Farming part-time for homestead
Updated Aug 10, 2026
Seeking
- 11-50 Total acres
- 11-50 Acres of cropland or tillable land
- 6-10 Acres of pasture
- 6-10 Acres of hayland
Desired locations
I am a veterinarian, farrier, and I farm using draft horses. I am looking for land to rent for a year or so until I buy
Plan
I have previously and plan to continue practicing regenerative agriculture focused on soil enrichment and development using old-fashioned equipment and methods. My goal is to create a farm that can sustain itself from within using the technology and wisdom of years ago to produce high quality products for the local population with minimal dependence on anything other than the land itself to produce, thereby creating self reliance and local food security. Using draft horses for power is a key element of this strategy as well as an important preservation of historical skill. I also promote and reproduce heritage breeds of livestock which often excell in the small scale self sufficient farm.
Desired infrastructure
Equipment and infrastructure details
Ideally, I would have 2 pastures of approximately 5-10 acres each and a little distance from each other. Ideally around 30 acres tillable land, a corn crib, and a 20x40 barn with a hayloft of around 1000 square bale capacity and approximately 15x40 area of shed space on the back for machinery. I can make do with a minimum of 10 acres total since I can buy hay from a few farmer friends of mine. Pasture space is my biggest need at the moment. I don't need to have all my animals on one farm though it would be ideal to have them all at one location. At minimum, I could do with an acre of pasture per horse and I could put up a small run in shed in each pasture. Again, I can build anything I need.
Preferred type of opportunity
Opportunity details
For the time being my fiance and I are hoping to rent land as she would like time to figure out exactly where she wants to be. Lord willing, we are hoping to buy a minimum of 80 acres in the next couple of years. Ideally with a house and barn on it, but the land is the most important.
Desired farming practices
Practices details
I hope to plow ground with my horses and grow heirloom corn for livestock feed as well as oats and hay. I own all the machinery needed to plant, sow, and harvest these crops using my horses for power. I also hope to grow vegetables for my own and the landowners use if they wish. Additionally, I hope to fence land to pasture my animals using high tensile electric or barbed wire fencing both of which my horses are very experienced with and if not there, I could erect a small barn for feed storage and livestock housing. All changes that I make to the property such as fencing and barn construction can be removed when I leave if the owner desires.
Production goals
Goals details
For the next 1-2 years, I intend to work with a landowner to improve the land he/she owns while also having a place to keep, raise, and farm with my horses. I plan to care for the operation entirely unless the landowner wishes to be involved in any capacity. I have extensive experience in fencing and barn raising which I can do temporarily while I'm there, and remove when I leave, or construct fencing and agricultural infrastructure to be left for the landowner to use after I buy my own farm Lord willing within the next 2 years. I own 4 registered Suffolk horses and 1 soon to be born, 3 haflinger horses including my original team, and 2 saddle horses. I hope to get a dairy cow within a year.
Farm experience
Years of experience
26 total years of experience
18 years employed as a worker (non-manager)
8 years as a manager
Education, training, and employment experience
Experience details
I was born on a small, diversified dairy farm in central New York. I was caring for sheep, calves, and chickens by age 5, operating a tractor by age 7, milking cows and heavily involved in all aspects of farm operation by age 10. I raised and trained 2 teams of oxen in my pre teenage years. At age 16, I bought my 1st team of horses. I obtained an associates degree in Ag science from Morrisville State college, bought a 2nd team of horses at age 21 and moved near Cornell University where I received a bachelor's degree in animal science and a doctorate in veterinary medicine. During that time, I rented and farmed land with horses and worked in all aspects of a large organic dairy in the area.