Type of opportunity:

Sale (Standard), Sale (Owner Financed), Lease with Option to Buy, Employment with Transfer. More info: We are seeking land on which to establish perennial crops, productive forests, and build personal equity while securing a stable situation for us to "settle in". Ideally, we would like to purchase acreage, perhaps 5 acres or so, however, we are flexible and open to considering other, or nontraditional arrangements, for example life estate, conservancy stewardship, etc. And definitely open to more acreage if it's in budget. Contact for references! :)

Equipment & infrastructure:

More info: Equipment and infrastructure can be minimal as we have experience in building and some resources to get us started. Water and power would be a plus; we prefer natural water sources if possible. Housing not necessary, but outbuildings and/or a barn would be a bonus.

Current production on farm:

Flowers, Herbs, Honey bees, Poultry (Broiler/Layer), Vegetable production, Woodlot or forest products. More info: We are currently living (almost 5 yrs) in a work-trade arrangement on a property near Asheville, NC, engaged in various agricultural activities. We are the primary caretakers of the chickens, bees, and blackberries, and are also planting trees, establishing large pollinator habitats, producing biochar as well as growing our own mushrooms and a small garden.

Current farming practices:

Biodynamic, Ecological production but not certified. More info: We personally follow regenerative farming practices to continuously support the microbiome and soil fertility. In the past, we have used no-till, cover cropping, hügelkultur, compost and compost tea, sheet mulching, rotational grazing, etc. In the future we are interested in vermiculture.

Previous farming experience:

Volunteer, Employee, Manager

Number of years experience:

20

Other qualifications:

More info: Amelia grew up on a cattle operation and farming homestead and her curiosity and love for plants have kept her continuously engaged in agriculture. She has worked on organic vegetable farms, a National Park Service historic garden, been an assistant manager of a farmer's market, and run her own farm in southern Georgia for three years. She has been a member of, and volunteered for, multiple farm-related organizations. Mike has a professional degree and separate career in healthcare, but he pitches in regularly, helps stabilize financial stressors, and shares Amelia's earnest desire to contribute to sustainable agriculture, land management, and conservation.

Production goals:

Flowers, Herbs, Honey bees, Orchard, Woodlot or forest products. More info: The general direction we would like to head is to focus primarily on perennial growing. Examples of this include fruit trees, berries, mushrooms, herbs, and basket willow. In addition, we plan to focus on growing cut flowers. Plus, we plan to maintain an apiary. Amelia partnered with the NC Division of Wildlife to supply native flower seeds for a conservation project on the Green River in 2023, and aspires to continue growing and supplying native seed mixes.

Personal experience and production goals summary:

Overall, we are well-positioned to launch a successful small farm with a solid foundation of experience, skills, and passionate interest. We are looking for the right fit and a place to settle down. The right place would have to include long-term stability, a vested interest, and the possibilty of building personal equity due to our desire to build soil and perennials, i.e things that cannot be moved from the land. This could be a typical land purchase but we are also open to other possible arrangements. Our goal is to establish and grow a sustainable farm consisting of orchards, berries, bees, flowers, and more while, simultaneously, leaving as minimal a footprint as possible and supporting diversity in the microbiome and native natural habitats. We envision targeting markets such as specialty food businesses, restaurants, and online sales. In short, we would like to respectfully cultivate the land and leave it, eventually, better than we found it by building soil, increasing biodiversity and forest cover.

 

Resume:

Amelia Schroeder resume no references.docx