Since 2017 farmer advocates and faith-community leaders from around the United States have collaborated to shine light on farms and gardens on land owned by religious organizations. This FaithLands work had been happening ‘below the radar’ in rural communities and large cities, but no one had approached it from a national perspective. FaithLands represents a crucial opportunity to help facilitate food access in communities, support family farmers and help religious organizations meet their missions. Leasing vacant or underutilized land can help a religious group minimize maintenance costs; earn revenue and connect deeply with local people. Diverse models include: BIPOC community farmers renting ground to grow private businesses; secular non-profit organizations leasing land for a community farm; teaching farms focused on integrating teaching of religion and agriculture, and projects including both affordable housing and gardens or farms.
Register today for our FaithLands National Conference 2024! The conference is going to be hosted in Delaware, Ohio at the Methodist Theological Seminary of Ohio (MTSO) August 6th – 8th, 2024. National FaithLands advocates from around the country will gather here to learn about and enjoy the successful and beautiful 10 acre Seminary Hill Farm located at MTSO.
You are invited to join a gathering of faith-community leaders and farmer advocates from around the U.S. that are interested in learning and sharing about growing food on lands owned by faith-based communities.
Join us for the opportunity to participate in structured dialogue about:
- Partnership opportunities and successful models of leasing to commercial farms, nonprofits, and more
- How to facilitate beginning, immigrant, and BIPOC farmers accessing thousands of parcels owned by faith-based institutions to grow food for communities
- Affordable Housing Development vs. Farms and Gardens: Can we do both?
Available registration options include:
- 3 Day Registration for full conference access is $340 without lodging or $540 for lodging on campus at MTSO. This includes meals and tour transportation for August 6, 7, & 8.
- Single Day Registration option is priced at $99; which is available for Day 2 of the conference, August 7, and includes both lunch, dinner, and a tour of Seminary Hill Farm.
- Dinner & Evening Panel Registration is $65 and will allow entry to Day 2 dinner and the evening panel.
Travel assistance funding and registration scholarships are available and we strongly encourage anyone interested to apply! Register for the conference first choosing the *Scholarship Applicant* 3 Day Registration ticket, and then apply through our form at this link here! (Note: After registering you will automatically be sent an email with a link to the scholarship application.)
Who should attend? Representatives of religious community lay leaders, and organization staff including clergy, farmers, farmer advocates, and university/seminary faculty and students.
Each day of the conference will include tours of sites representing diverse, successful models of growing food on faith community owned lands. Tours on 8/6 and 8/8 will be off-site and participants provided transportation via bus/motorcoach. On 8/7 we will be touring Seminary Hill Farm located at the main conference site.
Scholarship Information
All individuals that will benefit from financial assistance are encouraged to apply! We hope to be able to serve as many as possible. Complete registration first with the “Scholarship Applicant Ticket”; then once you submit registration you will be directed to a scholarship application form.
Applications must be received via this Google Form. The form will remain available but application review will begin on June 30th.
Full and partial scholarships are available. Apply to whichever suits your needs. Scholarships being provided may be used for travel, lodging, meals, or registration.
A small committee will review applications and keep your answers confidential. Review will begin June 30th and then on a rolling basis until travel funds/scholarships are all committed.
If you have any questions or technical difficulties pertaining to scholarships contact: Sousiva Ing, [email protected] or 707-634-4672
Lodging Information
MTSO on-campus lodging
- Limited rooms available for registrants.
- Located at 3081 Columbus Pike, Delaware, OH 43015 on the site of the Methodist Theological Seminary of Ohio where the National FaithLands Conference is being hosted here.
- Amenities include: hot breakfast buffet; a fitness center; a communal area with a TV, pool table, and kitchenette; as well as access to the MTSO campus and farm.
- Cost is $100 per night, or $200 for two nights at the campus.
- To inquire about this option, email [email protected] and select interest on the registration form when registering for the Conference
Note: Preference for MTSO lodging will be given to individuals who plan to participate in all 3 days of the conference. Individuals who indicated interest in getting lodging at MTSO will be notified one way or another by Interfaith Food by July 15th.
In addition to the limited number of rooms available at the Methodist Theological Seminary of Ohio, FaithLands Conference organizers have secured discounted rates and reserved blocks of rooms at two off-site locations listed below.
Baymont by Wyndham, Delaware
- Located a 5-minute drive or a 30-minute walk from MTSO
- Located at 1720 Columbus Pike, Delaware, Ohio
- Amenities include: Indoor pool, fitness center, free breakfast; wifi, free parking.
- The cost per night is $89 plus tax for the discounted group conference rate. To book, please call them at 740-363-3510. Book by 7/23/24 to qualify for this rate..
Hyatt Place Columbus/Worthington
- Located approximately 10 miles away from the MTSO site. (The drive from this lodging location to the conference would be around 20-30 minutes)
- Located at 7490 Vantage Drive. Columbus, Ohio 43235 United States
- Amenities include: free breakfast, free wifi, free parking, a fitness center, a pool, as well as business services and more.
- The cost per night is $139 for the discounted group conference rate available to conference registrants. Book before 07/08 to qualify for this rate. Click here to book.
For additional recommendations refer to the lodging page here.
For questions or issues with registration or lodging contact: Shelly Smith, [email protected] or (707) 634-4672