Certified Farm Seeker
Farming full-time for income
Updated Dec 10, 2024
Seeking
- 0-5 Total acres
- 0-5 Acres of cropland or tillable land
Sydney Copeland
Certified Farm Seeker
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I am looking to run my own farm + value added food business after spending years preparing myself for that journey.
Plan
Currently, I am working full time in the restaurant industry for the majority of my income and part time as an event manager for Sequatchie Cove Farm, where we host curated private dinners that feature highly rated local chefs.
My plans are adaptable based on the opportunity I receive. My career in the restaurant industry has given me a strong foundation and fondness for instituting agritourism options wherever I land. I would like to grow mixed vegetables and fruits with a focus on some value added niche products such as seasoning blends, syrups, teas, and vintage-style works of art that incorporate real flowers and plant material. I also want to raise meat rabbits.
Desired infrastructure
Equipment and infrastructure details
on-site housing is a necessity. just need a hot shower, full kitchen, and electricity.
Would love to have the basics in place: some tools, some irrigation equipment + water source, any type of tractor, and any size greenhouse.
walk-in cooler, pack shed/wash station. a separate kitchen (approvable by the health dept) to prepare community meals and value added products. amazing if it's already there but could be something I'd enjoy designing myself as long as there is an appropriate space for it.
Preferred type of opportunity
Opportunity details
I'm looking for somewhere with access to multiple markets within a reasonable drive; somewhere in the triangle of Boone, Asheville, and Morganton.
Rock climbing and outdoor recreation is my next passion outside of agriculture, so close proximity to Pisgah NF or Linville Gorge would be a cherry on top.
Desired farming practices
Practices details
cover cropping, biointensive crop rotation, on-site compost management. minimal tilling and minimal tractor use to avoid soil compaction. deep organic & regenerative practices.
as always, work smart not hard. build efficiency and consistency directly into the systems used. have SOPs so that everyone stays on the same page. maintain high standards of food safety, organization, and cleanliness throughout the operation.
agritourism- very profitable way to get people involved and educated about their food choices. meals, field trips, workshops, volunteer days.
Production goals
Farm experience
Years of experience
10 total years of experience
10 years employed as a worker (non-manager)
2 years as a manager
Education, training, and employment experience
Experience details
I have worked on 4 different farms for 6 years, and participated in my family's homestead efforts for years before that. I have done home garden consultation + design for five households over the past two years. Most of my experience and interest is with deep organic, biointensive vegetable + cut flower + culinary herb production for CSA, restaurant, and market sales. I also have experience with fruits, medicinal herbs, and livestock including chickens, ducks, quail, goats, sheep, cattle, horses, donkeys, pigs, and LGDs.
I have a B.A. from UNC Greensboro in environmental sustainability with a concentration in sustainable food systems and minor in Spanish language.