Farming full-time for income
Updated Jun 26, 2026
Seeking
- 11-50 Total acres
- 0-5 Acres of cropland or tillable land
- 0-5 Acres of pasture
Desired locations
I am looking for land where I can start production like bees or mushrooms on a part-time basis until I retire.
Plan
I would like to begin working part-time helping to steward a new project. (I currently direct the local small business center.) Once I retire in 2 years or so, I plan to devote all of my time to it. I am developing business ideas for this area, near my home in Kinston. I am exploring making agritourism the cornerstone of my farm operation and am very interested in developing a farm where animals and crops are integrated.
Desired infrastructure
Equipment and infrastructure details
Buildings to store tools, equipment, and supplies. Perimeter fencing. Greenhouse would be ideal.
Preferred type of opportunity
Opportunity details
Not looking to buy right now. Prefer long-term access to land not far from my home in Kinston that I can help improve and keep in production.
Desired farming practices
Practices details
I lean towards organic / regenerative / sustainable types of agriculture. I don't want to use synthetic chemicals.
After I retire in 2 years, I would like to rotationally graze livestock, beef cattle and sheep. I am interested in agroforestry (alley cropping or silvopasture), and want to plant native varieties of native, heritage fruit and nut trees for production and shade for livestock. I am also very interested in increasing biodiversity.
Production goals
Goals details
I described above the types of farming practices I am interested in. Exact nature of operation depends a lot on site and location. Ideal site has water for irrigation.
I think best place to start is with a sustainable poultry (layer) business (in particular, I want to replicate the Regenerative Poultry Model by the Regenerative Ag Alliance). Everyone eats eggs. Generates cash flow to invest in other components of plan. Doesn't appear to require a large capital outlay (i.e. debt). I would be interested in a flexible lease that allows for the sharing of the cost of capital improvements that may need to be made as well as profits.
Farm experience
Years of experience
10 total years of experience
Education, training, and employment experience
Experience details
I am a beekeeper and have been gardening for a couple of decades. I have been learning informally about cover crops, regenerative ag, and agroforestry. I started a community garden and apiary in Kinston. I usually attend the Sustainable Ag Conference in Durham every other year. I also raised meat goats for several years in the 1990's.