Farming full-time
Updated Apr 18, 2025
Seeking
- 11-50 Total acres
- 0-5 Acres of cropland or tillable land
- 6-10 Acres of pasture
Desired locations
I'm Betsy Balbuena, an aspiring homesteader who is looking to lease land to achieve my farm business goals.
Plan
I have volunteered and worked for countless farms and am ready to start my own. I will start small by focusing on only one product and expanding as I feel more confident in my sales and expertise. I plan to use organic and humane practices.
Desired infrastructure
Equipment and infrastructure details
Any farm equipment offered would be very useful. I am pretty good at using what I have so all or none would be accepted. Because this would be a business, I would be completely be okay with no equipmenmt offered because it is included in my start up. However, this equipment would be very benficial.
Preferred type of opportunity
Opportunity details
I am looking to lease to be able to grow what I want on the land without feeling restricted. I plan to working with the leaser by communicating my plans and goals. Leasing land breaks a huge barrier of not inheriting or owning land. I plan to use this land as an educational resource for others as well. I have many idead for how i can expand and make this a welcoming farm where customers can see their food system transparently.
Desired farming practices
Practices details
Having a biodynamic farm is very important to me because it shows my values of sustainably using Earth's resources instead of abusing and depleting them, like is consistenly done in American culture. I plan to do this by implementing homesteading skills such as canning to preserve foods that may go to waste because I have an abundance of at the momemnt. Transitioning to organic falls into these practices since it focuses on making sure we do not overuse our resources or negatively affec them.
Production goals
Goals details
The production goals listed above are my end goal. I understand that this goal is not for within the year or even the next 5. It is important to me to start smal instead of letting my excitement take the best of me. It is clear I want to do it all, and I eventually will do a lot, but I plan to start with one, do it well, then grow my business with a different type of product.
Farm experience
Years of experience
2 total years of experience
2 years employed as a worker (non-manager)
Education, training, and employment experience
Experience details
I have worked as a full time goat farmer while living in NY, where my first week I assisted with a goat birth. I also have been a part time farm hand at an animal sanctuary taking care of barns and coops. I have also participated in many WWOOFing volunteer experiences which connects farms looking for volunteers, to aspiring farmers. I worked worked at a grape vine orchard, where the farm specialized in winemaking. I also volunteered at a market garden farmer who focused her intentions in off grid living. While I have paid work experience with dairy goat cows, where we also made cheese, I learned alot and enjoyed working with dairy cows, learning lots about the importance of observing.