Please describe your past and/or present farming experience
I have eight years of experience in New England working on small to medium sized cow dairy farms for raw milk, artisan cheese, and organic producers. I also spent four years in the Midwest growing small grains for human consumption using draft animal power. I have experience training and working oxen and driving draft horses. I have spent a little bit of time sugaring and raising chickens for eggs.
For the past 4 years I've worked at a seed company in quality control and in seed conditioning. I'm vested in supporting the food system of the Northeast Kingdom in a way that is sustainable and resilient for both for farmers and for people who eat food.
Are you currently farming?
No
Are you interested in connecting with other farmers to explore collocation or collaborative farm ideas?
Yes
Counties being considered
Caledonia
Lamoille
Orleans
Washington
What is the primary agricultural enterprise you are considering?
Livestock
What other enterprises are you considering?
Flowers
Maple Sugaring
Poultry
Row Crops
Total Acres Desired
20.0
Tillable Acres
1.0
Forested Acres
10.0
Acres in Pasture
10.0
Organic
No
Farm Structures Needed
Barn(s)
Farmhouse Needed
Yes
Equipment Needed
Hoping for a property with a barn and some sort of dry hay and equipment storage. Manure storage capacity would be a bonus.
Which of the following arrangements are you considering?
Lease with Option to Buy
Long-Term Lease
Owner-Financed Sale
Standard Sale
Have you been qualified by a lending institution? (if applicable)
Yes
Are you interested in conserved farms?
Yes
Do you have a business plan? Please write an informative description of your vision & goals for your farming future.
I am looking for a property where I can have one or two teams of draft animals for a business that offers live power services: hay rides, sleigh rides, Christmas tree harvest, custom logging, education, and training for humans and animals. Depending on the property and arrangement I would be interested in exploring reviving the pastured organic laying hen enterprise I ran for 3 years and in growing specialty crops for seed. Any of this would be in conjunction with my "day job," which is also in agriculture.
I am looking for a farm with some sort of long term tenure (10+ years) arrangement so that investing the time, money, and energy in establishing farming systems and making improvements in land and infrastructure make sense for both myself and the property owner (if I am not the property owner.)
I'm also open to discussing non-standard tenure arrangements.