Erin Espinosa

Young farmer with nearly ten years of farm experience seeking farmland to begin her own vegetable and cut flower operation with the goal to sustainably provide high quality product.

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Location:

  • South Central
    • Alexander
    • Anson
    • Cabarrus
    • Catawba
    • Cleveland
    • Cumberland
    • Gaston
    • Harnett
    • Hoke
    • Iredell
    • Lee
    • Lincoln
    • Mecklenburg
    • Montgomery
    • Moore
    • Richmond
    • Rowan
    • Scotland
    • Stanly
    • Union
  • Southeast
    • Bladen
    • Brunswick
    • Carteret
    • Columbus
    • Craven
    • Duplin
    • Greene
    • Johnston
    • Jones
    • Lenoir
    • New Hanover
    • Onslow
    • Pamlico
    • Pender
    • Robeson
    • Sampson
    • Wayne
    • Wilson

Total acres 20.0

Acres of cropland or tillable land 15.0

Looking for the following:

Type of opportunity:

Sale (Standard), Sale (Owner Financed), Lease (1 to 5 Years), Lease (5+ Years), Lease with Option to Buy. More info: I am a young female vegetable and cut flower farmer seeking farmland in South Central and South Eastern NC to start my own small farm business. This land would preferably be currently in vegetable/fruit/grain production, in production within the last 5 years, or with the option to conduct soil tests before purchasing. With a combined eight years of organic vegetable production experience in NC and Massachusetts, I am well versed in soil management, pest management, greenhouse propagation, mechanical operations, marketing and sales, and more. My business plan will speak to my qualifications, goals, budget, crop plans, etc.

Equipment & infrastructure:

Barn, Well / Pond / Other water source. More info: While I prefer land with infrastructure already in place, I am not ruling out accessible land without necessary infrastructure. I am seeking either a small plot (1-5 acres) that would allow me to start growing and building capital/market or a larger plot (5-20 acres) that would be the permanent site of my new farm. The viability of the larger plot depends largely on cost and building potential of the land. Preferable farmland would have at the very minimum a water source and a storage barn or pack house with potential to build housing, greenhouse, and more storage. If land has mentioned infrastructure (cold storage, greenhouse, and additional equipment) would be a great plus.

Current production on farm:

Cattle (Dairy/Beef), Fallow, Field crops, Flowers, Hay or pasture, Herbs, Hogs, Orchard, Sheep/Goat (Dairy/Meat), Vegetable production. More info: I currently produce and sell vegetables, seedlings and potted plants, cut flowers, and herbs. I am willing to farm on land that is or was used for other enterprises.

Current farming practices:

Certified organic, Transitioning to organic, Ecological production but not certified. More info: I am trained and currently farm using organic and sustainable practices but not certified.

Qualifications and goals:

Previous farming experience:

Employee, Manager

Number of years experience:

8

Other qualifications:

Farm business training, Higher education in agriculture or related field. More info: I have gone through the NC Good Agricultural Practices (2016) training and Food Safety Modernization Act Food Safety Plan (2019) training. I am also a Certified Food Handler (2018). Additionally I have attended workshops and classes in the following topics Soil Health and Nutrient Management, Sustainable Business Planning and Budgeting, Season Extension and Greenhouse Propagation, Marketing, and Integrated Pest Management.

Production goals:

Field crops, Flowers, Herbs, Vegetable production. More info: In addition to vegetable, fruit, and cut flowers I hope to develop an educational enterprise--offering workshops, apprenticeships, and potential incubator options for beginning farmers. Cultivating a continuing generation of young farmers is important to me.

Personal experience and production goals summary:

Since I was 16 years old, I have dreamed of owning my own farm. For the past eight years I have worked on a variety of diversified vegetable farms, starting as an intern and working my way up to assistant manager. I am well-versed in producing for a CSA model, Farmer's Markets, on site farm stand, and wholesale enterprises. My farm training occured both in Wilmington, North Carolina and Massachusetts, exposing me to a variety of growing methods and climates. Aside from working full-time on small farms (5-10 acres in production), I have participated in many workshops and trainings to enhance my knowledge. In my daily work, I emphasize the importance of efficiency, a fast-pace, and high quality work. My goal is minimize my environmental impact while ethically and sustainably maximizing profit and train a network of young farmers.  

My mentor along with many other leaders in the local farm community have prepped me for the ins-and-outs of starting my own farm--teaching me how to seek farmland, secure operating loans, construct a business plan, and plan. While I currently work in Massachusetts, I am planning to return to NC in the next year. Not only do I prefer the growing conditions in NC, but I feel there is more market potential and a greater need for small organic growers in Southeastern, NC. Upon my return, I hope to utilize my connections in Wilmington and Carolina Beach to build a support system, continue farming, and seek farmland of my own.

Ideally, I will start my own plan using a grassroots approach. I would like to start small, leasing less than 5 acres to grow vegetables and flowers, ideally with the ability to install a greenhouse. After building capital and a customer base, I would expand my business either on the same piece of land if possible or moving the farm to a more permanent location with housing and infrastructure. I understand this ideal situation may not exist and this plan may require some flexibility.