The EEIF Team attended a farmer forum meeting on January 24 organized by the Mecklenburg
County Soil & Water Conservation District, Charlotte Mecklenburg Food Policy Council and the
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association concerning the process of obtaining a Voluntary
Agricultural District (VAD) for Mecklenburg County.
Having a VAD in Mecklenburg County would protect farmland from development as well as help
give farmers a fair tax rate on their land. It would also help promote buffer management and
land/water resource sustainability in the county.
The EEIF Team actively participated in the conversation both with the group and with individual
attendees. As farmers ourselves, we admire the farmers’ first approach and are looking forward
to being a resource for this group as they pursue further discussion of a VAD in Mecklenburg
County.