself should be protected as a shared resource, held in perpetuity through the Community Land Trust model to serve both present and future generations.<\/p>

The nearly 28-acre property that became Meadow Farm was purchased by Joanna in 2010 from the Matilla family. At the time, the only developed area was the cleared meadow at the center of the land. For more than a century, the Matilla family had logged the forest and grown potatoes, oats, and hay on the property. The south boundary follows the north rim of the Pudding Creek basin for approximately one mile and lies about two miles east of the Pacific Ocean, just north of Fort Bragg. The land\u2019s long, narrow shape widens at the center, where the six-acre meadow opens into the heart of the property.<\/p>

Joanna began by developing essential infrastructure, including a deep well, septic system, and a home constructed in part from wood logged and milled on site. Each year, she divided her time between Meadow Farm, visits with family in England, and work on another charitable project in Costa Rica. Each spring, she returned to continue building Meadow Farm and advancing her vision.<\/p>

In March 2014, Jesse Stafford and Sojourna Lee were invited to live on the land. Together with Joanna, they expanded the garden and supported ongoing development projects. A board of directors soon formed to assist with legal and organizational matters. In August 2015, Joanna formally transferred ownership of the land to the board to steward Meadow Farm\u2019s future. A new board of three directors was selected shortly thereafter.<\/p>

On August 6, 2016, Joanna passed away suddenly. Her death was a profound loss, and the period that followed was marked by grief and uncertainty. The newly formed board was tasked with untangling unfinished nonprofit, legal, and organizational matters while remaining committed to Joanna\u2019s original vision.<\/p>

Through perseverance and community support, the board successfully maintained MFCLT\u2019s 501(c)(3) status and continued developing the land in alignment with its founding purpose. Over time, residents, caretakers, and volunteers have contributed their skills, ideas, and labor to help Meadow Farm grow into a resilient, community-centered place serving the Mendocino Coast.<\/p>

Today, Meadow Farm is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors, also known as the Leadership Circle, which uses a consent-based governance model called Sociocracy. The organization remains entirely volunteer-run, with no paid positions. In 2023, the Leadership Circle added a Treasurer role and continues to welcome new members who bring care, experience, and dedication to the work.<\/p>

In 2020, Meadow Farm completed construction on Joanna\u2019s Community House and added 5,000 gallons of water storage along with a fire hose valve, strengthening on-site infrastructure and emergency readiness. Disaster preparedness and sheltering efforts continue to evolve, with Meadow Farm now serving as a support hub, working closely with Mendo Ready<\/a><\/strong> to strengthen regional resilience. The land itself has also benefitted from regenerative practices. Carbon sequestration and soil health improved significantly as the farm completed its third year of the Healthy Soils Program, supported by a USDA grant.<\/p>

Today & Looking Ahead<\/strong><\/p>

Now well into its second decade, Meadow Farm remains a volunteer-led organization rooted in land stewardship, community resilience, and care for one another. The land continues to be held in perpetuity to support affordable rural housing, sustainable living, and shared responsibility.<\/p>

Looking ahead, Meadow Farm is focused on deepening community relationships, supporting volunteers and residents, and moving thoughtfully toward the creation of future homes. All work continues to be guided by Joanna’s original vision of a peaceful, cooperative, and sustainable place to live.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Joanna Becker<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Meadow Farm<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Joanna's Cabin<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVolunteer<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDonate<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMeet the Board<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFacebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tInstagram<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Carrying Forward a Legacy of Land, Love, and Purpose Meadow Farm Community Land Trust (MFCLT) was founded in 2013 by Joanna Becker, who envisioned a small farm community offering rural housing for low- to moderate-income individuals dedicated to sustainable living, volunteerism, and mutual care. She believed the land itself should be protected as a shared […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-23","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"campaignId":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meadowfarm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meadowfarm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meadowfarm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meadowfarm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meadowfarm.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23"}],"version-history":[{"count":73,"href":"https:\/\/www.meadowfarm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2628,"href":"https:\/\/www.meadowfarm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23\/revisions\/2628"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meadowfarm.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}