Fresh to Farming

Soon, this is where I’ll be. More barn cats to come.

Leasing Land is for the Privileged Leasing land is usually the first suggestion given when we think about how cost prohibitive land ownership can be. Unirrigated land is sometimes an 1/8th of the cost of a plot with water access, seemingly making leasing a better option when raising livestock. Over the last few years, I have been offered plenty of opportunities to rent land. And so far, I’ve turned them all down except for the one time I now wish I would have passed on. Ther...e are quite a few landowners out there willing to let me or turn their land into the Martha Stewart Living market garden of their dreams. Just as long as the farm looks magazine ready at all times. I’ve turned down everything from shady garden-sized areas to offers to farm a celebrity’s house (only for one year.) I’ve turned down an offer from a celebrity chef after learning that his land was down a 14-mile washboard dirt road. And there was no water in the well. And I had to grow to his spec. But he wasn’t going to pay me to fix up his land that he owned. Every offer comes with the chance to use land that has never been used in farming-recesistate brick-dry patches of land into living soil. Land owners approach me with the thought in their mind that I will transform their property at absolutely no cost to them. And they’ll gladly charge asinine amounts to rent from them when they have no infrastructure from the start. Call me crazy. I think they think I’m supposed to feel excited for the chance to dump every single cent I have into structures and soil I can’t take with me, irrigation that will stay on their land, and thousands upon thousands of dollars in compost and nutrients. The profit margins in farming are thin as it is. Farmers cannot afford this kind of arrangement. If I’m building up your soil, I should be building equity as well. Visitors aren’t allowed but the owners can invite whoever they want whenever they choose. No sales on site. Housing is usually not an option, if affordable at all. Some owners are sketchy of official lease arrangements in writing. (Continues in comments)

I reserve the right to pivot at any moment. Generally, I feel this most after returning home after some time away. Maybe it’s the grass is always greener (literally and figuratively) but I’m re-evaluating how I want to farm. Mostly, I’m asking how sustainable is this goal in the capacity in which I’m headed.... I’ve been looking to move with or without farming for over a year now since my affordable housing option in Sonoma County is coming to an end and can’t (and won’t) begin to entertain the idea of staying in the area otherwise. Lissen...My budget for a property before and after the GoFundMe is exactly the same amount. Is that surprising? I feel I need to temper expectations of those in my life and on IG. Some think I’m looking for places with 20+ acres and multiple houses. When it’s more like 2 acres and a not too shabby double-wide. Setting funds aside for start-up costs, the difference is that I’m able to lower the mortgage a little, like $50. Going this route on the west coast may not be a sound financial decision. I’m on board for heading east. My shipmate, not so much. I’m feeling blessed to have this problem though. I have more options than I did before. Yeah yeah. I could find a partner(s). But here’s the deal-everybody wants a farm, no one wants to do the farm work. Or farmers who would partner up don’t have the funds. Hiring help isn’t an option anytime soon so I’m thinking on the lines of a smaller farm. A CSA model seems impractical with only myself and limited space. Specialty crops? A small backyard space is where I’m heading. Although, at the end of the day, I would like to be a part of a community, help create a new one and have the space to invite people over. And not farm alone. I also reserve the right to tell myself to simmer down, put the search on hold because Cov!d and fall/winter is the worst time to buy a house.

Why is it so expensive to live in left-leaning counties? I got Democratic dreams on a Republican budget. Democrats tend to live in more densely populated counties, making it a shorter radius for potential customers, cutting down on delivery and driving time. Also, I need to feel somewhat comfortable going to the store where I live.... The farmland search continues. Pictured: carrot harvest at Green Valley Community Farm - @greenvalleycommunityfarm #beginingfarmer #blackfarmer #californiafarming #farmsearch #freshtofarming #newfarmer

Choi for days. These were one of my favorites to grow and harvest this season. #bokchoy #bokchoi #pakchoi #pakchoy #whatdoyoucallit #freshtofarming #sebastopolca #smallfarms

Harvest time at @radicalfamilyfarms. It’s great having Leslie back from their trip. See? The farm is still there. We didn’t completely ruin it without you. Just a little bit. . My first attempt at heading to WA to look at properties a couple of weeks ago was canceled due to the fires. As of now, all reservations have been renewed so I’ll keep my fingers crossed that there won’t be a similar situation. . At the point, it’s more like looking a short term apartment rental to mov...e into temporarily so that I can be up there to jump on a place I like. . Speaking with my real estate agent, every property I see that I like listen on a website or app already pending inspection by the time I’ve seen it. . So I need to be in the area within striking distance. . . . #farmsearch #newfarmer #blackfarmers #veggiesfordays #freshtofarming See more

Between the 1970’s rock and shoe gazing early alternative music I played this morning, I’ll probably never get to pick the music again while packing CSA boxes. I love a captive audience!

I’m feeling like these sun golds-still putting out tomatoes but looking a little my season will shortly come to an end. . I gave an early notice to Leslie and Sarah at @radicalfamilyfarms that I’ll be leaving before the farm season is done so that I can have time to dedicate to looking for a new place. . We’re pretty set on focusing on Washington state. Although California has the best weather for farming, the most recent fires reminded me why we considered leaving to being ...with. Fires and the cost of housing. . Yeah, even with the generous financial gift I received, it’ll still require a benefactor or someone to donate/greatly discount farmland for me to stay local. . So before I’m officially done working at the end of October, I’ll be taking a few trips up north to get this going. . #blackfarmers #californiafarming #freshtofarming #newfarmer See more