Farming full-time for income
Updated Mar 5, 2026
Seeking
- 0-5 Total acres
- 6-10 Acres of cropland or tillable land
Desired locations
I am seeking any acerage of land to start an organically grown farm for my autistic son and his friends to work on.
Plan
My business has been in place for a few years, but I haven't had the space to truly farm. I started it for my autisti son and his friends to have a place to work and learn. We have focused on growing house plants up until now, and are getting ready to start growing moringa trees this season.
Our goal is to grow moringa trees, organic herbs, medicinal plants, & nursery plants, then hopefully, cut flowers & food. My ultimate goal is to have my own land as a cut/pick-your-own farm primarily run by special needs adults, like my son.
To keep chemicals out of our foods, I plan to grow organically, using beneficial bugs, no till practices, worm teas, and bionutrients over chemicals.
Desired infrastructure
Equipment and infrastructure details
Honestly, anything that a farmer would need would be so appreciated. Since we are just getting started, we have nothing major to bring.
We do have friends who farm, have landscaping companies, and nurseries, so depending on where the land is to them, we may have help, if needed.
Preferred type of opportunity
Opportunity details
Open to anything. My ultimate goal is to have my own land, so working towards that goal. My current home sits on 3/4 acres, but I hope to have 10+ acres someday. 100+ would be even better, if I'm honest. ;)
Desired farming practices
Practices details
I organically grow my plants. I would like to be organic certified at some point, but I am not at this time.
We currently farm red wigglers to utilize worm castings in our plants, and to make worm teas. We also use our fishtank water, blood meal, compost, bone meal, matures, and banana waters.
Once we start growing in the the ground, the plan is to grow no-till, using organically made compost, chicken manure, and wood chips, and an annual coverage of beneficial bacteria for boosts. No matter what is grown, we'll also ensure we have the necessary flowers and plants for beneficial bugs for pest controls.
Honeybees will also be added, whether I buy hives or let others sent them up.
Production goals
Goals details
The acreage and the length of lease will determine what we grow on the land.
This spring, we will start growing moringa trees on our property. In our zone, these are annuals, unless protected from freezes. I would love to expand them to another location, as well. The leaves are harvested, along with other parts, so they are managed well, and not left to grow tall, but short and bushy. Every part of the tree is edible and useful.
In addition to those, we would love to grow herbs, medicinal plants, crops and cut flowers, at some point. The unltimate goal is to have a pick your own farm.
What's grown on the land will be determined by what the land owner wants and does not want.
Farm experience
Years of experience
0 total years of experience
0 years employed as a worker (non-manager)
0 years as a manager
Education, training, and employment experience
Experience details
I have no formal trainings, other than attending NCSU Farm School and attending the NCSU Vermiculture Conference, which is a wonderful program. All my learning has been self taught through reading books, watching videos, and decades of hands on training growing plants in and outside of my home. My mom's family were farmers. I came along to late to join the business, other than help in their massive gardens.
Once I have a place to grow, my goal is to get interns from the colleges involved. The primary goal is to make a sustainable business for special needs adults to work, provide healthy products for the community, and leave the land in a better condition than I found it for the future.