Farmer Profile for Leili Ansari

Co-Applicant / Spouse Name

Eric

Please describe your past and/or present farming experience

My partner Eric spent time on farms abroad in Norway, Italy, and Thailand in 2018. He has experience managing a team of farm-hands, managing the care of livestock, operating hay-bale machinery, planting, and more. He loves doing hard manual labor and is working as a landscaper while we save for our farm. I come from a restaurant background so I am interested in using farm yields to create value-added products that are 100% local. I also have experience in marketing, editing, and web design, so I can help manage the business/marketing side of the house. I am currently learning all about permaculture landscape design and I'm excited to put our combined skills/knowledge into practice. Please note: I will need to continue working my full-time remote job for a year or two into living on a farm, while Eric will work full-time to get everything up and running.

Are you currently farming?

No

Are you interested in connecting with other farmers to explore collocation or collaborative farm ideas?

Yes

Counties being considered

Addison
Bennington
Caledonia
Chittenden
Essex
Franklin
Grand Isle
Lamoille
Orange
Orleans
Rutland
Washington
Windham
Windsor

What is the primary agricultural enterprise you are considering?

Apple/Fruit

What other enterprises are you considering?

Apple/Fruit
Berries
Dairy (cows)
Flowers
Goats
Grains
Greenhouse
Hay/Forage
Herbs
Livestock
Nursery
Pasture
Poultry
Row Crops
Sheep
Vegetables
Woodlot

Total Acres Desired

20.0

Organic

Yes

Farmhouse Needed

Yes

Which of the following arrangements are you considering?

Apprentice with a Farm Owner for a Year or More
Lease with Option to Buy
Long-Term Lease
Owner-Financed Sale
Short-Term Lease
Standard Sale
Work to Own (Gradual Transfer of Responsibility & Farm Assets)

Have you been qualified by a lending institution? (if applicable)

Yes

Are you interested in conserved farms?

Maybe (Please send me information)

Do you have a business plan? Please write an informative description of your vision & goals for your farming future.

We are currently in the research phase of crafting our business plan. We are passionate about using permaculture principles to conserve energy and maximize yields while minimizing input. Our long-term goal is to be completely self-sustaining while also providing food and perhaps education to our community. We hope to eventually have a food forest and understory where chicken and goats can graze, and are also interested in exploring the possibility of growing rice. We are looking for a farm that has a pond or elevated water source, as well as enough space for livestock. We will need farmer housing, and we come with a 1.5-year-old livestock guardian dog (Roux is a Great Pyrenees who gets along with everything, human and animal!). While we have our ideas, we are open to new ones and are excited to hear about any opportunities available, including temporary arrangements for leasing or caring for unused land while we work toward our goals.