Six-week Land Literacy Series
This six-week series provides a comprehensive, practical introduction to land ownership in the United States, with a particular focus on rural land, long-term stewardship, and land retention. The goal of the program is to equip potential land buyers with the information they need to make informed and intentional decisions about acquiring, using, and holding land.
Rather than approaching land ownership as a single transaction, the series explores it as a legal, administrative, economic, and ecological system. Participants will examine how history, policy, zoning, financing, stewardship practices, and long-term planning interact to shape real-world land outcomes. The emphasis throughout the series is on preparedness, clarity, and the long-term viability of land ownership.
What Participants Can Expect
Format
The series runs for six weeks and meets once per week for one and a half hours, with a short break in the middle. Each session includes approximately ninety minutes of guided discussion and instruction. Sessions are offered in both Zoom and in-person formats to ensure accessibility for participants in different locations.
Topics Covered
Over the six weeks, participants will explore:
The history of land ownership in the United States and the policies that shaped current ownership patterns
Land use classifications, zoning, and administrative controls that determine what land can be used for
Property acquisition pathways, ownership structures, financing options, and due diligence
Principles of stewardship, sustainability, and non-exploitative land use
Resale, long-term holding strategies, generational wealth, family resilience, and land retention
Synthesis, real-world application, and pathways for further study
Who This Series Is For
This series is open to participants at any level of experience, including those with no prior background in land ownership. It is intended for individuals, families, collectives, and community-based groups who are considering land ownership or who want to better understand how land functions as a long-term asset and responsibility.
While the course is open to all communities, it is intentionally oriented toward people from marginalized backgrounds. Many of the issues discussed are presented with an awareness of how identity, history, and structural conditions shape access to land and long-term security. Black people, queer and LGBTQ+ folks, immigrants and migrants, and others who have historically faced barriers to land ownership are especially encouraged to participate. At the same time, the series remains open and welcoming to anyone committed to learning, reflection, and responsible land ownership.
Cost and Participation
The series is $489 for all six sessions. Contributions support ongoing education, research, and land-based work through Black Land Ownership.
Payments can be made via check, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, or crypto.
Contributors and Guest Speakers
Black Land Ownership welcomes contributors and guest speakers with experience in land ownership, land use, stewardship, law, finance, conservation, planning, or related fields. Individuals interested in contributing to the series are encouraged to contact us directly.
About Black Land Ownership
Black Land Ownership is an education, research, and land-based initiative focused on expanding durable Black ownership of land, particularly in rural and non-urban contexts. The work centers on centralizing information, examining the historical and structural forces that shape land access, and supporting the acquisition, stewardship, and long-term retention of land.
Through education, mapping, and direct land projects, Black Land Ownership treats land as infrastructure for safety, autonomy, ecological responsibility, and intergenerational continuity.