In this episode of Shared Roots Podcast, we sit down with Brett Melone and Katia Carranza of California FarmLink to explore one of the most fundamental challenges facing the next generation of farmers: access to land and the resources needed to build a sustainable future in agriculture.

Through California FarmLink’s Equity & Conservation on Working Lands (ECWL) program, farmers and ranchers who have historically faced barriers to land access and ownership receive support in securing land tenure, developing equitable agreements, navigating farm and business transitions, and planning for succession. FarmLink also connects landseekers and landholders through its bilingual Land Portal and provides individualized technical assistance designed to turn a land opportunity into a stable, long-term farming relationship.

Brett and Katia discuss why gaining access to farmland is about much more than simply finding available acreage. Secure land tenure can give farmers the stability to invest in their businesses, adopt conservation and climate-resilient practices, build financial security, and ultimately create opportunities for the next generation. They also explore the importance of thoughtful succession planning as longtime farmers consider retirement and the need to keep productive farmland in agriculture while creating pathways for new and underserved farmers.

The conversation also highlights the practical resources available through California FarmLink—from land access and agreement-building services to business education, technical assistance, financing, and programs that help farmers evaluate, lease, purchase, and successfully transition agricultural land.

In Episode 2 of the Shared Roots Podcast, hosts Areli Perez and Paul Maschka are joined by Sierra Reiss Miranda, Land Equity Project Manager at UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), for a conversation about the Climate Action and Land Equity (CALE) Initiative and its efforts to create a more equitable and climate-resilient future for California agriculture.

Sierra introduces the CALE Initiative, its goals, and the collaborative network of organizations working to address barriers facing farmers and communities across California. The conversation explores how land access, climate action, technical assistance, education, and community partnerships intersect—and why organizations with different areas of expertise must work together to create meaningful and lasting change.

The episode also highlights the role of community-based partners within the CALE network and how initiatives such as Shared Roots help bring these issues to broader audiences through education, storytelling, media, and community engagement. Together, the discussion demonstrates how collaboration can elevate farmer voices, strengthen connections to land, and support more equitable and sustainable food systems throughout California.

In the first episode of the Shared Roots Podcast, hosts Areli Perez and Paul Maschka introduce the historical and current challenges farmers face in finding, affording, and holding onto agricultural land in Southern California—while connecting these local struggles to similar challenges farmers face around the world.

Together, they explore what’s at stake as farmland becomes increasingly difficult to access, and why creating more equitable pathways to land matters for farmers, communities, and the future of our food systems.

ACMA’s Shared Roots Initiative, funded by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), empowers underserved communities through education, resources, and storytelling in agriculture.

Visit our website to learn more about ACMA's Shared Roots Initiative.