Listening Tree Cooperative - Acreage for lease / other, with housing - Chepachet, RI

Posted on September 8, 2018Last updated 2 months ago

The Land

Property Owner:

Land trust or other conservation organization

Property Location:

87 Reservoir Rd., Chepachet, RI 02814

Total number of acres available with this property:

21-50

Acres of cropland or tillable land:

1-5

Acres of pasture:

1-5

Acres of forested land:

21-50

Other open and/or non-farmable land

Irrigation pond, yard, homestead garden, wetlands, and housing take up some space throughout the property A forestry/conservation plan has been granted by NRCS, but has not been completed. Owner-members of the co-op will develop the plan by consensus. Plan will included United Plant Savers medicinal plant sanctuary. Permaculture design begun.

Is the property enrolled in a current use or other state program that affects property taxes?:

Yes

Is the property protected with any type of Conservation Easement?:

No

Is there a forest management plan for forestland on the available property?:

No

Is the property certified organic, or does it qualify for organic certification under federal organic regulations?:

Yes
Farm Information

Water sources present

Available

Types of water sources present

Drilled well
Irrigation system
Pond

Water sources details

Rain-fed pond with pump supply irrigation water at three spigots near fields. Old well is used to irrigate household's homestead garden (< 1/2 acre). New well supplies house and wash station.

Barns, sheds or other structures

Available

Farm infrastructure details

wash station with stainless steel sinks and well water; workshop with woodworking tools; garage bay; barn attic with hayloft doors; storage shed; basement storage; 8×12 walk-in cooler; electricity at the field; gravel drive to field

Farmer housing

Available

Farmer housing details

Housing is available either in a small insulated cabin with electricity, internet, heat, and an outhouse; or in a bedroom in the main house where the bathrooms and kitchen are located. All members share the main house kitchen, bathrooms, living spaces, basement. Cooperative shares available on rent-to-own basis, with land tenure agreement.

Equipment and machinery

Available

Equipment and machinery details

a 27HP Kubota tractor with bucket, York rake, moldboard plow, grader, deck mower, post hole digger, and harrow; large rototiller electric lawnmower solar power irrigation pump and piping well pump wash station, with stainless steel sinks and surface and tested well water cool bot walkin cooler
Tenure Arrangement

Tenure arrangement

Property for rent
Other

Property for lease

We would most prefer resident farmer(s) who will live at the community. Farmers will have the opportunity to become owner-members of Listening Tree Cooperative if they so desire. Otherwise, the farmer could be a resident-member or non-resident tenant farmer. In either case, the farmer will sign a lease or contract that insures them the freedom to run their farm business as a private enterprise. Listening Tree Co-op will not play any role in the work or business aspects of the farm, other than to ensure it complies with the written agreements on facilities/tool sharing, insurance requirements, and organic methods or an agreed-upon equivalent. One way to look at this is as a “rent to own” situation. The new farmer would not buy-in to the co-op the first season, but if all goes well for everyone, owner-membership would be an option the second season. Or they could continue to lease under short term lease (for residents or commuters) or long-term lease (residents or owner-members only).
Additional Information

Description

Listening Tree Cooperative is an intentional community in Chepachet, Rhode Island, living in a shared household and growing much of our own food. We have extra farmland and forest beyond what we need for our own homestead that is available to a market farmer. Formed in 2015, the community occupies 33 acres of field and woodland, one main house and several winterized cabins. We are located about 22 miles on a RIPTA bus line from Providence, RI, and 30 minutes driving from Worcester, MA. Currently, the cooperative is made up of 3 owner-members and 2 resident-members, and is structured to house 10 members.

The co-op’s owner-members will own the land and structures by each purchasing a $42,000 share of the cooperative, with designated acreage for farm businesses owned and run by individual members or partnerships. Like a mortgage, the $42,000 share may be paid over years, with a $5000 down payment. Member-residents (renters or people who are in the 6-month trial period to buy in) pay rent and live together with owner-members and seasonal volunteers. Besides the share purchase, member-owners also pay monthly fees, like condo fees, that split the costs of owning and maintaining property, such as taxes, insurance, maintenance, and improvements. Purchasing a farming share would give a farmer the secure right to farm the land as a private business without having to purchase the land itself.

Listening Tree Co-op strives to live sustainably/regeneratively,  using the principles of permaculture and equality. Daily life at Listening Tree includes shared dinners and community work hours in the household, garden, woods, and/or food forest. Members might be found building out the farm infrastructure; pasturing chickens; hosting workshops; conversing around the fire pit; or taking care of the barn cat, Sir Toupee George.

Co-op members enjoy working on personal projects like a medicinal herb garden, a small commercial worm composting project, and market farming. Other land-based cottage industries are welcome. Most residents have jobs outside of the community as well.

For details, see https://listeningtree.blog/2018/08/30/intentional-community-seeks-reside....

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