Entering Farmer #20405
I’m looking for a space where I can live and grow without the overwhelmingly concern of losing the land; I’m looking for a space to recreate my own farm; I’m looking for a space to call home.
My intentions in farming are deeply focused in health and community, both the biodiversity of our wild scapes and the neighbors who rely on fresh produce and connectivity. I’ve been growing produce, culinary and medicinal herbs, and flowers since 2010, plus a few seasons raising poultry and small ruminants. My knowledge has been learned from experience, classes, mentors, and relentless curiosity. I’ve spent a decade managing field production, farm startups, labor, marketing, and sales. In 2017, I started my own farm comprised of CSA, wholesale, and market sales. Due to restricted land access, my own farm took pause, and I refocused my efforts to manage other local farms for the past few seasons.
Entering Farmer #20282
I am a 40 year old married man with two children. I’ve always loved nature and to be outdoors. My interest in gardening began at a young age. I spent quite a few years working my way up to the point where I had a marketable quantity of produce. I continued this effort for some time. My focus was always on organic methods. I’ve also raised sheep and goats. I have earned my Bachelors degree in Environmental Science. I have worked at a myriad of agricultural/horticulture jobs from farms, to nurseries, garden center, and landscaping. My current position is Agricultural Director at Pocono Organics in Long Pond, PA. Pocono Organics is a premier regenerative organic farm/greenhouse/market and Cafe. I have been with them from the start and quickly made my way into the position which I now hold. I never owned a farm and previously operated my entrepreneurial effort called ‘Sacred Earth Farms’ off of land leased from family. I am using Farmlink because I am very interested to explore opertunities to access land and further my personal farming goals. I am looking to lease, lease to own, or buy a farm roughly in the range of 10 to 20 acres. I am open to pursuing the best opportunity, but ideally the farm would be located in southeast Pennsylvania. I would like to continue organic farming practices in a mixed production setting, ie. Vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, and livestock. Many factors could influence my farming business plan from what is produced to how it is to be marketed. Housing on site is preferable.
Entering Farmer 20190
My name is Elise Hanksand I am the owner and sole operator of Terra Luna Herbals, an apothecary and wellness goods brand, based in Philadelphia. In addition to the retail end of Terra Luna, there is a major focus on herb gardening and land stewardship. The gardening portion of the operation has been based, over the past 3 years, in an urban community garden plot. As happens with many city garden plots however, this lot will soon be unavailable to Terra Luna, leaving me no choice but to relocate to another, ideally more permanent, growing situation. We are looking to expand the Terra Luna herb and flower growing operation over the next few years on a piece of land that gives us enough space to grow a significant amount more crop than we have in the past. We will be growing herbs for our in-house herbal product line as well as flowers for a cut-flower program (to sell to florists as well as the public.)
Entering Farmer 20168
Hello,
My name is Arielle. In doing research about the various programs I found this organization. I am very much interested in working with FarmLink and the USDA to apply for a loan to buy a farm operation and make a difference in Pennsylvania. I am new to this process and wondering who I need to be in contact with and how to apply to various programs to buy property. We would like to be at most 2.5-3 hours away from Philadelphia where our families are located.
About me, I am a recent graduate from Pennsylvania State University. I am a person of color. My partner Edwin and I have an immense interest in farming and entrepreneurial spirit towards natural solutions to existing problems. Our family is in the midst of learning how to care for alpacas and goats to produce yarn, wool, Goat Milk and Cheese. We are also learning to produce herbs and local honey by planting gardens, building and maintaining an apiary. We have a small business collective where we vend our artisanal natural products at local farmers markets in Philadelphia. This is the specific type of production we are looking for assistance. We have the skill set to sustain our growing family by farming.
Please reach out with more information on applying for assistance to begin building a black owned farm in Pennsylvania. All assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated.
Attitude of gratitude,
Arielle Reid