General farming (3 years+) - I have 6+ years experience working professionally on horse farms.
Do you have a business plan?
No - One is in process
Do you have financial resources available to start your farm?
Yes - I have access to loans from the bank, as well as personal savings.
Do you have access to other financial resources (such as a financial partner, loan, etc.) to start your farm?'
Yes - I would like to look into grant funding to help fund start up costs.
Project
Farm Name
Grizzly Organics (TBD)
Farm Project Description
I am looking for approximately one acre to start a market garden and CSA business. I plan to grow using organic methods (unsure if I want to eventually certify as organic) that help build soil quality and plant life through thoughtful natural amendments, knowledgeable planting techniques, and rotating crops. I am interested in growing a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, flowers and potentially culinary mushrooms. Additionally, I would like to be able to have a flock of chickens for eggs for my market, CSA business, as well as to help with composting and building soil fertility (additional revenue opportunity for selling the chicks.) In addition to selling vegetables, herbs and eggs at market, I would like to be able to offer plant starts in early spring. Ideally the land holder will either have a high tunnel existing on property that I can use, or would be willing to let me build one on site. My goals for the first year includes: establishing myself in local farmers markets and creating a customer base for my CSA program. I believe various individuals and businesses are excited and passionate about where their food is derived from. If the land owner is okay with my future vision, I picture the CSA program diversifying from not only offering deliveries. I would like to provide customers with the opportunity to come to the farm weekly to pick out their CSA options for the week. I believe that letting customers have the choice in what they take home will help offer an insight to product diversification and assist in aligning our supply with current demand trends. This will offer customers an opportunity to visit the farm with a direct insight as to where their food is being grown. Fostering garden knowledge, providing quality products and the introduction of customer choice will create an amazing sustainable community around the farm.
Preferred Arrangement
Registered Lease on Title -
Lease -
Business Partnership -
Duration of the desired agreement
I am looking for a long term lease, from between 2-4 years to start
Ideal date to obtain land by
I am looking to obtain land by March 2025
Land & Features Desired
Total Land Size (acres)
1-3 acres
Wooded Area (acres)
No
Cultivable Area (acres)
1 acre
Possibility to expand area currently available (acres)
Yes - I am open to working with the land holder on expanding growing area in the future if that is something they are instrested in
Zoning
Either
Preferred current state of the surface of the cultivable area
Preferably, there would be some growing area ready for cultivation upon arrival to the property, however I do not have any issues with working to establish garden beds and irrigation systems if necessary. I am looking for water within a reasonable distance of the garden space for irrigation, and good full sunlight to most of the plot.
Open to landowner residing on property
Yes - I have no issues with the land owner residing on the property.
Need farm buildings
Yes - It would be nice to have access to an area I could wash and pack vegetables, as well as a shed to keep garden tools but these are not deal breakers
Need fenced land
Yes - I will need to at minimum have fencing to keep deer out of the garden areas
Need farm machinery and tools
No
Need established water source and infrastructure
Ideally I would like to set up an automatic watering system with drip line irrigation on most of the garden beds, will need access to a fresh water source.
Need on-site housing
Yes - Ideally I would like to live on the land so I am not commuting every day. I am open to bringing my own trailer as housing, or whatever ideas or options the land owner may have. I do have one very well behaved shepherd who will be accompanying me.
Production type
Vegetable - Looking to produce a wide variety of vegetables, root crops, and herbs year round
Poultry - Layers - Would like to have a small flock (12-24) chickens for laying, compost production, and potentially raising chicks to sell
Greenhouse - I would like to grow tomato's, peppers, and cucumbers in green houses, as well as use them to help grow some colder weather crops through the winter
Flower - Would love to offer cut flowers in both our market and CSA programs however this isnt meant to be a large portion of income.
Mushroom - I would like to look into growing culinary mushrooms both outdoors as well as indoors
Nursery - Would like to offer plant starts at the farmers market in the spring along side our produce
Type of agriculture
Organic -
Soil needs
Will acquire commercial insurance
Yes - I am willing to acquire the appropriate insurance needed
