Debt-free Land Security for La Finca Cooperative

Join us to create debt-free land security for La Finca Cooperative!  

In April 2024, Land in Common closed on the purchase of a 15.4 acre farm in Porter, Maine that is now home to La Finca Cooperative, a BIPOC majority farming project focused on halal meat, fresh vegetables, and creating safe space for community healing and land connection. La Finca is already hard at work revitalizing the land and making their vision come to life. 

Thanks to incredible support from community members and allied organizations, we raised $58,600 in less than a month to make this purchase happen. We also took on a $140,000 loan from the Cooperative Fund of the Northeast. 

To ensure the long-term viability of La Finca, Land in Common is raising funds to pay off the remaining debt on the land. La Finca will then leverage community-based loans to refinance the debt on the farm infrastructure. This will enable us to fully implement our community land trust model, in which land stewards own their homes and other insfrastructure, and the land is held permanently in the commons and secured to land stewards via a 99-year renewable Land Commitment Agreement. 

By releasing the land from debt, we permanently remove this land from the market and enable La Finca to focus their resources on building a flourishing farm and community gathering space. 

La Finca is challenging capitalist, colonial relationships to land that have historically and systematically harmed communities of color. Together, we are decommodifying the land, welcoming it into our democratically-structured commons, where its long-term care can be shared. 

To become a member of La Finca’s community, send an email to [email protected]! We’d love to get connected.

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If you prefer to donate by check, please write the check to "Land in Common" with "La Finca" as the memo. Checks can be mailed to: 217 South Mountain Rd. Greene, ME 04236. We are grateful for your support!