A Guide To Finding Your Farm's Place in the Local Community
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Farms can often often seem as if they are an island; an entirely separate part of the world, isolated from neighbors, and with their own distinct borders. There’s a truth to this perception too; farms, after all, need space in order to function, so a fair distance from the nearest population center is to be expected - but that’s not to say farms are entirely on their own. Even if the nearest population center, be it a town, village, or city, isn’t exactly next door, it’s still there - which means there’s still a local community that any farm owner should want to be a part of.
Why is finding a place in the local community so important for farms?
While it is not essential for a farm to embed itself amongst the local community, it is absolutely preferable to do so.
Being part of a community is advantageous to the business of your farm for a number of different reasons. You can, for example, access the support and knowledge of local business owners, providing you with a pool of local knowledge that can be the first place to turn for advice and guidance should you ever need it. Recruitment can also be simpler if your business is well-known; rather than needing to advertise online, you can just spread the word locally and wait for recommendations and applications. In addition, residents are often protective of nearby businesses and the local economy, which results in long-term support that your business will be able to rely on year-in-year out.
How can your farm become a cornerstone of the local community?
Get involved. If there is a local business forum, join and attend regularly; if there’s a fundraising event in the local area, offer sponsorship or even your farm’s premises to help; if businesses are holding an event, then go along and show your support. Simple acts such as these can really help to create recognition amongst residents and encourage people to see you - and by extension, your farm - as part and parcel of the scene.
Open your farm up. There are endless ways to open your farm up to the local populace, ranging from opening your own farm shop to inviting people to visit a real-life farm for educational purposes. Seasonal events can also be hugely popular and result in the community seeing a visit to your farm’s event - be it a fireworks display for July 4th, a hayride in the autumn, a corn maze for Halloween, or a Santa’s grotto for Christmas - as part of their essential annual celebrations, further embedding the farm in the community’s minds.
Emphasise the benefits of local. As the likes of Stephen Troese emphasise, buying local food and produce is incredibly important from an environmental standpoint. Emphasizing this fact to the community - through adverts, open days, or simply raising the point at community meetings - will encourage local residents to embrace your farm and support it in the name of sustainable, environmentally-friendly living.
Maintain an online presence. Many staples of local communities - such as job notice boards - have moved online over the course of the past ten years, so joining local groups online and staying is also very important when seeking to build recognition in the area.
In conclusion
Farms may be somewhat remote out of sheer necessity, but following the above tips in order to envelop your business in a strong, supportive community is sure to be beneficial for all involved.
