Landcare enterprises prosper on the common ground where economic development and land conservation goals overlap. Employment and prosperity generated by landcare enterprises help communities thrive by improving their environments.

One way landcare groups and practitioners have found to increase landowner incomes, strengthen communities, and conserve and enhance natural and open areas is to take advantage of emerging sustainable market opportunities.  Landcare enterprises are for-profit business ventures that create reliable income streams from sustainably-managed asset-based products and services. 

Sustainably managed forests can be income generators for forest landowners.  Selectively harvesting trees to improve the health of the forest allows landowners to meet any number of production goals including timber harvesting, wildlife and habitat improvement for hunting or fishing, non-timber forest product cultivation such as mushrooms or medicinal plants, or even simply an aesthetically pleasing forest.  Forest landcare enterprise opportunities in forest management and services, as well as forest product markets are two ways landcare is increasing incomes and job opportunities in rural areas.      learn more

Rising fuel and food prices, as well as questions of food safety are contributing to the rise in popularity of locally grown foods and sustainable food networks.  By supporting local farmers and producers, not only is small-scale farming kept a viable employer and local economies are strengthened, but food miles are reduced, land is kept open and working, and communities are more resilient, knowing their food is safe and secure.  Such landcare industries as grass-fed beef cooperatives, CSAs, and niche market production provide opportunities for land to remain open and viable for production in the face of global competition.      learn more

Grayson Natural Foods
Locally Owned - Mountain Grown

Catamount Lodge & Forest

Any discussion of land management must also include residential properties and lawns.  A major source of nutrient run-off into local rivers and streams, the sustainable management of lawns is critical to an improved environment.  Low-impact lawncare, native-scaping and xerioscaping, and other more sustainable landscaping practices are an integral part of caring for our land and water.   learn more 

Northeast Organic
Farming Association

For many people, especially those living in urban and suburban settings, the ability to experience nature and such rural traditions as farming and foresting may not be an everyday option.  Seeking out these experiences has led to an increase in eco- and agri-tourism opportunities for many rural communities. Tourism based on the ability to  experience nature and agricultural or rural settings and traditions can take many different forms

• location-based: bed and breakfasts, cabins, campsites, retreat locations, reception site

• agricultural operations:  pick-your-own businesses, orchards, vineyards, specialty products

• recreation-based:  horse-back riding, hunting, hiking, paddling, cross-country skiing, fishing

• events:  concert venues, festival site, seasonal events (corn maze, Christmas festival, etc.)

• educational:  field trips, field demonstrations, "how-to" type classes, cooking demonstrations

These opportunities not only provide a revenue stream to the landowner involved, but also brings people into the community to patronize other businesses, brings attention to the region, and creates an incentive to maintain the land in such a way that support these activities.     learn more

* to be added to the growing list of landcare enterprises, email us at contact@landcarecentral.org

Ecosystem Services

As our knowledge and awareness of the services provided by our environment improves, markets to improve and capture the value of these services are becoming more prevalent.  The value of such ecosystem services such as nutrient and water cycling, carbon sequestration, and wetlands for buffering and filtering are creating market opportunities such as mitigation banking and transferable credits.  These emerging markets rely on functioning ecosystems and working lands to meet rising demands.  Working to leverage the ability of private landowners to recognize these opportunities, landcare enterprises are forming to educate and align landowners with emerging markets to benefit the environment and the profitability of the land.       
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Energy Networks