Farm

For the benefit of current and future generations, Corner Farm Village permanently protected this agricultural and riparian land in the Orchard Homes area of Missoula in 2024. The eight-acres includes high-quality agricultural soil (Grantsdale loam), along with an old oxbow of the Clark Fork River and its riparian habitat. Part of the land is in the 100-year floodplain, so the project serves as a natural form of flood control too.

To accomplish the protection goals, Corner Farm Village transferred ownership of the farm to Trust Montana, a community land trust (CLT), which will hold the property for the benefit of the community in perpetuity. Although CLTs have been used elsewhere for farms, this is the first agricultural property in Montana to be protected using the CLT model.

To acquire the farm, Trust Montana successfully sought funds from the local Open Space Program, philanthropists, and community members, as well a donation from Corner Farm Village. This project supports the open space and growth policies of the City and County of Missoula. A primary purpose of Missoula’s Open Space Bond, passed overwhelmingly by voters in 2018, is “conserving agricultural lands.” In its 2016 Growth Policy, the City identified the area as agricultural land, valuable for meeting the community’s food needs. Similarly, the County’s growth policy declares: “A healthy agriculture sector is essential to the well-being of our community due to benefits such as food security, open space, wildlife habitat, economic activity, health promotion, and quality of life” (p. 10). In addition, the project supports community climate goals by improving resilience and providing natural flood control. For these and other reasons, many community members and organizations supported the use of Open Space funds for the project, and after a lengthy public process, the City Council and County Commissioners approved the bond expenditure in 2024.

Upon transfer of the farm’s ownership to Trust Montana, the partners established three strong layers of permanent protection: (1) expenditures of Open Space funds designated the land as “open space,” which under Montana law requires a vote of the electorate to change; (2) an enforceable conservation servitude was attached to the parcel, which limited the land’s use to agriculture, renewable energy, and habitat; and (3) the terms of the CLT’s 75-year ground lease to the farmer provides secure, affordable access to a working farm operation.

Unlike conservation easements that protect land from development, our strategy basically guarantees the land will remain in agriculture and takes it out of the speculative market. The ground lease includes provisions to ensure:

Affordability and security for the farmer(s).
The ability of the farmer to build limited equity through improvements they make (e.g., farm-related buildings).
Careful stewardship of the land without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, and with soil health practices and careful water management.
Commercial income from the property (so it will not be an estate or hobby farm).
Production of food for our community, rather than distant markets.

Trust Montana will routinely monitor for compliance with the terms of the lease, and is advised by a farm viability committee of experts.

Trust Land Farm LLC is the first holder of a 75-year ground lease for the farm. They currently operate a self-serve farm stand during the growing season, and sell to local restaurants. Eventually, the plan is to have a farm store and commercial kitchen on the adjacent development lot. The agricultural business building will enhance economic opportunity and viability for the farm by offering locally grown, heathy food to the neighborhood and community at large.

Riparian Area: An old oxbow of the Clark Fork River runs along the northern edge of the farm. The one-acre riparian area not only provides flood control, but also bird and wildlife habitat. The plants include both native and non-native species. In the springtime, this old oxbow fills with water to about 4 or 5 feet. By summer, the standing water is typically gone. The riparian area is used by mammals, as well as by resident and migratory birds. Raptors are often seen, and occasionally eagles, herons and sandhill cranes. Deer, foxes, skunks, raccoons, and rodents are common.

The Five Valleys Audubon Society supported permanent protection of the farm and riparian area because caring for it will “contribute to the viability of the Clark Fork River-Grass Valley Important Bird Area.”

With financial support from the Missoula Conservation District and from Five Valleys Audubon, the Corner Farm Habitat Enhancement Project will begin in 2026. Our first-phase goals are to better manage non-native species; to remove old barbed-wire fence and trash; to improve visibility along the road for the safety of wildlife crossing; and to enhance the habitat by planting more native trees and shrubs. Volunteers are welcome.