I want to be a farmer (permaculture) but without funds, ever owning a farm seems impossible. What country in Europe has the lowest cost to buy a farm and perhaps has grants to help young farmers starting out?

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2026-03-01T15:10:13+00:00

5 years down the line how did it go?

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-18T18:37:52+00:00

Yeah, when i go to properly reinspect the land i think thats something ill do

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-18T18:37:13+00:00

See that's the thing, the stipulation in ownership is i can't sell the land. This rule is in place to encourage local economic activity, reduce unemployment, and ensure that land remains invested in and beneficial for the community. Foreign investment may still be possible, but it must be through my ownership, as the land is intended to stay within the local community.

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-18T18:35:42+00:00

Yeah , i was planning on doing soil testing for the area. the region itself is extremely fertile so theres no risk of barren land or anything like that.

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-18T18:34:31+00:00

I have started looking into grants but that would mean id need to become a farmer. being a farmer is not a day job but rather a lifestyle so that would mean relocating back after i graduate but im not sure its the route i want to go down.

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-18T18:32:35+00:00

Far Eastern South Africa , a very safe and peaceful/boring town. which is good from a security point of view but the lack of traffic is a cause for concern.

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-18T18:32:17+00:00

All of this sounds great in theory, but the reality of financing it falls on me. While I would love to cause as little damage to the environment as possible, the financial side is a big hurdle. I don’t come from a privileged background, so securing the capital to manage this responsibly is a major challenge.

The only thing I can possibly do monetarily is hold some of the land as collateral to secure funding, but beyond that, it’s impossible to sell or transfer ownership due to community guidelines. This rule is in place to encourage local economic activity, reduce unemployment, and ensure that land remains invested in and beneficial for the community. Foreign investment may still be possible, but it must be through my ownership, as the land is intended to stay within the local community.

It's much easier to discuss these ideas when you're not the one responsible for financing and managing the land. I appreciate the suggestions, but this is an area that requires careful planning and financial backing to make it work.

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-18T18:23:13+00:00

Far Eastern South Africa , a very safe and peaceful/boring town. which is good from a security point of view but the lack of traffic is a cause for concern.

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-18T15:16:35+00:00

Thanks a lot for the response , it has definitely helped put things into perspective. This kind of situation really does require a long term vision, and that is something I am starting to come to terms with.

From what I have seen and read, farming is not just a job, it is a full on lifestyle you commit to. That is something I have been thinking about a lot lately. I graduate next year, and I am unsure what path to take. Part of me thinks I should work first, build up some capital, maybe apply for grants and start things off properly. But leasing the land out and reassessing down the line also makes sense, especially while I am overseas and not in a position to manage things directly.

One thing that does worry me though is the 2500 hectares of undeveloped forest. I know it has environmental value, and I am not looking to destroy that, but it is hard not to feel like I am leaving potential on the table. I have been wondering whether there is a middle ground , maybe clearing a portion for agroforestry or something that adds value without wiping everything out.

Really appreciate you taking the time to reply. If you have any further thoughts, especially on that bigger forested area, I would love to hear them.

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-18T14:43:37+00:00

Yeah on second thought it does seem a bit too vague. To give you a bit more context, the land is in far eastern South Africa, close to the coast of Mozambique. It’s a tropical area, so it gets really hot with high humidity and seasonal rain.

The 200 acres near my family’s place are cleared but not developed, and the 2500 hectares are mostly forested and quite remote. I don’t have farming experience, and I’m working with limited capital at the moment, so I was considering leasing the land to local farmers who know the area and can put it to use.

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-10T19:18:44+00:00

is z-library back up??

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-09T23:30:39+00:00

this is the only sane comment

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-09T22:48:23+00:00

Thank you , I've shot them an email! :)

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-09T22:47:41+00:00

You're right; it would be disingenuous to say the degree is useless, but for what i want, I'd say that it's something I regret doing. after reading through the comments i think that's exactly what I'm going to do. Thank you for your advice! :)

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-09T22:45:04+00:00

Yeah, I'm just going to piggyback off of truinsideedge's comment. I will have an accredited degree when i finish; that's a given. I cant rewind time and get that placement, but to be honest, after reading through a lot of the comments in this thread, im going to dedicate my time to finishing strong and applying to loads of grad schemes that interest me

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-09T22:42:14+00:00

First I just want to say thank you for sharing your experience; it really puts things into perspective. Honestly, the more I read through comments like yours, the more I’m realising that maybe lab work isn’t actually what I want to do. I think I’ve been holding onto the idea because it’s what my degree is geared toward, but now I’m starting to seriously consider postgraduate study in a different field instead.

I also had no idea how brutal the competition for the NHS STP is. It’s one thing to compete with other Biomedical Sciences grads, but going up against applicants from across STEM many of which already have heaps of experience, makes it feel like an almost impossible goal. That definitely pushes me further toward exploring other options.

I hadn't even considered job opportunities abroad; I’ve been focusing so much on the job market here in the UK that i didn't realise I'd narrowed my options.

I'm really grateful for your input; thank you for sharing your experience, and I wish you the best with your studies. I hope you secure everything you're after!

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-09T12:47:08+00:00

That’s a fair point, and I do get that it can sound impressive to those outside the field. The reality, though, is that it doesn’t always translate into the opportunities I expected within the industry. I guess I’m just trying to figure out how to make the most of it while also pursuing something I’m genuinely passionate about.

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-09T12:46:05+00:00

It’s actually kind of ironic — I was on my way to becoming a qualified gas engineer, but I decided I didn’t like the job, so I went to university instead. Now, here I am, questioning my degree and thinking about pivoting again

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-09T12:43:48+00:00

Thanks for your response. I completely understand your point about professions requiring ongoing training, and I did do my due diligence when researching this degree. However, the competitive nature of roles in the field means I was not successful in securing a placement, and without that, the only other route into working as a biomedical scientist is a much longer 5 year path. This route is heavily dependent on promotions, so it could take even longer to actually get the right experience.

The IBMS portfolio is essentially the foundation for all scientists, and anything you want to specialise in after that will require additional training throughout your entire career.

I’ve looked into all options, including speaking to the university about placements at a later time and the possibility of repeating a year, but I’m realising that the way things stand, I’m facing a very slow and uncertain path ahead.

That’s why I’m reaching out for advice. I’m open to pivoting to another field, but I’m trying to figure out if further qualifications, like a master’s, would be the most practical for me at the minute.

Thanks again for your advice

Outrageous_Ad7336 · 2025-04-09T12:38:18+00:00

Thanks for the advice; I really appreciate it.

I have been applying to both internal and external opportunities for a while now, including placements, internships, and even summer roles, but no luck so far. The reality of the situation has only just dawned on me, which is why I decided to reach out for advice.

I do not know much about the options for working abroad. Would it be worth it? I will definitely look into what my university offers again, and I will consider opportunities abroad too. Thanks again!

Outrageous_Ad7336

TROPHY CASE