Farming full-time for income
Updated Oct 7, 2026
Seeking
- 6-10 Total acres
- 6-10 Acres of cropland or tillable land
Desired locations
I'm looking for 5 to 15 acres to grow mixed vegetable crops with the potential for laying hens or pigs in the future.
Plan
I want to farm small scale because I want to deeply connect with community by providing people local & healthy food. As part of this connection to people and the land, I use only organic practices to build the best soil and grow food that is good for people, all the way through. I would like to minimize tillage when possible, but recognize it as a very useful practice for things like incorporating cover crop and other organic matter into soil.
Desired infrastructure
Equipment and infrastructure details
While I'm open to starting a farm from scratch, I feel that there are existing properties that people have already put a lot of hard work into that I'd - ideally - like to continue operating. A water source for irrigation is the most necessary, and an existing barn is highly preferable. All of the other equipment and storage would be nice to have but not required.
Preferred type of opportunity
Opportunity details
I'm looking to farm long term, and am looking for a property that can meet that desire. Ideally I would like to own, but land is expensive, and I am open to a stable lease with a landowner that shares my goals for the land.
Desired farming practices
Practices details
My farm would use organic practices and, likely, achieve organic certifications. Organic practices are a good start, and a great way to communicate to customers your base values. However, I believe at a small scale we have an ability to go way beyond these requirements. At this scale, one can intimately learn their land characteristics and what it needs to grow the best crops. My goal is to build great soil and a great habitat for everything that lives in soil, and use that as a base to grow great food.
Production goals
Goals details
My goal is to grow beyond organic vegetables for market and wholesale (restaurants and/or grocery stores), with the possibility of starting a CSA after building a customer base. I will grow a variety of vegetables but focus mainly on well-loved staples like tomatoes, cucumbers, bagged greens, and lettuce. My goal is to grow year round if there is a market for winter vegetables, utilizing high tunnels and greenhouses in the winter to maintain a supply of local produce as many days of the year as possible.
Farm experience
Years of experience
3 total years of experience
3 years employed as a worker (non-manager)
0 years as a manager
Education, training, and employment experience
Experience details
I have worked 3 years working on small-scale vegetable farms. My first year was on a 2 acre farm near Richmond, Virginia and my last two years have been on a 16 acre farm in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in California. I have been involved in all aspects of these market farms for the entirety of each season.
I also have 1 year experience in charge of an established half acre farm, growing annual vegetables and harvesting perennial fruits and flowers for a roadside farmers market.