Entering Farmer #20479
I am a part of a network of farmers/gardeners/growers in Erie County and Crawford County. We are looking for opportunities for shared farm land ownership and community farming to create a thriving local food system, environment, and economy. I have many years of experience in small-scale crop production in both rural and urban environments. Through my network of local farmers/gardeners/growers, we have generations of experience in many forms of agriculture.
Entering Farmer #20475
I grew up on a farm in a small town in the Dominican Republic and had the opportunity to learn about Silvo-pasture and small-species production systems. This, combined with the principles I learned during my training and years of professional experience, became an important asset when starting a business that, while providing me with a quality of life, allows me to produce excellent food according to the principles of regenerative agriculture.
Considering the high cost of land and the difficulties encountered when applying for agricultural credit, my goal is to start the project, either through leasing or some type of production agreement, where a farmer allows me to use part of his farm and, in return, I can carry out maintenance activities on his property and care for his crops and animals.
Entering Farmer #20471
I am about to start my farming journey. the costs of buying farm land and set it up to work are extremely high; and im not one for taking risks, so i want to pay off the loans asap. I had initially set up plans for an elaborate self sustainable closed loop greenhouse business; but it looks like starting off growing hemp may be the fastest way to do pay everything off before branching out to my initial goals. As of now my goals are to acquire land and a home; and set up as many acres as possible with hemp for the first year, and second year depending on where the financials stand, i may do a second year like that, or cut back on the acres of hemp i farm and begin the greenhouse set ups.
Entering Farmer #20466
Eric is looking for a partnership with a landowner that is based on trust, respect, and freedom. He is seeking land that is as close as possible to Northern New Jersey & New York City population centers & sales outlets. He is seeking a long-term lease agreement with the landowner for a period of ten years or an opportunity to purchase the right property, in the right location, for the right price. His ideal location would have at least 11 acres of land available with opportunity for expansion as the business becomes more successful. The eleven-acre property would be farmed using market gardening design and cultivation practices and managed by a dedicated team of employees. Eric is looking for 11 acres so that he has ten acres of potential vegetable producing space with around 1 acre of space for infrastructure such as tool storage, truck parking, wash station, driveways etc.
Eric began farming in 2015 when leading MEVO.org he established the two-acre Fresh Roots Farm at Campgaw Mountain Reservation in Mahwah, NJ. In addition, he expanded his skills more in 2018 when he established the one-acre Lovewell Farm also located in Mahwah, NJ. Eric developed and built out all the needed farm infrastructure for these properties: greenhouse, tool & equipment storage, deer fencing, raised beds, driveways, irrigation, compost system, wash station / post-harvest processing, refrigerator, electrical system, and more. He hired a trained a Farm Manager and some amazing staff to help run the farms, enrolled MEVO in the JM Fortier Masterclass, and has spent his time studying successful farmers like Elliot Coleman, Ben Hartman, Curtis Stone and more… He has been involved in all aspects of farm production: greenhouse propagation, planting, cultivation, irrigation, harvest, wash station management, packing, and distributing MEVO’s products out to a CSA, restaurant accounts, and selling at the Ramsey Farmers Market. He is an avid beekeeper and has managed MEVO’s Honeybee Apiary for 10 years supporting 25 hives during his biggest season. Photos of MEVO’s Fresh Roots and Lovewell Farms are available via Eric’s farm portfolio and professional references are also available.
Entering Farmer #20464
I am a beginner farmer, although I have many years of experience as a doctoral-level pediatric occupational therapist. I’ve recently started a fiber farm specializing in animal and plant fibers. In addition to raising and harvesting specialty fibers, such as angora and alpaca, I am exploring bast fiber crops such as flax and nettle, and other fiber-oriented plant crops such as natural dye plants and herbs/teas. I’m interested in regenerative farming and contributing to the sustainable textile industry currently emerging. The fibers will be used in “seed-to-shirt” continuum of products and experiences. Additionally, I have a small pediatric therapy practice immersed in utilizing research-based approaches to intervention involving the farm as a therapeutic milieu: animal husbandry, farm tasks, fiber arts (dyeing, spinning, knitting/weaving ), etc. Furthermore, I would like to offer agritourism workshops and “farm stays” promoting regenerative small-scale farming, traditional skills, nature-play experiences, and “farm as therapy” training for OT students. These activities will contribute to the overall financial sustainability of the farm through multiple streams of revenue (market-based as well as clinical services). I am seeking small-acreage farmland/woodland (5-15 acres) to establish my fiber farm and farm-based clinical practice.
