Farming part-time for income
Updated Dec 8, 2025
Seeking
- 0-5 Total acres
- 0-5 Acres of pasture
Desired locations
Starting pasture chicken farmer (+ bees) seeking 1–5 acres lease in Alamance. Fair rent + improved soil every year.
Plan
Startup pasture-poultry farmer seeking 1–5 acres grass/hay ground in Alamance/Orange County for a one-year lease in 2026 (renewable if we both like it).
Year 1: only 150 chickens in three small batches of 50 birds each (Apr–Sep). Daily-move Salatin tractor, on-farm processing, hand-delivery to local families.
I pay fair cash rent up front and provide before-and-after soil tests proving the land leaves healthier (you get the lab reports).
No buildings, no heavy equipment, almost no traffic, grass regrows fast.
Low-risk one-year trial. Long-term plan to scale slowly and eventually add pigs while improving soil.
Happy to meet anytime and walk the land.
Desired infrastructure
Equipment and infrastructure details
100 % mobile – I build, place, and remove everything myself.
- 1–4 lightweight 10×12×2 ft Salatin daily-move chicken tractors (hand-pulled, tarp roof, welded-wire sides with 24" predator apron, ~$250 ea).
- Brooding off-site in my garage.
- Processing: portable cones, scalder, table, tabletop plucker set up one day per batch under shade.
- One chest freezer in my garage for frozen birds. Only need from you: access to an outdoor water spigot/hydrant (I bring hose & tote). No electric fencing, no permanent structures, no concrete, no new utilities. Everything leaves clean when lease ends.
Preferred type of opportunity
Opportunity details
I pay fair cash rent up front and only need a water spigot (I bring everything else).
You get paid rent + lab-tested soil improvement + first dibs on clean chickens at my cost.
Year 1 is tiny (150 birds, 3 batches, one tractor) and quiet.
If it works great for both of us, we renew and scale slowly (more tractors, more batches, eventually forest pigs) while continuing to build your soil every year.
This is a paid trial run – no buildings, no mess, no commitment beyond 2026 unless we both want it.
Happy to meet, walk the land, and put everything in writing.
Desired farming practices
Practices details
I follow Joel Salatin’s proven pasture system: Jumbo Cornish Cross chickens in lightweight daily-move tractors (10×12 ft, 2 ft tall). Birds get fresh grass, bugs & sunshine every day, no antibiotics, non-GMO feed. Manure fertilizes naturally as we move – no chemicals, no tillage. On-farm processing under NC 1,000-bird exemption. Year 1: only 150 birds total. Year 2: ~600–750 birds in 4 tractors, 3 batches. Before/after soil tests prove rising organic matter & biology (you get copies). Goal: healthier land, thicker grass, zero runoff. Long-term plan to add forest-raised pigs behind chickens for even greater soil gains. Low-impact, regenerative, and profitable for both of us.
Production goals
Goals details
I follow Joel Salatin’s proven pasture system: Jumbo Cornish Cross chickens in lightweight daily-move tractors (10×12 ft, 2 ft tall). Birds get fresh grass, bugs & sunshine every day, no antibiotics, non-GMO feed. Manure fertilizes naturally as we move – no chemicals, no tillage. On-farm processing under NC 1,000-bird exemption. Year 1: only 150 birds total. Year 2: ~600–750 birds in 4 tractors, 3 batches. Before/after soil tests prove rising organic matter & biology (you get copies). Goal: healthier land, thicker grass, zero runoff. Long-term plan to add forest-raised pigs behind chickens for even greater soil gains. Low-impact, regenerative, and profitable for both of us.
Farm experience
Years of experience
1 total years of experience
1 years employed as a worker (non-manager)
0 years as a manager
Experience details
I have little actual agriculture experience, but I did spend a year on a farm as a teenager. I am currently reading books, studying people like Joel Salatin, and looking for mentorship.