Hi all,
My partner and I currently rent 7 acres of
land in Northern California. Our landlord had mentioned the possibility of selling the property within the next few years, but has now recently decided to
sell much sooner (i.e., within the next few months to a year). While the property is considered residential, not "agricultural", the owner granted us permission to farm here and over the last two years, we have since put in a significant amount of infrastructure, including fencing and housing for goats, poultry and cows , as well as a
greenhouse and garden area, from which we are already making a
profit. We love it here, and cannot
bear the thought of having to part with our animals or this land. So, with that in mind, we are currently scrambling to secure any financial resources possible that may enable us to make the purchase. We are both in our late twenties, have a history of working in agriculture, good credit scores and decent income. Does anyone have
experience with or suggestions for grants or loans for beginning farmers? I have done a bit of research of into USDA micro loans. Are there any other resources out there? Given time constraints, we are less prepared to make a purchase than I would have liked, so any advice regarding financial options would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your help!
Sara