Ben provides assistance and consultancy to real and virtual estate owners in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. Ben is also in the process of publishing a eBook on hobby farming.
Lehman’s 2012 Cast Iron Recipe Drawing: Enter to Win a Gift Card!
Lehman’s-”the world’s purveyor of historical non-electric merchandise technology”- is hosting a drawing for a recipe which utilizes cast iron cookware in one of four possible categories:
- Main Dish
- Dessert
- Bread
- Breakfast
I want to point out that this is a drawing and not a contest to select a preferred recipe. All submissions/entries must be received by Lehman’s by February 1, 2012 at the latest, and the drawing will occur approximately one week later. One winning entry will be selected per each category, with each winner receiving a gift card, redeemable at Lehman’s for products they sell.
Once the winners are selected, their names will be posted on Lehman’s blog. Please visit Lehman’s.com for full details regarding the drawing, and GOOD LUCK!
Alemany Farm: San Francisco Urban Farming
Alemany Farm is a 4 acre, fully functioning urban farm nestled between a major highway intersection, a newly gentrified neighborhood on a hill and a housing project- the perfect place to grow some food! We got a tour (and some amazing fruit) from Antonio Roman-Alcalá, Volunteer Coordinator and soon to be videoblogger/documentarian extraordinaire. The work being done at Alemany Farm proves the point that urban farming and local food production is totally possible and necessary for the health …
Why Buy a Hobby Farm
Buying a small farm is generally an emotive experience. Every purchaser has a unique set of reasons for taking such a step, however, general themes can be identified and several broad categories of hobby farmers can usually be observed in most regions.
For Investment Interest
Astute investors will often purchase a parcel of land close to the urban fringe with the expectation that the urban sprawl will inevitably produce handsome profits from subdivisions or redevelopment. Such farmers will often carry out a minimum of work and may graze some animals in order to keep the property tidy. It is unlikely that long-term activities such as re-vegetation will take place.
For Lifestyle Or Privacy
More commonly hobby farmers have a desire to live away from the prying eyes of neighbours, but be near enough to the city in order to commute to work. Some owners may have little interest in working the property as a place for agricultural production, and as a result, carry out a minimum of work maintaining the site.
A pleasant environment for the children is often cited as the reason for moving to a rural property. Others may combine the benefits of a rural lifestyle with the personal aim of land regeneration. The land may not be used for agricultural purposes, but there is a desire to see the site nurtured for the sake of fauna and flora. These are certainly noble ambitions.
For Retirement And Memories
I have met quite a few older migrants who want to relive past rural experiences, similar to their native homeland. Many such people migrated to the city, spending a lifetime working at menial tasks within a factory setting. An element of nostalgia is apparent, yet they take lavish pride in their farm and usually develop highly productive farms. Often these farmers choose to live in the city near their families and commute to the farm. Unfortunately, time is often against such people, and due to an inability to maintain the property with age, there is no choice but to sell.
For The Enterprising Spirit
There is also a brave and adventurous group of hobby farmers who want to try their hand at something new or novel. The range of enterprises is only limited by one’s imagination and in general a few years are needed before the enterprise is deemed a success or failure. In the meantime the owner may work full time, operating the enterprise on weekends. The majority of such enterprises are doomed to failure, but this is often a learning experience leading to success in the future.
A very wide range of enterprises such as emu growing, native bush foods, snail production and garlic cultivation may be attempted. From hundreds of new projects, some will be a success, but the majority will be a learning experience at best and a financial disaster at worst. In many cases insufficient planning and research is carried out, or the owner soon comes to the conclusion that far too much work is involved for the potential returns.
For Passion And Challenges
In my case I have no great illusion or grand plan, but I look forward to the physical challenges involved in maintaining 5 acres with limited capital. I hope one day to look upon my farm with pride and to grow and share some of the fruits of this labour.
This article is taken from Alf’s Hobby farm site at My Hobby Farm. Alf also writes in details on farm machiney and implements covering Tillers and cultivators as well as Farm Tractors.
East Texas Farm Land
Texas is the fastest growing state in the Union. The cities of Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Austin are growing at a record setting pace, but many of those who are choosing to relocate to Texas are looking for a getaway from urban living. The counties of West Texas and north Texas have seen their share of growth and the land prices reflect that. If you’re looking for a bargain, then your best bet is to look for East Texas farm land for sale at low prices.
East Texas farm land offers more than just bargain prices, though. The beauty of East Texas lies in wide open spaces, rolling hills and expansive skies overhead. The rural counties of East Dallas have yet to experience the big boom of residential and commercial development that sends farm land prices skyrocketing and brings the hustle and bustle of the city closer.
If you are looking for farm land for sale because you value the beauty of natural wildlife, the peace of Mother Nature and the wide open spaces that reinforce feelings of personal freedom, then this is the time to buy. As more and more people relocate to Texas, the urban sprawl will begin to encroach on the stunning beauty of the land, and drive prices for farm and ranch land up.
Towns like Tyler, Bullard, Troup and Jacksonville still offer excellent relocation value, Current prices for East Texas farm land are as low as $1,000 an acre, with a high of about $5,000 an acre. These low prices aren’t likely to last long. As Baby Boomers and their children leave the big cities to retire in the beauty and space of the wide open hills and prairies, farm land will rise in price with the increased demand.
According to a research economist at Texas A&M this has already started to happen. The price of East Texas farm land increased by nearly 35% between 1992 and 1997. More recently, West Texas farm land rose 15% in one year, up to an average of $1,900 per acre in 2006.
Why Buy East Texas Farm Land for Sale?
Today’s typical East Texas land buyer isn’t your usual rancher looking for land to farm or raise animals. Instead, the baby boomer generation is looking to East Texas farm land for its aesthetic appeal and its leisure potential. Hunting, fishing, boating and other outdoor pursuits rank high on the list of motivation for buying farm land in East Texas.
