Some day soon my two sisters and I will inherit 16 tillable acres.

[erinlough]

We do not want it to be developed. We do not need the income from it. What would be a use for it that could help women in poverty? How would you structure it's use? Help us to do some planning.

By the way although we do not need the income from it, none of us have a great deal of money, so whatever we do can not be expensive (like building). We are also in our 50's so we can't do all the work ourselves.

[laruemtt]

1. where are you?

that's a very nice sentiment to want to use it to help poor women. god knows there's a ton of 'em, more everyday thanks to the idiot at the helm (what a scary thought.....)

[erinlough]

3. Michigan

It's always been a small farm with very fertile soil.

[karlrschneider]

One thing you might think about is raising asparagus.

It might sound silly at first blush but it's a crop that will produce
every year for maybe 20 years and asparagus brings a good price. My brother used to have a patch that wasn't more than a couple of acres and he made enough from it to pay his college tuition. It isn't particularly labor-intensive although it does need to be cut daily when it's producing in the summer months.

Just something that popped into mind...;-)

[erinlough]

19. Must have grown asparagras here at one time

because there is a lot of it wild in the fields.

[NMDemDist2]

2. is it near by a neighborhood where a community garden would help

poor families?

http://www.communitygarden.org/

[erinlough]

4. 7 miles from Benton Harbor Michigan

which is one of the most poverty stricken small cities in Michigan. Thanks for the link!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. Do some research

any specialty produce that you could have a group of women cultivate? Benton Harbor isn't far from Holland, and I know that the area raised tulips and celery during the 50s and 60s. Could something like these be marketed in Chicago?

[erinlough]

16. We are actually a summer haven

for Chicago, I know there are Chicago natives who could help us out with markets. Your idea of specialty products is intriguing.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. explore becoming a non-profit

or donate the land to a local non-profit that is helping poor women. As for making yourself a non-profit-that would depend upon what poor women need in your neighborhood.

[erinlough]

11. Great Idea,

one of my sisters works for the state family independence agency and we are afraid that food might not be the most immediate need. I was thinking of a cooperative where people could use the land for their own needs but donate 10% of their harvest to sell and buy the diapers, personal products, soap, that food stamps don't cover.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

21. I"m on the BOD of a non-profit

It is an integrative health foundation. The founder and doctor is a woman, as are all the current Board members. The emphasis is on wellness and patient education on living healthy, and we have special "laboratory assistance grants" to pay for lab work for those who are uninsured or underinsured.

Why did I tell you this? Because the first thing you should be able to do (at the drop of a hat!) is to explain the goals of your non-profit. Once you have that, you can check for grants and matching grants you can obtain to help you with your goals.

You've got a good idea there-explore it a little more, decide exactly what your goals will be, and you've got the start of a good non-profit.

If you decide to go that route, ask here for more advice. I'm sure I'm not the only person involved in non-profits.

[erinlough]

27. Thanks so much for the encouragement.

my sister was a assistant director to a local foundation and she might have some ideas to explore.

[pstans]

6. Not sure how far from town you are

But you could set up a community garden. Make the area into plats. Then rent the plats to people who don't have the room to garden at their homes. You could even set up a fruit stand/market to sell some of the produce.

[NoBushSpokenHere]

7. Check current property value --- you may gain more by selling

and investing the money into a foundation for various causes.

[erinlough]

13. But then the development would start and we also live on the property

that would mean houses in our backyards which is not an option for any of us.

[NoBushSpokenHere]

17. Sell with a deed covenant that prohibits certain development n/t

[ret5hd]

9. no work to you at all...

"lease" small parcels of the land to single-parent families for vegetable gardens (the "lease" wouldn't be for money, but would be for a set time-period and would have rules...like no stealing from your neigboring garden)

[AirmensMom]

12. I was going to suggest that.

Great idea! :)

[Nickster]

18. That's an excellent idea.

[stlsaxman]

10. Farm food for homeless shelters with prison labor.

Just kidding about the prison labor part. How about volunteers paid in food? the larger percentage of which goes to shelters? Is it near a major metropolitan area?

keep it simple and small and it just might work.

[GreenPartyVoter]

25. I agree farm's a possibility

[kiki]

14. No advice, but...

...you are wonderful for wanting to do something like this, in a world where most people would just sell it. Respect is due.

[erinlough]

20. Thank you, some things are more important than money

and this farm has been like a family member to us all. It is painful to think of someone else owning it.

[Nickster]

15. Maybe donate some of the land to habitat for humanity or another

organization like that, that could build homes for economically deprived women? That way you could help and not have to come up with large amounts of money.

[CelticWinter]

22. Lease the land

to local farmers and the money you get from that open a "housing fund" for women in local shelters. Ex. from the fund pay deposit and first months rent. From working in a women's shelter the deposit and first months rent are always the hardest for women to come up with.

