Hello, I have 5 children and currently work in IT and live on the Isle of Wight. I'm sick of looking at a screen all day and would instead love to be outside growing organic food. I want to have a family business that my kids can get involved in. Access to land seems to be the biggest barrier. I have enough savings to buy a few acres but don't ever see this small amount of land for sale. Any advice on how to proceed with this dream would be most welcome. What I'm looking for is a few acres that I could grow stuff on and eventually build a dwelling on. Thanks!
HELP - dream to start a micro farm on a few acres
- Thread starter FutureKode
- Start date
Have a read of the below links. Find someone through them that you can work with for a couple of years alongside the IT job, then decide if you want to do it full time for a living.
https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/micro-farming.318353/#post-6949973
https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/micro-farming.318353/#post-6949973
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Any site with the potential for a new dwelling will be priced accordingly. Be aware. It won't be 8k an acre. More like 80k an acre.
spin cycle
Member
- Location
- north norfolk
quick google...5.41 ac rowlands lane £70k....3ac totlands bay £60k
Farmer1001
Member
Quite often we see 5 acres make £50k and 20 acres make £150k simply because people can add £50k to a mortgage. Good luck with your search, have a plan and don’t be fooled into thinking it can’t fail but also don’t be put off breaking out and having a go.
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
I'd question why you're going with organic. It's far more labour and machinery intensive (aka expensive to start doing) for far less output (and hence more environmentally damaging). Sure, it sounds good but is reported as 6 times the greenhouse gas emissions per unit of food produced.
Also location - you're an IT worked so presumably mobile and able to move. You've picked one of the most expensive parts of the country to live in, which might not be smart when money is a constraint.
Think all these things through before you fix on your dream.
Also location - you're an IT worked so presumably mobile and able to move. You've picked one of the most expensive parts of the country to live in, which might not be smart when money is a constraint.
Think all these things through before you fix on your dream.
Really consider the planning aspect if you intend to buy some land and live there; getting accomodation on a small acreage is nigh on impossible without going down the Para 79 (Grand Designs) route. Seriously consider buying land and property sperate, maybe a few miles apart.
Scouse eater
Member
Hi Future Kode,
You might want to look up Field to Farm book. The author explains how you can get planning permission to build a house on land that you farm. I think you have to have
about 12 acres and you have to show you can earn a minimum wage from it. I don't think you have to own all of the land, some of it can be rented.
Hope you find somewhere! Good luck!
You might want to look up Field to Farm book. The author explains how you can get planning permission to build a house on land that you farm. I think you have to have
about 12 acres and you have to show you can earn a minimum wage from it. I don't think you have to own all of the land, some of it can be rented.
Hope you find somewhere! Good luck!
If it is rented land the LPA will expect to see a written formal arrangement for at least 5 years.Hi Future Kode,
You might want to look up Field to Farm book. The author explains how you can get planning permission to build a house on land that you farm. I think you have to have
about 12 acres and you have to show you can earn a minimum wage from it. I don't think you have to own all of the land, some of it can be rented.
Hope you find somewhere! Good luck!
JohnD
Member
- Location
- Lancashire
How far north are you willing to travel ?
How much land would you be looking for ?
And how much have you saved up?
Pm if you would prefer
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a. I presume you are already good at growing things and have a productive garden.
b. Find some more local land - there are little plots of land around, large gardens, unused paddocks, etc. and scale up.
c. If you decide you like it and can make a satisfactory living you will need a business plan.
d. Find some land and ask the Council if you can live in a caravan - generally permission is for 3 years and to see if
you can make a living.
e. If all goes well you could apply for planning permission.
It might all take a bit longer, but it is what people have done around here in one or two places. You need to think of your outlet and how far you are going to be from your customers.
b. Find some more local land - there are little plots of land around, large gardens, unused paddocks, etc. and scale up.
c. If you decide you like it and can make a satisfactory living you will need a business plan.
d. Find some land and ask the Council if you can live in a caravan - generally permission is for 3 years and to see if
you can make a living.
e. If all goes well you could apply for planning permission.
It might all take a bit longer, but it is what people have done around here in one or two places. You need to think of your outlet and how far you are going to be from your customers.
