So, once again I am looking for a property. Hopefully, this will be the last time in my life I am doing this. I thought I would share some tips for looking for a property because we have all been down that road where we fall in love with a place that when we gauge it against our criteria it fails the test but we just are so enamored with the place we start trying to convince ourselves that we can make it work. Don’t do this! Do your work on the front end, ie. before you start looking, and stick to your criteria. Leave your heart at home and shop with your head. Here is my list of things to consider.
Purpose: what will you be doing with the farm? Is it simply a lifestyle choice with options for producing healthy food for you and your family? Do you want a side income from the farm, or maybe the plan is to replace a full-time income from the farm? You need to be clear going in what you want the property to do for you AND what your financial timeline is. Does it need to start making money from the first few months or can you gradually ramp things up? Hopefully, by this point, you have decided on your niche, you will have a good idea of what you want to focus on and what will fit your new lifestyle.
Abilities / Skillset: Since most people looking for small farm want to achieve a secondary or full-time income from the farm, you need to be very clear and honest with yourself about your strengths and limitations. I would love to have a small herd of highland cattle, I have the knowledge base to do this but as a woman in my early 50’s working this farm alone, I know it isn’t practical for me to do this. Be honest about what you can and can’t do, and know the limitations of your resources, how many animals can you put on an acre in the area you are looking, what I need here in Nova Scotia Canada, is much different from what someone in Georgia, or Alberta or Arizona. Do your research, know your needs, and do this before you start shopping, it’s easier to make decisions with knowledge than having to do it after you start looking.
Infrastructure: Does the farm have existing infrastructure? Does the infrastructure meet the needs of your plan? How much of the infrastructure needs to be remodeled and how much built from scratch? Also, be honest with yourself about your skills as a handyman. Properties that need work are less expensive and it’s easy to say “oh yeah, I can do that!” But can you, from day one? As a small farm owner you are going to learn to be a jack of all trades but if you have almost no skills to start with don’t opt for the handyman special!
Prior use: Another thing to consider is how has the land been used before? If you want a certified organic farm it will be easier to get certification if the land has not been treated with chemical fertilizers and GMO crops. It is easier to get land that has been neglected into production than it is to rehab land which has been cycled through heavy tilling, and artificial inputs for several years. Always bring a shovel and soil sampling bags with you! You need to know what type of soil you are dealing with, you can even ask for a soil test to be a condition of sale. Depending on where you are these can be expensive especially if you ask for testing for amounts of different chemicals, so be sure you are serious about the property before sending off samples.
Access to water: How much water is there, is it potable? Do you need ponds for fire insurance? A cow will drink 30 to 60 gallons of water/day. That adds up quickly, especially if you have to haul it any distance. If you plan to grow crops they will need water. Are there options to add water storage? Always have each water source tested as a condition of sale. Research your options, if you plan on raising pork, you will need to know the salt content of the water, pigs cannot handle a lot of salt.
Availability of local markets: If you want to make an income from your farm you need a market. This doesn’t necessarily mean a farmer’s market venue, although a well-established market in the area is not a bad way to start. If there is a local market, or more than one, check it /them out. Go on Market days in the area you are thinking about locating to. Ask any vendor at the market and they should be able to put you in touch with the market manager. Ask to speak with them in person or via phone on a day when they aren’t as busy. Many markets have waiting lists for some types of products so it is good to know this information beforehand.
While this is by no means a comprehensive list, I hope it gets you narrowing your focus and really thinking about what you need and hopefully get you ready to start looking. Ultimately, you can sit on the coach or drive around the countryside and dream of your perfect small farm lifestyle, or you can make a plan, act on it and LIVE your small farm life even if it isn’t perfect
Little Turtle Farm 