Small farm transfer in the western Lake Superior region: A multi-case study

Abstract

There is a wide movement for local food system development nationally and in the western Lake Superior region (WLS). Farm ownership transfer, the process of handing over control of the farmland and business to a new generation, has been identified as a crucial missing link in the puzzle of working toward a more resilient and sustainable food system. The proposed qualitative study seeks to explore the processes of farm transfer in this specific region through collecting reflections on the personal experiences of small-scale farmers. Farmers at three distinct farms in the region will be interviewed about their experiences of the transfer process. Results will inform further research on local food systems and guide infrastructure and services development and planning.