Farming full-time for income
Updated Jan 21, 2026
Seeking
- 11-50 Total acres
- 0-5 Acres of cropland or tillable land
- 0-5 Acres of pasture
- 0-5 Acres of hayland
Desired locations
Seeking Piedmont NC farmland for sustainable farm with on-site residence. Open to lease to own, purchase, or partnership
Plan
We are a family of beginning farmers seeking land in the Piedmont region of North Carolina to establish a small, sustainable, income-producing farm with on-site residence. We have hands-on experience maintaining multiple raised box gardens growing fruits and vegetables using organic, low-input practices. Our initial focus is on producing easy, high-demand crops well-suited to NC conditions while prioritizing soil health and responsible land management. As production grows, we plan to add chickens for egg production and pest control, followed by small cattle using regenerative grazing practices. Our long-term goal is productive agriculture, conservation, and faithful land stewardship.
Desired infrastructure
Equipment and infrastructure details
Our preferred equipment and infrastructure support small-scale, diversified farm production with room to grow. Initial needs include perimeter and interior fencing for crop and livestock management, a small barn or multi-purpose structure for equipment, feed, and animal shelter, and a greenhouse or high tunnel for season extension and plant starts. Access to a reliable water source is essential for irrigation and livestock. Cold storage or refrigeration will support produce handling and sales. On-site farmer housing is needed to allow daily management, animal care, and long-term stewardship of the land.
Preferred type of opportunity
Desired farming practices
Production goals
Goals details
Our farming practices focus on practical, phased production using sustainable and regenerative methods. We plan to begin with easy, high-demand vegetables and culinary/medicinal herbs suited to Piedmont NC, using organic, low-input practices to improve soil health and generate early income. As capacity grows, we plan to add poultry for egg production, fertility, and pest management. Hay production will support future livestock needs. Long-term goals include introducing cattle using rotational grazing practices and managing an existing or future woodlot for conservation, shade, and land balance. Our approach prioritizes stewardship, gradual expansion, and financially sustainable production.
Farm experience
Years of experience
3 total years of experience
0 years employed as a worker (non-manager)
1 years as a manager
Education, training, and employment experience
Experience details
We have foundational agricultural experience from being raised on a working farm, combined with hands-on practice creating, installing, and maintaining raised box gardens for public schools on a part-time basis. Our work included site assessment, soil preparation, crop selection appropriate to local growing conditions, planting, irrigation, ongoing maintenance, and seasonal harvesting. We supported garden-based education while maintaining productive growing systems. We have a working knowledge of small-scale food production, soil health, and sustainable practices, and we continue to build technical capacity through NC Cooperative Extension resources, applied research, hands on learning.