If your intent is to buy farm land for agricultural purposes there are some suggestions that will help you find the right farm land for sale.
- Location
If you’re planning to farm your land and support yourself with direct market sales, then you need to be within range of a city of about 25,000 people. In East Texas, some of the counties to consider are Tyler, Washington and Wood County, where you can still find excellent quality farm land at low prices.
- Ground Water
If your land isn’t already piped for water or have a well, you may have to dig one of your own, which can be a major expense. In North and West Texas, you may have to dig far deeper than 750 feet to reach water. In East Texas, the average depth for a well is only 250 feet.
East Texas Facts
East Texas is a distinct region of Texas that extends from Red River to Limestone County and southwestward to Galveston Bay. It is comprised of either all or part of 49 separate counties. It has a population of about six million over an area of 40,000 miles.
By contrast, the city of Houston, once considered part of East Texas, has a population of 5.5 million people concentrated in a little more than 600 square miles. East Texas still has the things that made Texas famous: miles and miles of wide open spaces with room to stretch and grow.
Whether you’re looking for a little piece of Texas to be your retirement getaway, or are seeking East Texas farm land for investment purposes, a local realtor or buyer’s agent may be the best way for you to find just the farm land you’re seeking.
There are thousands and thousands of acres of East Texas farm land for sale, both with and without structures, and finding just the right farm for sale can be a daunting task without the help of an experienced agent who knows where to find the best parcels of land for sale.
Barry Tipton is President/Founder of Good Land Deals, Inc., the parent of http://www.GoodLandDeals.com, a comprehensive website that brings together motivated buyers and sellers of land. Tipton boasts over 32 years experience in the land development, land sales and marketing.
Pack Your Muck Boots, Kids! Take an Unforgettable Vacation with Your Family: Visit a Farm
As you are planning your next vacation do you get sticker
shock from the cost of accommodations, airfare and meals?
Are you tired of the usual resort or theme-park destinations
where you are passively entertained (and constantly opening
your wallet)? Are you searching for a vacation that will be
relaxing for you and an unforgettable experience for the
kids? Do you want to be at a place that is real and not
manufactured?
What you need is a good old-fashioned farm vacation.
Staying at a farm – even if you just stay a weekend – is an
experience your family will never forget. If you have kids,
it is a chance for them to experience firsthand where food
comes from and even help with farm chores, such as feeding
baby lambs and collecting eggs. It a way out of the hustle
and bustle of modern life; it is a retreat that brings you
and your family back to America’s farm roots and a calmer,
simpler way of life.
Farm vacations are not new. In fact, 50 years ago city
dwellers who needed a break would call their country cousins
for a respite from urban life. However, today, with less
than 2% of the U.S. population now living on working farms,
finding a relative with a farm is unlikely for most people.
But now more than ever — with the frenetic pace of suburban
& urban life at full tilt — we all desperately need a
vacation “away from it all.”
Luckily there still many farmers who, in addition to
farming, love to play host to their urban “cousins.” These
farmers are part of an ever-growing trend of agri-tourism.
According to a recent article in the Boston Globe the farm
vacation is increasingly becoming a popular getaway among
suburban families. This trend is being fueled by a surging
interest in environmentally-conscious tourism and the
increased enthusiasm for local organic food among
suburbanites and urban dwellers – who rightly believe that
children ought to know and understand where food comes from.
What’s it like to stay on a farm?
Imagine for a moment waking to the sound of the rooster
crowing and chickens clucking. How about rolling out of bed
and collecting fresh eggs with your kids for your breakfast?
You can then stroll around the farm, go fishing, milk a cow,
sip lemonade on the rocking chair on the porch, feed a baby
lamb out of a bottle, or go for a hayride.
The pace and pressures of everyday life slip away. This is a
place you can really “let go” on vacation, participate in
some real down-to-earth activities, eat wholesome home-grown
& cooked meals, and probably have the best sleep you’ve had
in years.
Many parents who have taken a farm vacation report that it
is more relaxing than a traditional vacation (such as at a
Club Med or Disney World), plus farm vacations promote
simpler values they want to instill in their children – like
hard work and respect for nature.
A farm vacation is not only relaxing, but it is a true
bargain. The average middle income American family spends
hundreds of dollars annually in its two weeks’ pursuit of
fun and relaxation. You probably lay out even more money on
camping equipment, special vehicles, boats, motorcycles,
gasoline, motels, restaurants, camping fees, portable TVs,
movies, liquor, repair bills and more. Sometimes you need a
vacation after your vacation to recover from the stress of
spending all that money and not really having a relaxing
time.
Your farm vacation helps not only your family, but small
family farms.
Taking a farm vacation not only benefits you and your family
- but farmers as well. For farmers – the influx of guests
who are willing to pay for lodging and the “farm experience”
is becoming vital to their economic survival and preserving
the rural landscape. In fact, farms who include some kind of
“agri-tourism” (such as farm stays) are managing to stay
afloat and even thrive.
With many independent farms on the verge of extinction,
cash-strapped farmers are finding a good stream of income
hosting urban/suburban guests…who actually want to milk
their cows and gather eggs!
So this season, instead of taking your usual vacation, pack
your bags, your muck boots, and your sense of adventure and head for the nearest farm. It will be an experience you and your kids will be talking about for years to come.
Marcia Passos Duffy is the author of the e-book, “Farm
Stays: Northern New England. Your Guide to an Unforgettable Farm Vacation” to order your copy visit
http://www.booklocker.com/books/2514.html Marcia is also
the publisher of the free online magazine, The Heart of New
England www.TheHeartofNewEngland.com