Whether for livestock or specialty crops, all agriculture starts with the land. Marin’s working landscapes have been under human stewardship for millenia, beginning with the Coastal Miwok who gathered shellfish from the ocean’s edge, managed oak woodlands for acorn production and used good fire to ensure abundant sedges, willows, tule grass and other plants for food, medicine, shelter and ritual.
Modern zoning and the hard work of land trusts such as the Marin Agricultural Land Trust have protected Marin lands from development and secured them for commercial agriculture, but economic and social pressures can make it difficult to keep those lands productive. Those who own land must constantly strive to find new ways to keep it healthy and profitable, and those who lease must balance the need for investment with the inherent precariousness of the tenant farmer.
Below are resources for those who are seeking land or simply seeking to understand the dynamics of sharing Marin’s working landscapes.
Leasing Land to Specialty Crop Growers
Would a farmer want to lease my land?
How much could I make from leasing a few acres?
Would I have to make changes to accommodate a farmer?
In 2025, UCCE Marin and Kitchen Table Advisors launched a project called Finding Farmland, Finding Farmers to develop tools for agricultural landowners who are interested in leasing some of their land for specialty crop production (fruits, vegetables, flowers). Through surveys, interviews and field study, we put together a guide for landholders to evaluate their property for suitability and understand how leasing to a farmer might work. The Guide for Marin Ranchers includes a checklist of essential qualities, with detail on water, soil health, physical infrastructure, lease terms and other intangible factors that influence the feasibility of leasing. We also detail numerous examples of successful rancher-farmer land leasing situations around the NorthBay Area.
Evaluating Your Land for Leasing to a Specialty Crop Farmer
In addition to the Guide for Ranchers, the Finding Farmland, Finding Farmers Project produced two sample evaluations of real Marin ranches, using the information in the checklist to determine if leasing to a farmer would make sense.
For more information about Finding Farmland, Finding Farmers, contact Vince Trotter, UCCE Marin’s Sustainable Ag Coordinator/Agricultural Ombuds or visit Kitchen Table Advisors’ website for the project: https://www.kitchentableadvisors.org/finding-farmland-finding-farmers
Other Resources for Land Access
- Getting Started with Farm Leases in Marin
- Kitchen Table Advisors: Agriculturalist and Landholder Relationship Guide
- California Ag Land Equity Task Force
- Land Leasing Toolbox (Land For Good)
- California Farmlink for land seekers
- Evaluating Your Land for Leasing to a Specialty Crop Farmer
- American Farmland Trust Brighter Future Fund – Funding for new/underserved farmers to secure land
- Find rural appraisers and ag land real estate agents - American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers