Farmer Method: Sustainable

Entering Farmer #20603

I am the founder and Chief Steward of Golden Eve Farm LLC, a legally formed Pennsylvania limited liability company currently in the land-acquisition and pre-operational development stage. I bring more than 32 years of experience in construction, facilities operations, maintenance, infrastructure planning, troubleshooting, safety, and long-term asset care, along with approximately three years of small-business ownership. I also have four years of part-time, hands-on agricultural experience at a school micro-farm and plant nursery in southeastern Pennsylvania. That work included propagation, greenhouse and nursery production, transplanting, no-till bed preparation, cover cropping, irrigation, crop care, harvesting, distribution support, and direct plant sales to the public. I am seeking a suitable property in Bucks or Montgomery County through purchase, lease, or lease-to-own. The PA Farm Link acreage selection should be 1–50 acres. Initial Phase 1 production will use approximately 1.49 net planted acres within a 2.42-acre bed-and-pathway block based on 4-foot beds and 30-inch pathways. Allowing for headlands, perimeter access, irrigation infrastructure, wash/pack functions, and service space, the initial operating footprint is approximately 2.7–3.0 acres. Additional property acreage will support buildings, water systems, conservation areas, crop rotation, and future expansion. The farm will expand only after labor, infrastructure, cash flow, and verified market demand support the next phase. Golden Eve Farm will specialize in locally grown specialty cut flowers. The initial business emphasis will be dependable flower production for wholesale florists and selected direct sales, with CSA subscriptions and farmers markets introduced only after production reliability is established. The farm will use sustainable, conservation-minded practices including efficient drip irrigation, cover cropping, compost-based soil building, integrated pest management, pollinator habitat, and minimal tillage after establishment. Future lavender production and limited agritourism or educational experiences are conditional later-phase opportunities, not startup promises. My spouse and I plan to retain full-time employment during establishment so household income and benefits remain stable while farm revenue is reinvested. Golden Eve Farm has a formulated business plan, marketing plan, documented operating procedures, and a phased management system. My goal is to build a financially disciplined, family-owned farm that respects the history of the land, improves the property through responsible stewardship, and creates a practical path for long-term agricultural use and family succession.

Entering Farmer #20602

Hello. I am a fourth generation NYC bird keeper looking to expand out of NYC. My great grandma ran messenger pigeons for the ambulance services for the hospitals in the early 20th century as well as raising them for meat. My grandfather worked at a poultry slaughterhouse in the mid 20th century and my great uncle was a pigeon keeper around the same time. It skipped a generation and now I have 3 chicken coops and 1 pigeon loft in Williamsburg Brooklyn. While my backyard is large for NYC, I want to expand and have run out of space and am looking for a farm to grow my bird keeping into other bird species as well as other non bird livestock. I am an actuary that works remotely so have flexibility in location. I am looking for a farm in the 5-10 acres range, but would consider larger properties. I do not plan at this time to do large scale industrial farming as I already have a profitable career, but more the homesteading path for passion over money while still selling as a small farm stand on the side of the road level. Places in PA I have considered are the surrounding areas of New Hope, surrounding areas of State College, & Lancaster county., but am open to other locations. I would like a charming town within a reasonable driving distance to become a fully immersed member of the community.

Entering Farmer #20600

I am a first-generation beginning farmer and nonprofit executive with nearly twenty years of experience in organizational leadership, strategic planning, grant development, and community partnership building. While I am new to agriculture, I have fully embraced the learning process and am actively seeking mentorship from experienced farmers and agricultural organizations. My current focus is on pasture-raised laying hens, heritage and specialty chicken breeding, Coturnix quail, and future expansion into berries, fruit trees, and organic vegetables.

I am looking for a long-term land opportunity where I can establish my own diversified farm while working toward a broader vision: creating a shared-use agricultural campus that lowers barriers for beginning farmers. My goal is to develop a collaborative model where farmers can lease individual farm plots, share infrastructure and equipment, learn from one another, and build sustainable agricultural businesses. I believe farming knowledge grows best when it is shared, and I hope to build a place where experienced farmers, beginning farmers, and the community can come together to strengthen local agriculture.

Above all, I am looking for land, mentorship, and relationships. I know I have much to learn, and I am eager to learn from those who have spent years stewarding the land. In return, I hope to use my background in nonprofit leadership to build partnerships, secure resources, and create opportunities that help both my own farm and future generations of farmers thrive.

Entering Farmer #20597

My name is Drew I’m a first generation farmer and have been in business for 20 years. My wife is a nurse and we have 2 boys. We currently grow corn, wheat, soybeans and hay. As well as custom plant, harvest and bale for other farmers. We are looking for a farm to rent or potentially buy to operate our business out of. Would also like to be able to raise some cattle and other animals to possibly diversify our business further. Would consider other opportunities as well

Entering Farmer #20596

I’m a hay farmer who dabbles with flowers and vegetables on the small scale. Recently moved to Western PA and am looking for land to plant Hay, would pay cash rent or come to an agreement with the right farm. I have been farmer for 3 years on my own but have been working with hay for 10 years

Entering Farmer #20595

I currently operate a feedmill (as an employee), run a large residential garden, berries, fruit trees, and chickens. I own an LLC for produce farming and am working at options to get it off the ground from dormancy again. I have taken FSMA training and will get a refresher here soon. I do not have current gap or harmonized GAP audits due to the business being dormant. I am getting ready to develop a website for marketing in the near future so I can hit the ground running.

Entering Farmer #20594

I’m a self-taught software engineer. 20 years in the field, no college, no bootcamps. I learned everything from books and figuring things out on my own, and I built a real career from that. I recently walked away from tech to do this full-time. I know how to teach myself things and stick with them.

This interest goes back 15-20 years. When I lived in New York City, I started ordering from Miller’s Organic Farm in Pennsylvania. Raw milk, pasture-raised meats, eggs, goat’s milk, kefir. Raw milk was hard to get back then, especially in NYC. I eventually moved to Missouri specifically because it was one of the few states with clear laws allowing raw milk sales. I’ve been there six years. So this isn’t a new idea for me. I’ve been living this way and thinking about farming for a long time.

At some point I thought: why am I paying to have this shipped to me when I could just go to the source and grow it myself? That question stuck with me. I’ve since read extensively. Joel Salatin, Greg Judy, Jean-Martin Fortier, and especially Daniel Mays. His no-till organic vegetable approach is what I want to do. I’m not interested in extracting value from the land. I want to improve it. Build soil health, increase biodiversity, follow nature’s model instead of fighting it. Organic is non-negotiable for me. No pesticides, no compromises on that. I’m starting with vegetables, not livestock. Vegetables are a good way to build experience before taking on animals.

I’m looking for either a farm incubator where I can learn from experienced farmers and get hands-on experience, or a small property (1-4 acres) close to a population center, ideally within 10 minutes, for intensive vegetable production. Market access matters. Depending on the opportunity, I have different business plans formulated for how I want to make this work. I can provide those upon request. I know Year 1 is for learning. I’m planning to follow Daniel Mays’ approach: one-time tillage to establish beds the first season, then transition to full no-till with cover crops starting Fall 2025.

I have savings from my previous career, so I’m not depending on Year 1 farm income. I’m committed to working on this daily. I’m also open to working on other farms while I learn. What I want is to blur the lines between work and recreation. To do hard physical labor that actually produces something, grow food for myself and others, and live a quieter life.

Entering Farmer #20593

I am an agriculture teacher in a rural PA high school. I am a beekeeper, have chickens, done Penn State trainings on fruit tree management and dairy science. Currently, I am a part time graduate student getting my masters degree in Horticulture. I have a bachelor’s degree in Biology, Secondary Education with certifications to teach agriculture, biology, and technology education. Finally, I continue to help friends with their farm enterprises. I am looking for a farm where I can grow several acres of vegetables, herbs and cut flowers as well as an orchard and sizable berry patch.

Entering Farmer #20592

I come from over 300+ years of farmers on both sides of my family. Prior to my mother’s generation, the majority of my relatives lived on homesteads in the Mississippi Delta. After 10+ years in the field of medicine, I was given the opportunity to work part-time, and dedicate 30-40 hours/week farming on my urban plot of land.
I thrive off manual labor, working outside, and figuring things out through observation and trail/error, and the occasional mentor.

Over the last four years, on 1.25 Suburban Acres, I have practiced permaculture, farming, and advancing manual labor skills through :
-Regeneration of the soil/land (pulled 18+ years of untouched invasive ivy, cut down trees/limbs/etc.),
-Planted an orchard with ~10 fruit and nut trees (swale with perennials and annuals intermixed)
-Installed two small ponds
-Raised 20+ chickens for egg production
-First heritage flock hatched in December. First generation chicks from the Alpha hen female
-Grown plants from seedling in basement set-up. Developed a three tier planting schedule for Spring 2026 to ensure success in case of abnormal cold/rain/drought
-Grown all types of food (corn, wheat, berries, vegetables, legumes)
-Incorporated flowers in all beds/areas grown from seed and harvested in the 1,000s this summer
-Assisted in the milling of a fallen 300-year elm–used limbs and wood to regenerate soil, build furniture, create beds
-Attended self-reliance workshops
-Read/study permaculture and pasture-raised farming techniques

Over the next five years, I am looking to purchase/lease a large plot of land with the following goals:
-Raise pasture raised beef with chicken tractors (egg and meat production–plan on building one of each this Spring)
-Build small scale on-site chicken butchering operation
-Sell chicken meat on-site (I have a business plan for this in order to be within regulations). Possible integration with a renowned farm-to-table restaurant (relationship already established)
-Orchards
-Greenhouse
-Increased food and flower production
-Bee/honey operation
-Possible small scale dairy production (cow and goat)
-Possible integration with schools/learning centers