Looking for lease, or Lease to own, Lease to own with a Balloon payment, or Trade. Lane/Linn/Benton. Soil scientist/Restorative agriculture

Land Seeker Description

I am 30 years old, graduating from Oregon state university with a major in Agricultural science and minor in soil science. (I went back to school a little later then most). My early 20’s were spent working for a finance company, where I learned a lot about financial management and leadership as a supervisor. I later discovered my deep love and passion for agriculture. I have been working at local livestock and vegetable farms for the last 4 years while obtaining my bachelors degree. I love giving back to the community and I have made many connections with the wonderful small farms community in the Willamette valley during my time. I am currently an on-site manager at a urban farm in Corvallis. Me and my husband are looking to start our own farm in the area. We strongly believe in restorative agriculture and holistic management. We believe that nature does a great job at taking care of itself and we want to use that to create a system that flows with nature, instead of against it. We would like to start with livestock rotational grazing of chickens and growing organic nursery plants. We would like to have a large inventory of native nursery plants for sale and beneficial pollinator plants as we strongly believe in permaculture and the shift to ecological urban landscapes.

What features of the property are essential?

Water rights, if you are not sure that is fine, I am able to look it up.

Describe your farming experience

I have worked on a urban non-profit vegetable farm in Springfield where I first fell in love with farming. I then worked a full year on a pig & chicken farm where we sold eggs and meat at the farmers market. I maintained, packaged and managed 4+ farmers markets in the Willamette valley. Most recently I have been working on a urban farm in Corvallis, Oregon where I manage the landscape, greenhouses, research plots and organic vegetable farm on site. I am also about to graduate from Oregon State University with my bachelors in Agriculture Science and minor in Soil Science.

Are you currently farming?

What are your short term goals for the land

Business Goals
- Maintain a average gross margin at or above 50%.
- Generate a average of $400 in sales each business day for the first year.
- Realize a average growth rate of 10% in year 2.
Land Management Goals
- Increase soil fertility and porosity and decrease bulk density.
- Prevent soil erosion and condition soil with rotational grazing of polyculture cover crops.
- Store more carbon in the soil through photosynthesis and no-till methods.

What are your long term goals

Business Goals
- Add additional enterprises to the farm to increase diversity.
- A steady income increase by at least 15% each year.
- Educating the community with workshops/classes on restorative and holistic agriculture.
Land Management Goals
- Create a sustainable ecosystem that mimics nature.
- Increase soil organic matter, aggregate stability and infiltration rates.

Describe your housing needs

No housing needed

What will you do as a farmer to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for everyone on your farm and in your community?

I am Norwegian and Native American and my husband is a Irish, Canadian Italian. We welcome any and all culture and backgrounds with open arms. We love to educate and help foster growth in all ages, young children to elders.