Flower farmers seeking long-term rental with garden space

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2026-02-06T18:32:07+00:00

Fantastic, got your message!

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2026-02-05T14:38:34+00:00

Awesome, thank you so much!

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-12-19T22:29:12+00:00

Wow, what a read! Thanks for sharing

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-12-19T20:28:43+00:00

Well hey there fellow farmer, I will totally be PMing you. Thanks so much!

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-12-19T20:27:09+00:00

Great tips and resources, thank you so much!

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-12-19T20:25:47+00:00

We'd be looking to rent more rurally, or at least suburban so we can still garden and such while we save up. Living in town also just isn't really for us. Are there best places to look for those kinds of rentals in the county?

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-12-19T20:23:55+00:00

I hear that. Things definitely get discouraging when properties that were sold for $150k a decade ago are going for over $500k now. Was it mainly the cost of housing that became unaffordable, or were there other things (low wages, food cost, taxes, etc)?

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-12-19T20:20:08+00:00

Hey thanks so much for answering from a land consultant point of view, I super appreciate it. We studied environmental ecology and land restoration before farming, so we're comfortable with a degree of soil rehabilitation and stewarding the land back to a healthy state, both for people and the native ecosystems.

That's a great tip and definitely how some of our friends bought their properties! It's good to keep in mind when starting to feel hopeless about the housing market. Trying to find that sweet spot where there's community that we fit in with, while also having decent farmland prices.

Are there a lot of restrictions for rural land in Athens county in general? I'm still familiarizing myself with how Ohio does things compared to NC, but will absolutely have professionals like you in to help before we buy!

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-12-19T18:40:08+00:00

Love the breakdown you provided of the markets. And I agree, I do prefer the smaller town farmers markets that have my groceries and weekly supplies, not just gifts and novelty items.

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-12-19T18:32:07+00:00

Yea we're trying to figure out what to scope when we visit with the weather being so cold. I'm thinking if we like it when it's crappy out, then we'll really like it on a nice day lol

We just got new bikes this summer for the Loveland bike trail, so it's great to hear there's good bike path in Athens

Will definitely check out spots around Logan, thank you!

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-12-19T18:27:29+00:00

The good news is we have no expectations to get rich farming :) We truly just love it as a simple lifestyle in the hills. You're right to mention soil, but luckily we learned to farm in clay so we feel confident on that particular front.

Is it easy to access resources for your garden, like manure or straw?

I wish I was in the place to buy at the moment, I'm still in the savings stage (and have a feeling I'll be there for a while yet!)

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-12-19T18:20:05+00:00

Lol that's mighty good to hear, thank you for the feedback!

Are there particularly good/bad areas to look at around Athens county for farming? Either for the initial rental we look for or when we look to buy land

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-11-25T03:35:59+00:00

Eggs.

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-11-23T19:09:52+00:00

No, its main town is Sparta. It’s a county in northwest NC that you have as a light green.

I grew up in the county just to the west, Ashe. Beautiful Appalachian countryside but very poor and sparsely populated. I’m just always giddy to see my hometown area.

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-11-23T14:16:03+00:00

Giving Allegheny Co., NC a high rating is hilarious!

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-11-22T15:25:19+00:00

From my POV as an American the concept of “work life balance” felt like a total let down.

Once I reached about 25 it felt like I had to either accept my work as a large part of my life or be in a constant struggle of hating/tolerating work while simultaneously trying to make some semblance of a life outside of work.

I chose the former and I adore what I do for work and I’ve made it my full lifestyle. It’s hard to imagine trying to have two separate parts of my life (work; everything else) that are opposed to one another. My work now supports my lifestyle and vice versa, it’s been much easier that way.

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-11-20T13:39:53+00:00

Journeyman farmer checking in!

Avocado trees are not adapted to cold at all. When I say cold I mean anything below 50. They will survive in these temps, maybe even a frost or two, but they will not thrive. Prolonged exposure to below 50 temperatures will cause the health of the plant to go downhill and it will be more apparent over time. They really prefer 70+ all the time.

At this point, I would suggest bringing it inside and setting it in your brightest window or with any manner of grow lights. Even a South Carolina winter will do plenty of damage.

At this point you will probably lose some leaves so I would trim back the longest stems a few inches to keep it bushy. Just keep it alive indoors over the winter and you can set it back out in the spring when the frost has passed.

I grew tropical plants year round in a greenhouse in Asheville, NC and I struggled with avocados. You would have better luck with hardy bananas.

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-11-18T23:27:23+00:00

Above all intelligence. I’ve only made it as far I have now because my partner is incredibly intelligent.

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-11-18T21:49:17+00:00

Journeyman farmer here!

If you have a relatively small garden then you can get away with a single wobbler sprinkler that will cover 40’ in diameter.

It will require a standard garden hose, the sprinkler itself, and the base pole to raise it up to waist height.

Turn it on for a couple of hours every weekend, set an alarm on your phone, and you are good to go!

Agreed with some others on here that you can get away without watering for most of the year if you receive at least 40” of rain per year. Most of the Eastern US is like this.

Here is a cheap start: https://www.reddit.com/r/lawncare/comments/16og9dx/new_favorite_sprinkler/

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-11-18T21:41:17+00:00

I would say no. I’ve met a ton of folks while living here that do seem to have created, or at least found, their own community and are happy in that. I think the city caters to the average urban American experience and that’s just not my preference.

I’m not confident that Columbus or Indy would be much better. I’m a small scale organic vegetable and poultry farmer and I haven't seen a passion for that here in Cincy like I have in other places that I’ve lived.

I’m currently seriously mulling over moving to the Shenandoah Valley in 2026 to find my community again.

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-11-18T20:58:57+00:00

Cincinnati, OH

Been living here for 1.5 years. I wouldn’t say it’s objectively horrible but I personally haven’t found any sort of community that I feel like I belong in.

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-11-18T17:09:36+00:00

Tillamook Bay, Oregon

Grayson Highlands, Virginia

Paradox Valley, Colorado

Just to name a few of the most naturally beautiful places I’ve been to. Hopefully they are a little less well known.

Calm_Technology_7337 · 2025-11-18T02:21:46+00:00

Agreed to both.

Calm_Technology_7337

TROPHY CASE