How to Quit Your Job and Start a Farm

Starting a farm is an intimidating process. It takes a lot of research, time, dedication and paperwork! Is it Worth It? Even if your farm is just enough to support you and your family on fresh produce then it is totally worth the time and effort.

Self-Sufficient

The peace of mind that comes from being able to provide food for your family is worth the work. In uncertain times it is great to have the basic necessities of life under your own control. You never know when you might have to live off your own land. Knowing that you can provide food and money for your family is very much worth all the effort that it takes.

We learned during the 2020 Pandemic that things that we rely on are not always going to be available. I was very glad to have my canned food ready when the supplies ran out all over the country.

Where to Start

The area in which we live does a lot of farming but guess what, no one has ever started a lavender farm here. In fact there are only a few lavender farms in the entire state. So when I went into the FSA (Farm Service Agency) they almost didn’t know what to do with me. They were kind and helpful and frankly bewildered by my desire to start a lavender farm. The man helping me kept asking if I was sure I didn’t want to grow alfalfa (the main crop of our area).

One of the first things the FSA agent talked to me about was my farm experience. This was our basic conversation.

Agent: “What is your farm training?”

Me: “Um, I have a garden.”

Agent: “…well, could you get someone to write a letter about your training or classes you’ve taken?”

My thoughts: “My mom. No I can’t say that, I’m an adult! Um, think… I write a blog about gardening and lavender does that count? … No, again your an adult talking to a real live cowboy who doesn’t consider blogging about your garden as serious farm training or experience… Aaaaah! He’s not going to let me start a farm! I’m a fraud, I’m not a real cowgirl, farmer, whatever.”

Me: “I’ll get back to you on that.”

Let me just say that even though I had no idea what I was doing the FSA agent walked me through the process and was helpful even though he probably thought I was crazy. I am crazy, I want to start a lavender farm where none exist, I want to build my dream farm that everyone wants to visit, and I want to do it in the middle of nowhere. Yep, definitely crazy.

Don’t be Intimidated

There are so many people willing to help. They actually want you to succeed. You are not alone. We all have to start at the beginning. I had to go ask questions I didn’t even know I had. It was awkward for me but I wanted it bad enough I was willing to go through the hoops to make a farm.

The point I’m making is you don’t have to have all the answers before you start your farm or even your garden. I didn’t, I still don’t. I learn something about lavender or farming on a daily basis. Baby steps.

Learn as You Go

Start with those who can help you learn. The FSA and NRCS if you want to start a farm and have questions are a great resource.

My goal is to make this blog a place of information useful to your beginning farm or garden. A farm process you can see that started at the bottom and learned their way to the middle rungs and hopefully keeps on going up.

I want you, dear reader, to make this journey with us as we learn together how to start providing for our families. I want you to be there from the first to see the real life struggle it will be to start this farm. It ain’t gonna be easy let me tell you. But, I promise it will be entertaining, possibly hilarious and maybe a little bit educational.

How did you begin? What were you best resources? Share your photos with us #sweetolivefarms

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