Updated Aug 20, 2024
Seeking
- 6-10 Total acres
Stephanie Richardson
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Plan
I (Stephanie) grew up in rural Union County, NC (Waxhaw) and have watched my home county succumb to expansive clear-cut development - I would love to be able to offer my two young children a taste of the goodness that rural NC has to offer. Steve and I would love to find a patch of land to steward well and hopefully pass on to our kids. We have always dreamed or farm life, and feel strongly that God has placed this desire in our hearts for a purpose.
Our ultimate dream is to use our future farm to provide opportunities for other veteran and active duty service members and their families to find the rest and renewal that comes from spending time in an agricultural environment. Our goal for whatever space the Lord provides for us will be to steward that resource well and use it to serve the community around us.
Steve has been serving as an active-duty Air Force chaplain and is transitioning out of that into serving as a Chaplain in the Air National Guard. His full-time civilian job will likely be as a local pastor. Stephanie spends her days homeschooling our two young children and also works part-time from home as a research nurse.
We are open to exploring different relationships/arrangements but are most interested in purchasing or lease-to-own options. Our budget after we sell our current home in Florida will be between $320k-$350k. We will be relocating to the Sanford area in December/January of 2024/2025.
Desired infrastructure
Equipment and infrastructure details
We will need a place for our family of 4 to live. We plan to tap into resources available to veterans (such as USDA/private grants and the NC Veteran's Farm) to help with farming infrastructure.
Preferred type of opportunity
Opportunity details
Our family is transitioning out of active-duty military Chaplain service and in settling in Sanford where Steve plans to work as a local pastor.
We have always dreamed of having a farm as a place to raise our children in practices of good stewardship. While we don't have any practical farming experience, we have read and researched a lot and are very eager to learn.
We will need a place for our family (4 of us total) to live. We would love 5 or more acres to work with. Our budget is around $320-$350k or we are open to lease-to-own and other arrangements. We would love to be a part of preserving the beautiful agricultural spaces that make NC so special.
Desired farming practices
Practices details
We are drawn to the the philosophy and practice of regenerative farming. Rotational grazing is a particular interest.
Production goals
Goals details
We are most interested in small-scale pastured meat and dairy production following regenerative principals. We would likely start with pastured chickens (both for egg and meat production) small ruminants (goats/sheep) and add some dairy and/or beef cattle once we have learned the basics of farming. We also hope to have at least a productive kitchen garden with possibility in growing towards having a market garden.
Farm experience
Experience details
If we obtain a piece of farmland, we plan to utilize educational resources available to veterans who are transitioning into farming. We are lifelong learners and hard workers.