[pinto]

23. Collaborate. Check the University Ag Dept. for viable, profit making ideas

for 16 acres of healthy land and solicit local non-profits to implement (or incorporate as a charitable non-profit yourselves and run the operation). The enterprise would pay property taxes, etc, that you have responsibility for now and your family or the corporation could make annual grants to established agencies that support services for women with little or no income.

[Ikonoklast]

24. Do you have a local land bank? County extension office?

The land could be set up in trust to remain open and undeveloped. They can help you to set it up.
In the meanwhile, ask around your neighbors closest to the property that are farming. You could rent/lease the land and give the proceeds to charity.
A farmer should be willing to work a 50/50 deal with you, which is very common around my parts. He shoulders the burden of seed, tilling, fertilizer, etc. and after the crop is brought to market, you would receive one half the gross sale price of the commodity.
Stay away from corn, as it is dirt cheap and can really deplete the soil quickly.
A crop like soybeans right now at, say 50 bushels an acre and $7 a bushel (this price fluctuates widely as does the yield per acre) would yield a gross profit of $5600, half of which ($2800)would be yours to donate, use for charity, whatever.
Doesn't sound like much, but multiply that by however many years you can do it. Adds up to a nice piece of change for those that would be the recipients of your generosity.

[NNadir]

26. Invite inner city kids to farm a plot.

This sort of thing opens the soul.

[roguevalley]

28. grow food for shelters and food banks. Open a plot to a school to

do a garden. grow herbs for local markets and give aways. Tax write offs could defray your expenses if you do a lot of gardening for charity. Also, you can do a trust so that it goes to the public good when you die. No one can develop it in a trust like this. People do this for river and homestead land up here all the time.

RV, alaska

[tularetom]

29. Thank you for posting this

It makes me feel good to know that there are still people out there with the instincts to do the right thing. Most people are so cynical they'd be looking around for a developer to sell the property to and make a few bucks. I don't have any suggestions but God bless you and I hope you do something beneficial with it and that it brings you happiness as well.

[erinlough]

31. We aren't special

but, my parents always stressed that you can be happy with what you have and that having something means you have an obligation to share something. I don't want to end up my life only consuming.....seems so empty.

[leftupnorth]

30. there's a lady near me in Johannesburg, MI

that has some acreage and she has bands and stuff come for a huge concert every year. they also have a LARGE garden.

she uses the money to help poor kids buy musical instruments and music lessons

it's called FarmFest, fun times are had by all

[erinlough]

32. Thank you all for your wonderful ideas!

DU is the most brilliant place.

[blm]

33. Gardening can be very therapeutic for any battered woman, or for any

child, for that matter.

Whatever vegetables you grow can be sent home with them, too.

[MuseRider]

34. Community garden

or plant it in soybeans, healthy food for women and not too difficult to grow. Donate the money to a fund for women.

***I know nothing about growing soybeans except that they are grown all over Kansas in small plots and tucked in a lot of places. I don't know how much yield you would get from 16 acres but it should be manageable.

[KT2000]

35. Lease it for organic farming

There must be some organic farmers looking for more space. Plan a way to market the food that will introduce people to it. It is suprising how much better the flavor is. It also becomes a source of local pride when food is grown for the locals.
Restaurants also buy organic produce.

Organic farming is something that plants seeds in the community. People are forced to consider the options when it is available.

[ThomWV]

36. Lease It Out For Hay Production

It will pay the taxes and keep the land clean.

[abbeyco]

37. Community Food Garden

That is a fair amount of acreage - enough to make a difference in some folks lives come the cold of winter in MI.

You might parter with a local shelter and Home Depot/Lowe's/Ace Hardware or a local hardware group to help get equipment to till and supply tools for annual maintenance.

Grow veggies and things that the most poor go without due to cost and have it work as a co-op of produce for sweat equity. I am certain there would be plenty of people, that might be in tough spot, to help work the land and help with the bounty it could produce.

Sorry to phrase a parable of sorts, but along the lines of 'teach a man to fish', teach them how to grow so they can help feed themselves and others.

What a wonderful, selfless act you're doing wanting to do a greater good with the land you've received. Bravo to you and I hope it works out for the good.

[InkAddict]

38. Here's something long-term to consider

http://www.the7thfire.com/Sonic_Bloom/sonic_bloom_Black_Walnut_Production.html

Don't know how this will do anything for women in poverty, but it could be a future cash crop and in the meantime good for a rural environment and Mother Nature - put some oxygen back into the air!

[burrowowl]

39. Start a community farm

show people how to grow their vegetables. People rent a strip and grow what they want. Maybe provided small locked sheds for keeping tools and whatever. In France the Parisans flock to their gardens on week-ends. And here in ABQ the community garden plots are getting more people using them.