The Only Thing That Lasts

The Homestead Act of 1862 changed the path of many thousands of Americans, who were given $1.1 trillion in free land to farm. Their descendents, who make up 25% of the U.S. population today, are still living off the legacy of those valuable gifts.

In the second episode of our 8-episode limited series, agriculture journalist Sarah Mock takes us on a journey to the origins of what we think of as farmland today — and with it, the very definition of private property. Your house, your land, and your concept of owning them, have everything to do with the agricultural origins of the United States.

In the first episode of our 8-episode limited series, agriculture journalist Sarah Mock unpacks the dire warnings advocates are making — namely, that we're losing thousands of acres of U.S. farmland every day. What does this loss actually mean, contrasted with issues like our lack of affordable housing? And, perhaps more importantly, should we be worried about our food supply?

Uncovering the mysteries of American farmland.