Entering Farmer #20452
With a background in horticulture science, agribusiness management, and hands-on technical experience, I am eager to learn from experienced farmers and prepare for long-term success in farm ownership and management. Growing up in Chester County, I developed a deep connection to the land through community service projects and local agriculture initiatives, fostering a commitment to preserving and enhancing our natural resources for future generations. This personal connection, combined with my formal training and practical experience, drives my passion for creating resilient, sustainable farms that benefit both the community and the environment. I aim to integrate vertical operations, visitor-focused agriculture, and closed-loop resource systems to create resilient farms that cut waste, expand revenue, and showcase sustainable practices for future generations. My long-term vision includes not limited to operating a diversified farm with fruit crops, mushrooms, herbs, aquaculture (trout and walleye), honey, worms, and integrated poultry systems. I am particularly interested in regenerative and syntropic agriculture, Korean natural farming, and permaculture approaches that minimize input costs while building soil health and supporting sustainable land stewardship.
Entering Farmer #20438
My husband and I are both Cornell University graduates. Erik was a Natural Resources Management major and I was a double major in both the Plant Sciences and Agricultural Sciences. I was a top graduating senior in the Cornell Plant Sciences Department and an American Society for Horticultural Sciences recognized 2011 Collegiate Scholar. Erik and I were also both Nationally Ranked NCAA Division I athletes. I held a job throughout college, secured scholarships, and worked incredibly hard to graduate with no student debt. My parents, both full time farmers, couldn’t afford to contribute to my college education and my degrees are entirely self-funded. After taking the GRE’s, I decided to follow my heart and return to the family farm rather than pursue a graduate degree. As the youngest of four daughters, it had become clear that none of my other sisters were likely to take a full time interest in a farming lifestyle.
Erik and I are now full time farmers, deriving 100% of our livelihood from the land we steward. As you can see from our university interests, we work each day to secure a stable and sustainable future for our farm. We direct market all of our farm products to local communities. These communities benefit from having a direct connection to the farm and farmers who produce their food. We began further processing our livestock into retail cuts of meat in 2014 and have been slowly expanding our products and customer base. Currently, the farm sells more than 95% of its livestock directly to the end user by retail meat cuts, internet sales, local farmer’s markets, a Meat CSA Program, and live animal sales. Feel free to check out our farm online: https://www.twinbrookfarmsandlivestock.com/
The recent Wayne County Agricultural Development Plan detailed that there was a 30% decline in agriculturally related firms in the county between the years of 2006 and 2015. I wish I had the statistics from the most recent 2022 Census of Agriculture as I write this note. Wayne County has been losing farms at a rapid pace over the last 10 years. That same development plan detailed that the number of farmers older than 55 increased by 40% from 2002 to 2012, while those farmers younger than 55 declined by 26%. In 2012, 60% of principal farm operators worked off farm. So the county trends are: aging farmers that are forced to work off farm because they are unable to derive a sustainable livelihood and very few young farmers entering the business. Of course, we are seeing similar patterns across the country, but Wayne County risks losing the majority of experienced farmers to aging and retirement leaving little opportunity for young farmers to enter the playing field once properties are lost to rising land prices and development.
Do you have livestock and hay ground? If you are a retiring farmer living somewhat near to us with no heir., please reach out. If you’re seeking young farmers will love and appreciate your farm land, please reach out. If you’d like to stay in your farmhouse indefinately and would consider a creative ownership agreement, please reach out. It hurts my heart to see georgeous farms fall into ruin and sold to development. If we can help prevent the loss of your farm, while expanding our own access to additional hay and grazing ground, please reach out.
I have dreams for my family farm. I see a future for my family farm. We’re doing it! I need your help to safeguard these irreplaceable resources -the rural landscape and our family farms- by supporting and protecting farmlands and working landscapes.
Entering Farmer #20436
No farm experience, looking for homestead/small sustainable farm. Regenerative farming, living off the land, giving back to the land
Entering Farmer #20421
My name is Andrew Wraith. I am the founder of the Ecoculture Project LLC, which is a start-up business looking to pioneer an innovative model for cultivating wild food on nature preserves, which can be harvested in a pick-your-own fashion (i.e., forage-your-own), and be managed using a permit based system (much like hunting and fishing). I’ve been working as the Agroecology Project Coordinator at the Willistown Conservation Trust’s Rushton Farm program for the past few years, while pursuing my Masters in Environmental Studies at the University of Pennsylvania (graduated December 2024). My studies were split between learning nonprofit management tools (finance, governance, fundraising, etc.) and ecology (Soils, wetlands, etc.).
My capstone research project (something I worked on for the duration of my time at Penn) focused on researching and creating a replicable business model for an ecoculture business. This project was the result of a literature review, interviews with practitioners and thought leaders, and from my own hands on experience starting a business and working at a successful CSA farm in Chester County. The result was a 75 page report (the beginnings of a book), a three year budget plan, a website, and a registered LLC.
I am looking to launch my business once either funding is secured, or a favorable land situation is identified (i.e., low-cost enough to justify proceeding without funding).