Love Family

I am interested in farm succession, farm or land sharing or co-ops, and buying land to start from scratch. I would much rather co-op. My goals are native plant nursery, conservation, and a mutual aid supporting cost-tiered CSA and farm stand with lots of value added products. Regenerative agriculture, conservation, disability access, and humane care of livestock are important to me. 

We have been running a small urban farm, but it is time for us to grow and make it our full time job to feed people with a first generation family farm. Kyle's grandparents raised grass fed cattle in rural Ohio. My grandmother was born on her family's farm in the Hocking hills, and I was raised by her on her land and homestead adjacent to the old family farm. My adult and teen children are committed to trades that would benefit and grow our family farm business after a generation away on both sides from working with the land. 

I've been learning and practicing regenerative gardening and small livestock and poultry care for over 10 years on a small scale. I have been raising rabbits, quail, and chickens for several years alongside various produce, native plants, and herbs. I have some minimal experience with pigs and dairy cows. I attended a degree program for agricultural science and agribusiness to help formalize and round out my knowledge and skills. 

We would really love to raise heritage pigs, sheep, bees, jumbo celadon quail, and pastured poultry as well as naturally managed produce. A donkey, alpaca, large horse, or small cows are a dream. We have a lot of shared skills in minor construction, home repairs, small equipment and auto repairs, sewing, crochet, food preservation, foraging, herbal preparations, pasta making, and animal care. We have a strong commitment to working smarter and harder to bring affordable, healthy food to our local community while protecting the land and water with active management and conservation practices. I've been working on an official business plan and budget, but a lot of that depends on the land that we find either on our own from scratch or with a business or land partner. What we do with the land depends on the land, and I'm not opposed to learning how to run a ranch or other operation. Equipment and structures are definitely better to have available, but if they aren't then we will work together. Mentorship is welcome but not required. 

I am not interested in conventional farming of corn or soybeans. We have the capability to add many value-added products to our future CSA and plans to scale the business to build something for a real impact on local food access. I am also a doula outside of agriculture work, and he has worked at the same union job for the last 17 years and continues to work there while we establish and grow our family farm business. The more infrastructure the better, of course, but if it's not there then we will make it happen as we are able.

 *Anyone that we work with on a close level as part of a partnership or otherwise needs to be LGBT friendly. 

*We are open to any amount of land over 10 acres. Under 10 acres is a possibility with the right partnership, climate, and structure, but I may not be able to scale the farm as large as I would like. We are aiming toward 30+. 

 *We need to be able to build a home on the property with access to electricity, internet, and water. 

*Short-term leases aren't acceptable for us because we are moving with children and require stability, but long term 80 year leases in exchange for a percentage of goods or profit are not out of the question. I don't care as much about owning land as having the rights for myself and my children who work with us on the farm to occupy and use it as intended. Owning the land or having certain agreements would open up the possibility of another family joining us or WWOOFer housing. 

*We understand that over half of North American farmland will be changing hands in the next 20 years, many without successors. We are also open to the consideration of providing family style elder care and aging in place for the right match. I worked in elder care for 10 years.