Farming full-time for income
Updated Sep 16, 2025
Seeking
- 6-10 Total acres
- 0-5 Acres of cropland or tillable land
- 0-5 Acres of hayland
Desired locations
Veteran + educator team seeking land to start farm stand, CSA, and veteran training programs.
Plan
Russ Family Farm is a veteran- and educator-led farm project in development in Randolph County, NC. Over the last two years, we have been actively engaged in hands-on farming education and practice in Florida, including vegetable production, beekeeping, and sustainable agriculture workshops. Scott Russ (USCG Veteran) is an active member of the NC State Beekeepers Association (#29595) and a participant in Heroes to Hives and SBA Boots to Business programs, building expertise in both production and farm business management.
Desired infrastructure
Equipment and infrastructure details
I am adaptive to whatever is offered. Preferred infrastructure includes a 10x20 farm stand with refrigeration, fencing, drip irrigation, wash/pack station with cold storage, apiary area, compost site, and small pavilion for training. Equipment needs include a 25–40 HP compact tractor with loader and tillage implements, hand tools, harvest bins, beekeeping gear (hives, suits, extractor), and a delivery vehicle or trailer. A POS system with SNAP/EBT capability will support direct sales. Together, these will enable efficient production, food safety compliance, CSA fulfillment, and veteran training programs.
Preferred type of opportunity
Opportunity details
Very open to written offers by understanding owners.
Desired farming practices
Practices details
Russ Family Farm will use regenerative agriculture to build soil health through cover crops, composting, and crop rotation. We’ll protect pollinators with habitat strips and managed hives, use drip irrigation and rainwater catchment for conservation, and follow organic and IPM practices to minimize chemicals. Our farm will serve as a training ground for veterans and an educational hub for schools, with CSA and farm stand transparency. We aim to preserve farmland, improve local food access, and strengthen community resilience for future generations.
Production goals
Goals details
Russ Family Farm will use regenerative, organic-leaning practices—cover crops, composting, drip irrigation, and IPM—to build soil health, conserve water, and protect pollinators with hives and habitat strips. Year 1 focuses on 3 acres of vegetables, a farm stand, CSA launch, and 10–15 hives. By Year 5 we plan 20+ acres, orchard crops, 150+ CSA members, and agritourism. Goals: preserve farmland, improve food access, train veterans, and build a resilient local food system with diversified revenue.
Farm experience
Years of experience
2 total years of experience
0 years employed as a worker (non-manager)
2 years as a manager
Education, training, and employment experience
Experience details
Born a 3rd Generation beekeeper. Over the past two years, I have committed myself to preparing for the next great mission of my life — the launch of Russ Family Farm in Asheboro, North Carolina. As a proud U.S. Coast Guard Veteran, I’ve taken my experience, my discipline, and my desire to serve and focused them into a plan to build a veteran-led organic farm to serve the community.
