Farming part-time for income
Updated Dec 22, 2025
Seeking
- 11-50 Total acres
- 0-5 Acres of cropland or tillable land
- 6-10 Acres of pasture
Desired locations
Seeking 10-20 acres or farmland or potential farmland. Likely seeking financing through FSA beginner farmer program.
Plan
Currently on 6 acres with only 2 of very poor pasture.
Passionate about sustainable and regenerative farming, in 2 years converted 1 acre of poor pasture into lush pasture that can easily sprout broadcasted forage seed in the fall and holds perennial summer grasses.
Interested in organic practices and diversification of income with seasonal livestock sales, sheep breeding stock, and poultry breeding stock and hatching eggs currently being the most viable option for income.
Also wanting to provide direct to consumer crops based on demand, storage capabilities, and price. Passionate about maintaining strong genetics, whether in livestock, poultry, or vegetables.
Started farming through medicinas
Desired infrastructure
Equipment and infrastructure details
Pole barn and fencing are most ideal as we already have livestock. This is also our main market.
Farmer housing ideal to limit construction needs as we would live on site
Well as water source for house is ideal. Small pond great for livestock water source / irrigation source. Running creek also great as consistent water source.
Irrigation equipment a huge plus to kickstart crop production but not necessary
Cold storage huge plus
Preferred type of opportunity
Opportunity details
Looking to make a real living off of farming with limited resources. Transitioning from 6 acres (2 of pasture, 0.3 garden) to 5-10 acres of pasture for opportunity to scale livestock operation and fully focus on providing quality genetics.
This land would also be an opportunity to provide specialty crops, mushrooms and herbs/herbal products.
Very conservation minded with heavy ties to the NCWRC. Wanting opportunity to conserve woodland and create untouched wild habitats (even if small). Effort in planting native plants (trees, grasses, flowers) and removing invasive (autumn olive, privet, ground ivy etc.)
Purchasing through FSA beginner farmer program
Desired farming practices
Practices details
Maximizing space and limiting waste. Aggressive grazing practices including daily rotation, bale grazing for poor pasture areas, heavy focus on increasing carbon content in pasture, and passionate about bringing back native pasture species with deep root structures.
Passionate about genetics, business plan focus is quality of quantity especially with relatively small acreage I am seeking. Providing breeding stock for less common sheep breeds (more wool breeds) for deeper lamb flavor, milking potential, and fiber potential. Also breeding for increase parasite resistance to limit dewormer use and impact to soil microbiome.
Heavy livestock focus with interest to add in specialty crops.
Production goals
Goals details
Sheep - breeding stock, meat, fiber
Cattle - breeding stock, meat
Goats - breeding stock, meat
Poultry - breeding stock, hatching eggs, eggs, meat
Crops - specialty crops, heirloom, seeds
Herbs - herbs, medicinals, herbal products
Bees - honey , herbal infused honey, colonies
Forest products - wild edibles / mushrooms. Forest -Cultivated mushrooms
Orchard - long term goal - direct orchard fruit - secondary products (jams, jellies, dehydrated fruit, cuttings)
Farm experience
Years of experience
4 total years of experience
1 years employed as a worker (non-manager)
3 years as a manager
Education, training, and employment experience
Experience details
Mentorship through connections and friends made through the farmers market.
Bought first property (<6 acres) and started farming. Learning through mentorship, trial and error, and a lot of grit. Currently have a strong market for sheep, but cannot meet my demand with limited space, high mortgage costs, and lack of eligibility for USDA farm benefits.
Continuing to educate myself and planning on taking training, workshops and mentorship opportunities this year.