Our new farm property is on a busy road, has a slight slope, and full exposure to the elements.

April 27, 2022

We recently made a purchase of our own property to start a new flower farm in Newfane/Burt, NY. We purchased this land during the month of December with over one foot of snow on the ground. Ironically, we couldn’t see the existing plants, the soil, or anything really, at that time of year. While I wish I could have seen/paid better attention to the land without a foot of snow, the things we’ve realized wouldn’t have deterred our purchase anyway (thank goodness, it’s a beautiful property!)

Here is a list of the most important considerations before purchasing land — specifically for starting a FARMING BUSINESS.

READ THE LOCAL ZONING ORDINANCE
You’ll want to pull up the local Zoning Map to see what Use the land is zoned for. This can be easily found using Google. In urban/suburban areas, this is incredibly important to look into before assuming you can start a farm business on any empty plot of land. For instance, if the land in question is zoned “Residential” then you’ll be in for a sad surprise when your operation is shut down because you didn’t get permission beforehand. Reading through the Zoning Ordinance texts is also helpful if the map lacks description. There are lots of rules, some of which can be changed, but you’ll want to know what you’re getting yourself into.
GET A Soil TEST DONE
With the owner’s permission, take a shovel with you to the property and dig some holes. Simply digging a few holes to see what the soil is like will help “unearth” any questions you have about the land’s farming potential. If you can get an official soil test done, that would be even better.
Also, use the USDA’s NRCS Interactive Soil Mapping Survey System. This tool is incredible and will tell you the exact type of soil you’re working with (although it isn’t overly helpful for urban/suburban areas). Under “Quick Navigation,” put in the exact address of the property, then use the red rectangle “AOI” (Area of Interest) button to draw the exact area you’d like information on.
Related: The Difference Between Organic, No-Till, Sustainable and Regenerative Farming
IS THERE A Water Source?
If you don’t need to irrigate your crops, I envy you, and I still suggest you don’t skip this one. You’ll still need access to water for harvesting, cleaning, and most likely, transplanting.
Questions to ask: Is there a fire hydrant you can tap into? Is there a well? Is there a pond big enough to pump from? Can you tap into a water line running to an existing structure?
I highly recommend contacting the local water department and asking these questions, even before you make your purchase. Putting in new water lines is a big monetary commitment, and each water department has its own rules/preferences on what’s allowed.
SUN & WIND Exposure
How much sun and wind exposure is there, and is it appropriate for your farm? Take note of existing hedgerows or treelines that may block sun (could be good or bad) or may block wind (this is usually always good). Is there room to plant new hedgerows?
Related: Fertilizing and ‘The Law of Return’
INVENTORY THE Existing Infrastructure
Useful structures/infrastructure might include: houses, sheds or other outbuildings; driveways; water lines; outdoor electric outlets; ponds; creeks or rivers; drainage ditches. All of these elements serve useful purposes.
It would also be worth considering existing infrastructure in proximity to your property — such as a neighbor’s house/barn/garage that could block wind (good) or sunlight (not so good).
OBSERVE THE Topography/Slope
Contact your local USDA National Resource Conservation Services (NRCS) Extension Office for topographic maps. Even a slight slope on a large piece of land will unveil drainage issues. While drainage isn’t always a negative issue, it’s good to have a heads up about potential wet areas on your property. Further infrastructure (such a drain tile) or design (such as ditches, key line design, or swales) may be necessary depending on the topography of the land.
Related: 5 Steps to Building Healthy Organic Garden Soil + Soil Food Web, Part 1
INVENTORY EXISTING PLANTS ON PROPERtY
Take note of existing plants growing on your property - trees, shrubs, meadow/naturalized areas - and what potential uses, if any, they may have. Are there wild shrubs producing edible berries that could be harvested for sale (or perhaps they are indicators of a healthy bird population)? Are there useful shrubs or trees for cut foliage, if you’re a flower farmer? Is there an existing naturalized area attracting and feeding native pollinators (those pollinators will be useful for pollinating your farm crops)?
Don’t forget to look at the “weeds,” or the plants that are growing at ground level. These plants are indicators of soil mineral content. Certain weeds grow in certain areas to address soil minerality issues.
Related: Edible Medicinal Herbs for Your Backyard
TAKE NOTE OF Wildlife ON PROPERTY
What signs of wildlife can you find? Take note of gopher/groundhog holes, vole holes, and bird nests. Look closely at the shrubs to see if they’ve been munched on by deer or rabbits. Ask the current property owners (or neighbors) about animal pressure. If you’re in a rural area, chances are you have heavy animal pressure and will need to put up deer fencing. Urban/suburban areas may be harder to gauge, so ask around.
VEHICULAR Access/Visibility FROM MAJOR ROADWAYS
Take note of what kind of road the property is on. You could either be completely exposed on a main road, completely invisible from any road whatsoever, or somewhere in between. Depending on your business goals, the degree of access your future customers have to your farm from a main road will be paramount to your success if you plan on having a farmstand or farm that is open to the public.
Related: Outsourcing Compost and the Risks Involved
LEARN WHAT Community Resources ARE AVAILABLE
You’re planning on starting a new farm. Are you starting your new farm in a farming community that has dozens of other farm families, a local USDA/extension office, feed stores, tractor stores, and a myriad of other local farming resources? Or are you starting a farm in an area where you will be isolated from a farming community? Are you starting a farm in an urban setting where you can connect with other urban farmers? The point is, you cannot do this alone. Consider the resources your community has to offer that will directly benefit your future business.
RESEARCH THE AREA’S DEMOGRAPHICS
It’s important to understand who the local people (potential customers) are when you’re starting any business that will rely on the locals to buy from it. A simple Google search will provide all of this information for you. You’ll want to consider: median age, median income, and how large the population of the town is, overall. If you can figure out what people do for work, where they hang out, what they like to do, generally, this will also be good to know. You might consider the entire metropolitan area, rather than the single town you’re setting up shop in, as that may be quite limiting. This information will help you with product offerings, pricing, even your methods of advertising and community outreach.
TAKE STOCK OF OTHER FARMS IN THE AREA
Do your homework on this! Use the internet to take stock of every other farming business in the area that is remotely similar to what you plan on doing. Are there already ten other farmers selling specialty pumpkins when you had your heart absolutely set on those beautiful fairy tale varieties? What about finding out who has a farm stand, who participates in which farmers markets, who sells at which local stores, etc? You can use this information to differentiate yourself from the rest. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, but you don’t want to start a carbon-copy of someone else’s business… it’s not cool, and it probably won’t work out for you in the long run, especially if you’re entering into a small community of people.
Related: How to Become an ‘Essentialist’ + free worksheet download