Looking for a place to farm, or a community

I am a single parent (dad) of a 12 year old boy who is independently. homeschooled.

We would like to start a small farm that we could scale up to a larger small farm over time, so I am seeking a partner, or possibly a community.

The ideal situation would be one where someone owned a piece of property that had a shack, cabin,  trailer, or some sort of modest dwelling, and a shed, barn or some kind of out building,  land and water access, that they don't necessarily think of as a rental property.

There are a few situations that I am open too.

Ideally what I would like to do is run a farm from which most of the produce and eggs would be donated to food banks for distribution.

That would require that someone allowed us to live/work there rent free. This may be something that someone who would like to be a part of that would feel good about donating the space, in the same way I would be donating time, financing and labor.

I am realizing that not many people are that detached, and so I have not gotten very far with that search although I have talked with some people about it.

So I am getting to the point where I would be willing to make it a market farm for farmers markets, local restaurants etc, and pay an agreed upon percentage to the land owners; crop share arrangement.

One other potential fit would be an intentional community., But it must be one where I am able to start a farm/garden, and chicken operation according to my design. A big part of this for me is that I am a visionary who has worked out a very specific and detailed design for a fully functioning and self contained working model a completely self sufficient farm.

So if someone was starting up an intentional community and was looking for partners  who know what they are doing and can do it that might be a good fit.

I am 45, I do not use drugs and quit smoking cigs. About 1.5 years ago and will never go back.

I smoke a little herb, and consider myself a selective social drinker who has not drank socially in several years because it has not seemed appropriate.

I have a lot of experience with horticulture, (almost 30 years)and some experience in small scale agriculture (4-5 years). I have a firm grip on many cutting edge permaculture techniques and have innovated many solutions to the challenges of successful no-till farming. I am proficient in working sterile procedures and mushroom cultivation and I culture all the microorganisms that I use on the field.

Building soil using microorganisms is my specialty. Soil will be greatly improved and will be bursting with life.

I'm also open to any ideas anyone may have and possibly collaborating so if you've got an idea that you don't see here feel free to reach out and lets discuss it.

I realize that at the time of my writing this that it's a little late in the season but I would really like to get started getting everything going NOW. We can have the soil teeming with life, and very well arated, with well established mycelial networks if we get started now.thanks for reading.

Where are you located?

I’m in central Texas, if you’re not afraid of our weather, I might have a place for you.

hello, Seth  - I am trying to put together an intentional community in which farming using regenerative practices would be key. Also, a friend who has a farm is looking for farmers. https://crowsfeatfarm.org/2020/08/14/finding-farmers/ check it out. Yulia

Did you find something?

Hi everyone. I apologise for having not responded til now. I've had a crazy few weeks visiting with family and traveling around, and then the wild fires that came through have greatly affected me and my circumstances.

I had been living in an area prone to wild fires in northern Cal not far from Oregon. This year, the town I was living in was evacuated quite suddenly. The fire came through and burned down the entire neighborhood and more. All my stuff has burned.

I have been staying in Humboldt county California while I go through the process of locating and buying a new vehicle. Once I make a purchase my son and I will probably hit the road and try to find a place to farm.

So I am in California, and ideally California is where I'd like to be, but I hate to say it but it does not seem likely. Not only am I more reluctant to invest the time energy and money into something that has a high potential of burning down in a forest fire, but it seems like most of the people that are responding to my searches are out of state.

So I am thinking now might be he time for change and I am willing to go where the opportunity is.

With that said, anyone who thinks we might be a match or be able to work somethng ng out please contact me directly or post right here. I'm totally ready to do something, very eager and motivated!

Caitlyn Hardy wrote:Where are you located?

At the moment I'm in Fortuna California, but this is not my permanent residence.

Rodd Ramon wrote:I’m in central Texas, if you’re not afraid of our weather, I might have a place for you.

What do you have in mind? Do you have a farm at the moment? Looking start a community?

Yulia Rothko wrote:hello, Seth  - I am trying to put together an intentional community in which farming using regenerative practices would be key. Also, a friend who has a farm is looking for farmers. https://crowsfeatfarm.org/2020/08/14/finding-farmers/ check it out. Yulia

Sounds cool Yulia? Where are you located, and how far have you gotten on your project?

Jill Jacoby wrote:Did you find something?

I am working on it!

Sorry to hear about your series of unfortunate events, Seth. Hope you can find a place to go if you have not already :)

Hi Seth,
Since this post is 8 months old, I am checking to see if you found what you were looking for.
Thanks,
Jenn

B Jen wrote:Hi Seth,
Since this post is 8 months old, I am checking to see if you found what you were looking for.
Thanks,
Jenn

Hi  Jenn. I have not been on this site for a while and would not have known that there was a message, but just happen to log on today.

To answer your question; yes and no.

I am not homeless at the moment. I am In a place where I have my own space and can be creative and productive. I'm thinking of it more so as a place to grow a nice healthy set of roots to be transplanted somewhere else in the future.

I have a  couple of gardens that together are about 1500sq ft, and am growing mushrooms.

However I am renting and it does not feel like a long term arrangement because the LL wants to move into this place and n a couple of years. Also I am expecting that here in n California there could be some good reasons for a guy like me to move out such as loss of medical freedom. I'm a nonpartisan liberal, but I am not a swayed sheep who has tossed critical thinking out the window in favor of polarization. Oppression is universal and I notice that some states are becoming less free where as others are becoming more free. I like more freedom.

Children losing their medical freedom in California drove me to homeschool my son which I have no regrets about especially considering the public schools massive decline  here recently and also because he's doing so well and is so happy, but now it's looking like a zero tolerance situation that will require me to move  yet again.

It's always on my mind but I am also just trying to be in the moment and rebuild my momentum. The fire really knocked back my spirit and sense of self, and self confidence that I am gaining back here. I'd like to at least remain here working on these things until my garden is more or less done in the fall and I am stocked up on the food I will be canning and squash and potatoes🙂

Not sure if you were inquiring out of thoughtful curiosity or if you have something in mind but I'm definitely open to out of state possibilities and discussing stuff and getting to know people in potential situations by communicating  maybe even visiting until then.

Glad you were able to find a transitional place :)

It seems another Permies member is looking to form a religious intentional community in Central Texas, but perhaps they’d be open to welcome you in if you don’t abide by their ideology as they are just getting started and have inquired on having ‘tenant farmers’ and ‘sharecroppers’.

You can find their post here:
https://permies.com/t/159400/Essene-IC-beginning-Central-Texas

If you need to work outside of the home their location, Johnson City, is semi-rural but not so rural that finding work would be impossible.

Pardon me, nowhere do they say Johnson City. But their description of an hour west of Austin and near Fredericksburg would make Johnson City a possibility for their location.