Hello <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; color: rgb(42, 42, 196); padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting West Branch Commons. This donation takes us one step closer to permanently protecting the farm. If you would like to contribute further to our cause, contact us to become a volunteer, or spread the word about our mission! - West Branch Commons team <a fr-original-style="text-decoration-color:initial;user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit;" href="mailto:westbranchcommons@gmail.com" style="text-decoration-color:initial;user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit;">westbranchcommons@gmail.com</a>www.catskillsagrarianalliance.org/wbc<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1739309209/ms5i0jclsqqrxzqyxgci.png" style="width: 262px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; position: relative; max-width: 100%; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 262px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; position: relative; max-width: 100%; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">

Hello First name,
 
 Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for registering to fundraise for our cause. Your efforts will make a significant impact, and we are excited to have you as part of our fundraising team. 👏
 
 💡 Here are some tips for sharing your campaign:
 <ol>
 <li>Personalize Your Story: Share why this cause is important to you. Personal stories resonate more with potential donors.</li>
 <li>Use Social Media: Post about your campaign on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. Include the campaign link and a compelling image or video.</li>
 <li>Email Your Network: Send a personal email to friends, family, and colleagues explaining why you are fundraising and how they can help.</li>
 <li>Regular Updates: Keep your supporters informed with updates on your progress and any milestones you reach. This keeps them engaged and more likely to share your campaign.</li>
 </ol>
 Rhiannon Wright westbranchcommons@gmail.com

12/15/2025 Fundraising update! We are over half way to our goal of $950k through generous support from Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, North Star Fund, Equity Trust, and folks like you. This “Community Down Payment” campaign represents 20% of that total project goal - we know that our community wants to see farmland and farming livelihoods preserved for future generations. Every dollar contributed gets us closer to this vision. Thank you for your support! West Branch Commons: a Community Land Trust for the future of farming A farmer kneels in the soil, hands covered in dirt, planting seeds that carry the dreams of their ancestors. Beside them, the gentle hum of the Delaware River weaves through the foothills of Haudenosaunee lands, reminding them of the stories that have always lived in the land. Nearby, an elder farmer, Tom, shares advice on repairing a tractor, passing on decades of wisdom.  This is what the future of farming looks like at West Branch Commons—a new community land trust built on the generations-old farming tradition of Delaware County. Since 2021, we have been building a collaborative organization to lead this project. Our next step is raising $950,000 to buy the farm. Project History: West Branch Commons is 287 acres of bottomland and forest situated at the headwaters of the West Branch of the Delaware River in Delancey, NY. The property has been stewarded most recently by four generations of the Hutson family, primarily for haying, livestock and pasture. Tom Hutson, the current generation, has been a leader in the local agricultural community and watershed by placing conservation easements on the farm in partnership with the NYCDEP’s Watershed Agricultural Council. In early 2021, a number of community members, farms, and local organizations began working with Tom to develop a transition plan that would keep the farm in production. The dream was to create an agrarian commons: a property made permanently affordable to farmers, overseen by a new community-led nonprofit (West Branch Commons). West Branch Commons will operate as a Community Land Trust (CLT), a proven model for creating permanently affordable, long-term land access. WBC will own the land “in perpetuity” with the explicit purpose of making it available at an affordable lease rate to farmers.  In April 2023, American Farmland Trust (AFT) acquired the farm from Tom, and are temporarily holding it to provide a runway for the WBC to raise funds for permanent acquisition.  Here’s How You Can Help: WBC’s Community Down PaymentThis grassroots campaign symbolizes a “community down payment” - a communal effort to save a multigenerational farm, and keep agricultural livelihoods in our community. Contributions to this fundraiser directly support the purchase of the land. Our goal is to raise 20% of the total project cost through grassroots community fundraising over the next two years - $190,000. Your support will help us to organize and fund the other 80% ($760,000) through a mix of grants, foundation support, and bridge loans from community development financial institutions.  How will WBC work? WBC has the potential to sustain up to six farm enterprises at any given time. These farmers will have shared use of key farm infrastructure like cold storage and equipment, while maintaining their own independent businesses. We envision farmers staying on the land for as few as 5 or as many as 40+ years. As farm lessees are ready to transition to their next chapter - whether for retirement, purchasing their own farm, or deciding to transition out of farming - they are able to sell physical improvements made to the land, like newly built barns, buildings, or equipment) to the next farmer. Thus, they are able to build equity in their business while WBC maintains the affordability of the land.  Put another way: this project hopes to decommodify the land as something to have a “return on investment” on, and takes a step towards returning to a “commons” or community-ownership relation to the land. As the price of farmland becomes further out of balance with the income possible from agricultural work, we need solutions like these that make it possible to have a dignified livelihood from farming. This project is a direct response to the staggering odds faced by New York’s active and aspiring farmers:<ul><li>One third of New York's farmers are over the age of 65 - many without a plan to transition their farm to the next generation</li><li>We lose 51 acres of farmland in New York every day to development</li><li>Farmers of color make up only 1.3% of New York’s farm owners, despite representing 40% of the state’s population.</li><li>Over the past century, 98% of Black-owned farmland in the U.S. has been lost, and today, fewer than 1% of farms are Black-owned.</li></ul>Meet Our Farmers:This land is already home to incredible stories of resilience and growth:<ul><li>Serra Vida Farm, led by a queer, BIPOC farmer, provides culturally relevant produce to the Bronx and Delaware County, feeding families and fostering community connections.</li><li>Iridescent Earth Collective is an anti-capitalist land stewardship farm project, centering the experiences of Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous and Persons of color in our work. In collaboration with our partners and friends we are establishing socio-political infrastructure founded on radical authenticity, grassroots community care and mutual aid work to benefit these vulnerable and representative members of our farming community.</li><li>Tom, the former owner of River Haven Farm, remains a cornerstone of the community, mentoring new farmers with his mechanical expertise and deep connection to the land.</li></ul>These are the stories we want to grow. These are the dreams we want to protect. Together, We Can:<ul><li>Build pathways for new farmers to join the field, ensuring the future of our local and regional food systems and intergenerational knowledge transfer</li><li>Permanently preserve the active use of a historic farm, removing it from the speculative market</li><li>Ensure clear water for 9 million New Yorkers by supporting sustainable farming practices in the Delaware River Watershed.</li><li>Bridge rural and urban communities through food distribution, education, and mutual aid.</li></ul>Donate today to secure the future of West Branch Commons. If you want to follow along as we create this organization centered on community land ownership from the ground up, subscribe to our Substack!

