Lin's Garden: Farm Wish List

GARDEN
SITE

Garden
Home

Resources

News

Myths from
the Garden

Farm Wish List

Here's a space which is a little like a wishing well. As we gain more information and advice, our farm "picture" comes into focus more and more.

Finding and Buying Your Place in the Country
Finding and Buying Your Place in the Country, by Les Scher and Carol Scher, is a great resource for helping you consider all the possibilities and pitfalls when looking for a farm to buy. After reading this book, Dave and I compiled the following specifications that we gave to the realtor who showed us a few properties last winter.

15+ acres in Frederick or Washington counties, perked

Half to one-third in pasture, gardens, orchard, house, barn, and outbuilding areas, all on no-flood area of property

Half to two-thirds wooded; plenty of potable water with above- or underground stream and/or pond;

Property should not have been heavily farmed; soil should pass tests for fertility and be screened for misuse

Neighboring areas should be free of conventional large farm operations, genetically altered crops, and logging, hogging, or other polluting activities

Property should have exclusive rights to easements, access, and minerals/forest

Road into property should be in excellent condition; no covenants

Excellent well, concrete septic system in new or excellent condition

Should be zoned to build multiple family dwellings

In-law cottage or suite preferred; greenhouse preferred

Will consider conveyance of farm equipment, if suits alternative farming methods and are in good condition

Will consider conveyance of hens and hen house

If you know of such a place, email me immediately!

Beginning a Small Farm Operation
My husband, Dave, and I are currently attending a class sponsored by the Frederick, Maryland cooperative extension titled "Beginning a Small Farm Operation." Taught by extension agent Terry Poole, the class provides a great overview of small farm enterprises in the Frederick region and covers both conventional and alternative methods. Mr. Poole's nuts-and-bolts approach, with a keen eye on farm profitability, has been a tremendous help in directing our focus to specific plans based on our "dream farm."

The class has also given us the opportunity to meet other like-minded farmers and farmers-to-be. My guess is that the success of a small farm may hinge on the strength of the community of farmers that surround it. In that spirit, I thought it would be enjoyable to post summaries of the farms owned or ones that are soon-to-be owned by the Frederick county farmers who took the class with us. The list is intended to start a network of information and advice for all the small farmers in the network, and will be an interesting read for those who may want to buy from our small market farmers iin the near future.

Small Market Farmer Network