Type of opportunity:

Sale (Standard), Sale (Owner Financed), Lease (1 to 5 Years), Lease (5+ Years), Lease with Option to Buy, Incubator / Mentored Lease, Business Partnership. More info: I am a beginning farmer with a modest savings and family support looking for land to lease / potentially buy with pastures. I would love to find a place with housing included. I'm interested in multiple different types of arrangements and levels of involvement from landowners. I'm looking for anything from a traditional lease to a profit share opportunity. My goal will be to improve the land that I'm on through regenerative agriculture and use the business I create to support the local community. **Update 2021 I'm currently farming in Zionville, NC but am still looking for a more permanent place for the future. Check out my website: https://www.wildhair-ranch.com/

Equipment & infrastructure:

Barn, Fencing, Well / Pond / Other water source, Livestock facilities, Farmer housing, Farm equipment, Cold storage (cooler/freezer). More info: I'm looking for a property rougly between 50-150 acres with significant pasture space. Water and electricity are also a major necessity. Housing and barn/outbuildings preferable - doesn't need to be anything fancy.

Current farming practices:

Biodynamic, Conventional, Certified organic, Transitioning to organic, Ecological production but not certified, None, the property is not being farmed. More info: I would prefer a property that had been ecologically stewded in the past without use of conventional chemicals. That said, the past production of the farm really isnt a deal breaker. My goal is to improve the land through holistic management.

Previous farming experience:

Volunteer, Employee, Manager

Number of years experience:

3

Other qualifications:

More info: I've been working on pasture-based farms in New England for the past two years. I've worked up to an assistant manager at my current farm for the 2020 season. I have experience with grassfed beef, pastured chicken, pork, turkeys, and dairy. I've studied Joel Salatin, Allan Savory, Charlotte Smith (among others) and attended several farm conferences. In college, I studied environmental science alongside my creative writing degree. I started soil research on a grass-fed dairy that sparked further research by my university after I was gone. I worked with student orgs to help teach the students about sustainable agriculture and gave consumer interest lectures on farm and food policy.

Production goals:

Cattle (Dairy/Beef), Hay or pasture, Herbs, Hogs, Honey bees, Poultry (Broiler/Layer), Sheep/Goat (Dairy/Meat). More info: My production is largely going to be determined by the type of land I'm able to find. Ideally, I'd like to find a place where I can work up to producing grassfed beef, pastured poultry, pastured or forest raised pork, and grass-fed dual-purpose sheep. I intend to utilized multi-species grazing to manage pastures. I will incorporate agritourism in some way that works well with the property - possibly through farmstays, tours, workshops, etc. to create another income stream and marketing opportunity. My goal is to find a partner who would be interested in having a small, intensive vegetable and possible micro-dairy opperation alongside mine. This will be a highly diversified farm.

Personal experience and production goals summary:

Please see my attached resume for a detailed description of my on-farm experience. 

My production will center around utilizing intensive multi-species grazing for pasture sanition and fertility. 

Rough Marketing Plan:

The goal is to sell as much direct-to-consumer as possible. This will be accomplished by utilizing an online shop where customers can order product for on-farm pickup, delivery to specific nearby urban areas, and possibly shipping. I have experience with implementing a system like this at my current farm that vastly increased sales. I'm also interested in offering a type of meat subscription / CSA deal.

I will utilize local farmers' markets and other venues in the beginning to increase the farm's visibility in the community. 

Agritourism will also be a big component of marketing and income streams. I hope to offer and/or host things like tours, classes/workshops, farm dinners, and farm-stays. It all depends on what the property can accommodate. 

I'm very passionate about regenerative agriculture and it's ability to restore the health of land, people, and economies.

Purpose Statement of Future Farm:

• To provide high-quality, nutrient dense food to surrounding communities - thus improving the health of those communities.
• To provide a comfortable and sustainable living for my family and others within the community.
• To educate people about regenerative agriculture, local food, and the positive impact these things can have on local environments and economies. + Educating people on traditional (self-suficient) lifeskills such as butchering, cooking, gardening, herbal medicine, etc.
• Improve the land and local ecosystems. 

For more information on me and what I'm doing now, follow me on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplyagrarian/

Resume:

NC Farmlink Resume.pdf