Starting a new organic certified small farm

The hubby and I are retired and financially secure but are still in good health and can't stand to be bored or not out enjoying our land.  Our friends our out in their RV's seeing the USA or they are taking cruises and playing bingo.  That's just not us.  We have had two successful small farms before but sold and moved for various reasons (at a healthy profit)  Our final move was to come back home and retire near family.  We bought my husband's family home and 60 acres.  He says no more large animals but he's all for growing things so we've decided to jump back in with both feet.  I know it sounds crazy but I am so excited I couldn't go to sleep last night.  I spent most of the night researching all the various aspects of what we need to do next.  I'm going next week to look into getting certified organic.  The land here has been left to nature for 40 years or more so we shouldn't have to wait the 3 years you normally would.  We will have very little start up cost since we already own the land debt free, have the tractor and all sorts of implements from our previous farms so not a lot of purchases needed.  I have been experimenting with varieties of blueberries and blackberries for here as well as garlic and asparagus so I feel confident in which we need to plant.  I learned I'll never do strawberries again.  We plan to rent a dozer in May to clean off the fields we will use and spend this year getting it free of tree and weed regrowth so it will be ready to plant berry bushes next spring.  The blueberries will take longer but the blackberries should be ready to go to market the summer of 2025.  Garlic will be ready before that.  If it does well, we may bring our son and his wife into the business since they will be inheriting it anyway.  If it doesn't do well or we get too old and sick to continue, we'll mow it down.

As for the certification, our state will reimburse most of the cost of getting certified so why not try.  I know I prefer to buy organic.  I'll be immersing myself in reading and learning all I can this year in preparation for laying it all out and figuring out what and how much of each thing to plant.  I have missed selling at the markets and can't wait to get back out there sharing my local organic food with my community.  We haven't told anyone yet other than our son but I can't keep it to myself, I'm just to excited and happy.  I thought my life was over and I'd be left watching day time TV but no, I've only just begun!   Please share your thoughts.              

I love your enthusiasm and wish you continued success!

I don’t know your situation that well, but I wouldn’t have a dozer to remove trees! There are a lot better and cheaper options. Are there any goat farmers in your area? Goats do a great job of destroying brush and young trees. With temporary fencing you and the goat owner can determine and vary boundaries. What type of large trees do you have? Is there any thing that you can harvest from them? Fruit, nuts, sap, lumber or shade have their value. This is just the tip of the iceberg. You might be surprised that you can have great returns with low inputs. But it’s your dream do what you see fit. Good luck

Would love to know how your farm is coming along! Our situations seem to be similar. Hubby & I retired early and purchased an 80 acre farm, became certified organic in 2022.