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buying a farm??

F

fmoore200

Mar 22, 2011
845
17
NYC
#1
I know the TB community is full of diversity and people from all walks of life, some of us are from the city while some are from the country, etc..

I am one of the members from more of an urban background, but all my life I have had a love of nature. I always frequented the Bronx Zoo as a child, owned many pets (snakes, iguanas, geckos, dogs, cats, etc.) and tried my hand at breeding mice (successfully) and pythons (unsuccessfully).

I loved going to orchards and farms upstate. I never lived in a private home, so my only horticultural endeavors were on window sills and patios.. and closets <wink, wink >

Now I've come to a point in life where I can buy some farm property and I want to jump at it. The price is great and it is in a place where I would love to live. Also it is partially filled with crops that are successfully being cultivated.

My question is for those of you here at TB that have farming experience. What does a city slicker like me have to do to prepare myself for such a life? What equipment do I need run a couple of acre farm? My mind is willing but my knowledge base is lacking. Any links, books, experience would help me a lot..

Thanks guys!
 
#4
MakiSupaStar said:
Nice. Sounds awesome. Pics or no farm.
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I haven't actually bought it yet, but this is in the running..

ForumRunner_20120510_135730.png
 
#8
Check out the taxes, and don't count on crops covering any expenses.

On a couple acre farm in snow country, a small tractor with live hydraulics and a bucket and an assortment of attachments should be fine - like a 2 cyl kubota or similar. A tractor mounted snow blower is recommended if you plan on living there full time.

If the land isn't currently being cultivated - find out why - from the neighbors.

Get an older pickup with an 8ft box. You will be hauling shtuff.

How far to town, and are jobs available there? Long term someone will probably need a job in town - or two.

If you aren't mechanically inclined, budget for expensive repairs - often.
 
#9
aborgman said:
Are we talking hobby farm, or support the family farm?

If the latter - be prepared for excessive hours of drudge work, early mornings, not being able to take vacations, and being land/equipment rich but cash poor.
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I haven't decided yet, tbph. I would like to generate some amount of cash from the farm. At least more than it takes to operate the land. It is between 8-10 acres, so Idk what that really sets me up for..
 
#10
carl h. said:
Check out the taxes, and don't count on crops covering any expenses.

On a couple acre farm in snow country, a small tractor with live hydraulics and a bucket and an assortment of attachments should be fine - like a 2 cyl kubota or similar. A tractor mounted snow blower is recommended if you plan on living there full time.

If the land isn't currently being cultivated - find out why - from the neighbors.

Get an older pickup with an 8ft box. You will be hauling shtuff.

How far to town, and are jobs available there? Long term someone will probably need a job in town - or two.

If you aren't mechanically inclined, budget for expensive repairs - often.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info!!

Actually, the farm is in the tropics. The crops that are already there are coffee beans, plantains, avocado and oranges.. I would also like to have some livestock, but that would only be for family use..
 
#14
Lol.. I didn't mention the location in the op, because I didn't want to scare anybody off.. I am asking for advice on the day to day running of a successful, small scale farm.. I think the pickup truck is the direction I was headed when I started the thread.. :cool:
 
#16
Im sure there are some things youu could farm there if need be , but your not going to be able to really use any tools to help you harvest on a incline like that , so it would all have to be hand harvested.Most livestock couldnt be raised on that but you maybe able to raise goats , maybe sheep?

Not a farmer but my father was, I to am just a city slicker.
 
#17
10 acres isn't much to farm and would be a good start IMO. You just have a lot to learn. It's not as easy as people think. Plus it's a lot of work. Just start learning from anyone you can cause your gonna need to learn a lot! I live in farm country and love it. I have a deer plot and a huge garden. I like outdoor work that's repeditive too lol! It's an everyday thing too during your season. You can't leave your farm for a week or bad thing will happen
 
#18
cosmicpimp2 said:
10 acres isn't much to farm and would be a good start IMO. You just have a lot to learn. It's not as easy as people think. Plus it's a lot of work. Just start learning from anyone you can cause your gonna need to learn a lot! I live in farm country and love it. I have a deer plot and a huge garden. I like outdoor work that's repeditive too lol! It's an everyday thing too during your season. You can't leave your farm for a week or bad thing will happen
Click to expand...

Thanks for the encouragement!! I was getting nervous, lol..
 

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