Community Down Payment - save a farm, support land access for underserved farmers

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West Branch Commons

### Context Profile for West Branch Commons

#### 1. Organization Mission & Cause
West Branch Commons (WBC) is dedicated to preserving agricultural land and ensuring access for underserved farmers in Delaware County, NY. The organization operates as a Community Land Trust (CLT) with the mission to create permanently affordable land access for farmers, thereby supporting sustainable farming practices and fostering community resilience. Their vision emphasizes the importance of maintaining agricultural traditions and addressing the challenges faced by local farmers, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds.

#### 2. Type of Activities
- **Community Land Trust**: WBC is focused on acquiring and managing land to keep it affordable for farmers.
- **Fundraising Campaigns**: The current campaign, "Community Down Payment," aims to raise $950,000 to purchase a farm, with a goal of $190,000 from grassroots fundraising.
- **Community Engagement**: WBC collaborates with local farmers, organizations, and community members to develop transition plans for farmland and support new farmers.
- **Educational Initiatives**: They aim to bridge knowledge transfer between generations of farmers, ensuring the sustainability of local food systems.

#### 3. Tone of Voice
The tone of WBC's communication is **inspiring**, **community-oriented**, and **empathetic**. The language used is accessible and engaging, often invoking imagery and storytelling to connect with the audience emotionally. The content reflects a sense of urgency regarding the preservation of farmland and support for underserved farmers, while also fostering a sense of hope and collective action.

#### 4. Emoji Usage
The website and campaign materials do not prominently feature emojis. The communication style leans towards a more formal and professional presentation, focusing on narrative and factual content rather than casual or playful elements.

#### 5. Key Facts
- **Founding**: WBC was established in 2021.
- **Location**: The organization is based in Delancey, NY, managing a 157-acre property.
- **Impact Metrics**: The goal is to sustain up to six farm enterprises and ensure long-term land access for farmers.
- **Community Engagement**: WBC emphasizes grassroots fundraising and community involvement in their initiatives.
- **Volunteer Information**: Specific volunteer opportunities are not detailed on the website, but community engagement is a core aspect of their operations.

#### 6. Writing Guidelines
- **Use of Storytelling**: Incorporate personal stories and narratives to illustrate the impact of WBC's work and the importance of community support.
- **Empathetic Language**: Use language that resonates with the audience's values and emotions, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.
- **Clear Calls to Action**: Ensure that fundraising and volunteer opportunities are highlighted clearly, encouraging immediate action from the audience.
- **Focus on Community**: Emphasize collaboration, community ownership, and the importance of supporting local farmers in all communications.

This context profile serves as a foundation for creating tailored content that aligns with West Branch Commons' mission and values, ensuring that communications resonate with their audience and effectively promote their initiatives.

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Community Down Payment - save a farm, support land access for underserved farmers

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