Farmer Climate Relief Fund
Directly help emerging growers recover from climate challenges.
In the last two seasons, emerging farmers at Sharing Our Roots
have faced intense drought and historic flooding.
Sharing Our Roots supports 200+ immigrant, BIPOC, & LGBTQ+ farmers & gardeners across Dakota and Rice Counties with land access and shared infrastructure. In June 2024, Dakota County received 17 inches of rain, making it the wettest spring on record and bringing historic floods to southern Minnesota. Many of our farmers’ fields had standing water, making it impossible to replant what had been lost.
Unfortunately, crop insurance is inaccessible to most farmers at Sharing Our Roots, which means these small-scale growers are responsible for all crop failure and market sale losses. Our farmers reported financial impacts of $3,500 to $40,000 in lost crops, inputs, and revenue, even without factoring in the cost of labor.
The emergence of our Farmer Climate Relief Fund was an effort to bring together foundations, community members, eaters, and family members alike who are committed to building a future where immigrant and emerging farmers have the opportunity to grow food for our communities.
Help create a sustained safety net for local
immigrant, BIPOC, & LGBTQ+ farmers.
With inequitable governmental crop insurance policies and increasing climate disasters, we know we must continue to build a culture of commoning and a shared economy that works to directly support our farmers into the future. We know that these extreme weather events will become more common and severe in coming years, so we ask you to join us now in creating a community-sustained safety net for local growers.
100% of all donations received through our Farmer Climate Relief Fund will go directly to immigrant and emerging farmers who have suffered economic impact from climate disasters. On behalf of our farmers, we are grateful for your contributions, large or small.
Hear From Affected Farmers:
“I won't be able to fulfill my contracts, launch my new product, or meet any of my financial needs through the farm this year. I’ve already invested 600+ hours of labor this season. I've lost many of my established perennials, nearly all of my annuals, and am unable to plant any of the new perennials I purchased this year.”
—3rd year SOR farmer
“The damage from floods has not only destroyed 80% of my crop, but it has also damaged my relationship with my customers. I now have to refund preorders that I received for difficult-to-find African produce, like chinsaga. It’s hard to quantify this loss; gaining trust is not an easy thing to get back once destroyed.”
—1st year SOR farmer
“Right now, we are worried about where to get vegetables for our family. This means we have to stretch out our limit in terms of our food budget.”
“I've lost much of what I've planted: corn, chili peppers, watermelon, pumpkin, brussels sprouts, and epazote.”
—1st year SOR farmers
Sharing Our Roots prioritizes land access for farmers from communities who have been historically excluded from farmland access, including immigrant, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ farmers.