Afternoon Gardens - Ecological Gardener and Native Plant Nursery

Farming full-time for income

Updated Apr 16, 2026

K

Katie Collins

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Edible perennial plant nursery seeks long term land arrangement on 1-10 acres.

Organic, edible, native trees, shrubs, and flowers distributed through a farm stand, nursery pick up, local delivery, and land care clients in addition to ecological garden design, installation and maintenance services. 

Expand the nursery to include a demonstration garden of plants that we sell so buyers can see the plants at their final size, shape and how they interact with each other and surrounding environment. 

2-10 acres would be ideal, a mix of open full sun growing areas and woodland. 

  • Farmer housing
  • Fencing
  • Greenhouse
  • Well / Pond / Other water source

Equipment and infrastructure details

Water source, well, pond, creek. Housing available or can be added with relative ease. Greenhouse and fencing would be ideal but not necessary. 

  • Sale (Cash or Mortgage)
  • Sale (Owner Financed)
  • Lease (5+ Years)
  • Lease w/Option to Buy
  • Lease w/Mentoring
  • Incubator Program
  • Employment / Internship / Mentorship
  • Employment with Transfer

Opportunity details

Long term lease with option to buy or sale. Outright sale. Open to land sharing with folks with similar goals, values and vision.

  • Biodynamic
  • Regenerative
  • Certified organic
  • Ecological production but not certified

Practices details

Holistic, beyond organic, regenerative agricultural practices. Permaculture and biodynamic leaning. No sprays, no herbicides or pesticides. Working with the existing ecosystem, supporting its health and longevity while producing healthy nursery stock. 

Minimal inputs, using mainly local and on site resources.

  • Flowers / Herbs
  • Orchard / Vineyard
  • Woodlot or forest products

Goals details

Our long term goals include an inspirational demonstration garden using our plants that customers can visit and see a creative well designed example of the plants actively growing and interacting. As the farm and nursery develops, it becomes self-sustaining, moving towards a balanced, holistic ecosystem with very little to no inputs. Seeds and cuttings can be collected from our own plants and propagated. Soil from spent mushroom compost can be used for plant starts. Woodchips from selected trees can be used as mulch for the gardens and fuel and so on.

Years of experience

8 total years of experience

Education, training, and employment experience

  • Farm internship / apprenticeship
  • Farmer training program
  • Part time farm employee
  • Farm business owner

Experience details

started out working on organic farms in 2014. I have worked in greenhouses, private gardens, & retail nurseries while formally studying and gaining certifications in agroforestry and permaculture. started growing native trees in 2020, certified as an organic land care practitioner through NOFA-CT. My works lies at the intersection of fine gardening, native plants and sustainable agriculture.

Desired locations

  • Chatham
  • Durham
  • Forsyth
  • Orange
  • Wake
  • Cabarrus
  • Mecklenburg
  • Buncombe
  • Haywood
  • Henderson