Farmer County: Allegheny

Entering Farmer #20548

My name is Nash Lawrence, and I’m the owner of Pittsburgh Pastures, a pasture-based poultry and livestock farm in Mars, Pennsylvania. After gaining experience on farms across the country, I returned home in 2023 to start Pittsburgh Pastures with a focus on raising non-GMO, pasture-raised chickens and eggs through regenerative and humane farming practices. We’re currently looking to expand to 1,000 laying hens and 7,500+ meat birds in the coming season. My goal is to find a property within an hour of Pittsburgh that includes housing, allowing me to live on the same land where I care for my animals and continue growing the farm sustainably.

Entering Farmer #20533

My brothers and I are eager to enter into an agriculture business. We seek to acquire a farm to operate with the intent of working and preserving the land. Combined, we have years of experience throughout the agriculture sector working with livestock, poultry, and food production. We would be most interested in any information that could allow us to help us achieve our goals.

Entering Farmer #20532

Currently living on a homestead and would love to acquire more land. Learning agriculture as I go. Happy to use the land for preservation, farming, animals or green space. I want to protect farmland and learn farming practices.

Entering Farmer #20531

I am someone who has found myself feeling very passionate about land conservation and farming for my family. I don’t have a lot of experience, just a backyard garden that I’m managing to keep alive in the Sonoran Desert. (That has to count for at least a point or two.)

My best friend and I are dreaming of a life where we can both live on the same property and grow foods for ourselves, our extended family, and maybe even a farm stand. This would ideally be located in Pennsylvania, so that I can return to my home state and be around family. I want fruit trees and berry bushes, chickens and goats, a very large veggie garden and plenty of flower gardens as well. I intend fully to create habitats of native plants, flowers, and trees for animals and bugs native to the area.

I just don’t know where to start or how to acquire land without putting myself in debt.

Entering Farmer #20524

I worked for Hillandale Farms as a Chicken maintenance. I am an aspiring Christian farmer dedicated to building a faith-based, sustainable free-range chicken farm in Pennsylvania. My goal is to raise healthy, naturally fed poultry in a way that honors God’s creation and provides honest, high-quality food for local families. I value transparency, stewardship of the land, and ethical farming practices rooted in Christian principles. I’m seeking opportunities to connect with landowners, mentors, or partners who share the same vision of faith-driven, regenerative agriculture.

Entering Farmer #20516

I grew up in Cranberry Township on 10 acres when it was still farm land – born in the early 70s with cows as neighbors on 2 sides. I only ever knew well water and raw milk direct from our local farmer friend. My family had two small gardens but enough to feed 5 for summer with about 10 rows of corn, which us kids mostly seeded, watered, weeded, harvested. I would say we grew about 10 to 12+ different types of vegetables. We often went to local farms for apple,picking and took them to the local cider press (Sally’s) to watch them, be pressed into our own cider. My parents both hunted until my mom had children, and we hunted to sustain winter since we did not grow up with a lot of money.

I went from that life pretty directly to corporate world at age 19 through 52 and I much preferred the former life. I enjoy being more in tune with nature, more time outdoors, more self-sustaining, and of course, more tomatoes!

As back up, I have my best friend from high school and her husband who own a beyond organic (even more stringent practices) orchard/cidery and have degrees in horticulture and agriculture. I consider them experts in going in above and beyond in their practices of organic farming and living.

I would love to start learning more and am ready to start up and find land.

Entering Farmer #20512

My name is Cheryl. I am a single mother of two children, ages 7 and 15, living in Ellwood City, PA. I currently have a small garden, five cats, and a half dozen chickens, but I have a vision for so much more.

When I lived in South Carolina I was a social worker, and I saw how difficult it is to place older foster children. I promised myself one day I would take in foster kids of my own and look out for them during the most chaotic time of their lives. The adage says, “it takes a village…” but our villages are gone. Traditional community can be hard to come by, and my partner Brendan and I want to change that. We want a working farm people can visit to form connections through labor, education, and socialization. I want to build a community here and bring a sense of belonging to children who need it. However, first, we need to lay a foundation. We need land to care for, and space to create a village. And we have a plan.

For the past two years Brendan and I have researched what it would take to make our dreams reality and put small-scale plans into action. We composted, collected rainwater, and built a large coop and run for my chickens. We looked into sustainable farming, noting local farms and parks we would like to emulate, and met with a local rescue farm that takes in animals seized from abusive environments.

Our plans will be flexible depending upon the existing land and infrastructure, but our overall goals include a nonprofit agribusiness and event venue that combines sustainable farming, hospitality, and community outreach. We intend to have a large barn that serves as an event space for weddings and festivals, as well as themed cabins for guests. We have discussed having a small cafe featuring foods grown on the property, and space for artists to grow and experiment. I currently host paint-and-sip events in local businesses and homes, and we have acquired a kiln, as well as a large movie screen to showcase films by local students and amateurs.

This is our plan. Our life goal. Our retirement. I was blessed to find a man who shares my dream and wants to take on this challenge with me. It will take a village, but I think that’s exactly what this community needs.