Homesteading and Farming Groups Map
Homesteading and farming groups connect growers with training, mentors, markets and each other. This map shows U.S. grower associations, Farmers Union chapters, organic and sustainable farming associations, farm schools, fruit-growing societies and homesteading clubs that were operating when we checked in November 2026.
How to use the map: enter your ZIP code in the box below the map to list the 10 closest homesteading and farming groups with their distance, or click a numbered circle to zoom in. If the site already has your ZIP code, it fills in for you. Click any teal pin for the address, a short description, the website and a Directions link. On a phone, tap the full-screen button (the square icon under the zoom buttons).
More maps: Community GardensFood ForestsSchool GardensPermaculture CoursesFruit Festivals
Loading homesteading and farming groups…
Enter a ZIP code to see the 10 closest groups.
Know a group we’re missing? Send us its name, address and website through our contact form. Use the same form to tell us if a group on the map has closed or moved.
Where the list comes from: we started from the homesteading and farming organizations on our 2023 map, then searched state and regional sustainable farming associations, Farmers Union chapters, farm schools, fruit-growing societies and homesteading clubs in November 2026. Only groups with evidence of activity in 2025 or 2026 made the map. Closed groups, duplicates, businesses (including privately run homesteading expos), private homes and online-only communities were left off. The map now shows 209 groups in 50 states. National networks with hundreds of local chapters are not pinned one by one; to find a local Grange hall or your county Extension office, use the Grange finder or the Extension directory. Spot something missing or out of date? Use the contact form link under the map.
Types of Farming and Homesteading Groups
- Farmers Union chapters. National Farmers Union was founded in 1902 by ten family farmers in Point, Texas, and works through advocacy, education and cooperation; state chapters hold meetings and trainings for members.
- Organic farming associations. The Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) has chapters in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont that run conferences, workshops and farm tours.
- Grower associations for fruit, vegetables and specialty crops run field days, trade shows and research updates for their members.
- Farm schools and incubator farms teach new growers on working land, often with plots you can rent while you learn.
Not on the map, but in every state: Cooperative Extension. The Smith-Lever Act, signed on May 8, 1914, set up a Cooperative Extension Service at each land-grant university, and county extension offices still answer growers’ questions and run workshops.
How to Choose a Group
Decide what you need first: classes, a mentor, a buying club, a market for what you grow, or a voice on farm policy. Most groups list their events on their websites; going to one meeting or field day tells you more than the membership page. Raising poultry with your trees? See chickens in the food forest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a homesteading group?
A homesteading group brings together people who grow, raise or make some of their own food and goods, from backyard growers to small farms. On this map we include grower associations, farm schools, organic farming associations and Farmers Union chapters that welcome small growers.
Are these groups only for full-time farmers?
No. Many welcome gardeners and homesteaders, and organic farming associations and farm schools often have classes aimed at beginners. Check each group’s membership page.
Where else can I get farming help near me?
Your state’s Cooperative Extension Service. Under the Smith-Lever Act of 1914 every land-grant university runs one, with county offices that answer growing questions and run workshops. Search for your state’s extension service and your county.
How do I add a group to this map?
Use the contact form link under the map and send the group’s name, location and website.
Sources and Further Reading
- National Farmers Union: About NFU.
- Northeast Organic Farming Association: NOFA Interstate Council.
- USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture: Cooperative Extension History.
- Food Forest Nursery: organizations from our 2023 map, re-checked against each group’s website in November 2026.