Farming Experience
Farming experience
6-10 years of experience
Type of farming experience
- Gardening
- Homesteading
- Worked on a farm
- Agricultural degree
- Farm management experience
- Farm business ownership
- Something else/additional (describe below)
Name of your farming operation or where you are currently farming
n/a
Farming Plans
State(s) of interest
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
Location details
Looking for opportunities in Western Mass area, but are open to opportunities throughout New England depending on the arrangement.
Minimum acreage desired
1
Maximum acreage desired
500
Arrangements desired
- Purchase or own
- Farm manager
- Lease-to-own
- Collective/group tenure
- Something else
Arrangement description
Ben and Kara are on the hunt for their first home, and hopefully homestead. They would ideally find an opportunity or operation where they can invest in their first home, and have space to start their own farm business, or work with current owners to transition and eventually take ownership of the existing business. They are interested in pursuing crop and forestry based operations, ideally with some prime ag. soils for high value specialty crops. Ben has a background in multiple agricultural industries, has previously operated a small livestock/dairy farm, managed large and small farms in the non-profit sector, chaired the sustainable agriculture dept. for a community college, and currently works as an agricultural service provider. Kara has a background in communications, managing an animal welfare center and providing small-animal veterinary care, and currently provides senior administration skills to a Fortune 500 company.
Planned farming practices
- Practices will prioritize 'light touch' practices, like IPM, and consider certified organic depending on markets
Planned farming enterprises
- Agroforestry
- Cut flowers
- Perennials
- Vegetables
Farming enterprises description
Enterprises dependent on landscape, generally interested in exploring specialty crops like cut flowers, herbs/spices, specialty veg, perennial plant crops
Infrastructure needed
- Housing
Description of infrastructure needed
Housing is a must - other infrastructure can be built as needed, ideally Ben and Kara would be living on (or adjacent) to the farm.
Business planning description
Depends on enterprise and proximity & demographic of target markets
Additional Information
Ben and Kara are a young couple that grew up in Maine and seek to start their own farm business in New England. Although they are in the early stages of this project, their combined backgrounds bring an abundance of relevant knowledge and skills necessary to not only produce a profitable crop, but also manage a business for the long haul. They are open to exploring transition plans with farmers that are willing and able to provide that, and would hope to have space to experiment with some of their own crops as well. They both have a background working with animals and livestock, enjoy working with dairy and egg animals, but are not currently interested in working with meat enterprises.