Are you looking for something that will convince you to leave the busy city life behind and move to a quiet farm? So you ask yourself, how to live on a farm?
In this article, we will highlight some of the reasons why you might want to think twice about moving out of the country. Today, there are about 2 million farms in operation in the US according to Business Insider.
Whether you want to farm for profit or just to grow your own vegetables, you need to know if living on a farm is really for you.
How to live on a farm?
The first thing that we’re going to discuss is what it’s like to live on a farm.
A farmer’s lifestyle is a busy one.
A lot of tasks need to be completed daily and you’re going to find that there is always something that needs your attention.
A farmer has more and better food to eat than most people who live in cities. He is stronger and lives longer than the average person.
He is more likely to enjoy his job than most city dwellers. He is more inclined to raise a family and, as a result, the future of the farm may be in better hands.
1. Living on a farm vs living in the city
A farmer’s lifestyle is one of hard work. You will need to hire some help if you want to make your farm succeed.
You may find that it’s difficult to find reliable people, though.
If you’re looking for peace and quiet, the city might be the better choice for you. The animals on a farm tend to be noisier than those that live in cities.
Some smellier creatures roam wild in the country as well, such as skunks and sewer rats.
One thing that can’t be overstated on how to live on a farm, is how much dirtier to live on a farm is compared to a city.
City living generally has lower risks of exposure to dangerous bacteria and viruses because there is a greater degree of cleanliness standards enforced in cities.
2. What are the good things about living on a farm?
To live on a farm is an experience that most people never get to try. The skills and memories made while living on a farm cannot be fabricated elsewhere in the same way.
There is a certain stature that comes from owning your own land and working it for your living.
There are also more positives to farming than negatives but some of the good points include:
You will have reduced exposure to pollution, crime, and congestion of city life. You will benefit from fresh air and clear skies more often than those who live in cities.
You’ll get a lot of exercises and will be almost completely free from stress.
You may experience a closer connection to nature and animals than most people who live in cities or suburbs. You might also see the stars with more clarity and beauty than you ever did before.
Your mental health is sure to improve as well because farming has been known to help cure anxiety and depression, which seem to be common problems in busy metropolitan areas where many people work long hours in an office setting away from natural light.
3. What are some of the bad things about living on a farm?
The negatives that come along on how to live on a farm include: There isn’t much in terms of entertainment outside of physical labor and resources for entertainment must be brought in.
Some safety concerns come with if you live on a farm, as you may find yourself at the mercy of wild animals and poisonous snakes, or insects if you live in certain parts of the world.
You will be cut off from the rest of civilization and it may take hours to reach an emergency room if something goes wrong.
You’ll also have to completely discard your preconceived notions about shopping and buying groceries. Because running errands is very difficult and time-consuming when taking public transportation or traveling by car is not an option.
4. How much does it cost to live on a farm?
If you want to start out small, you can always begin farming as a hobby rather than turning it into a business venture. If you do own a farm, you will have to pay for seeds and equipment more often than city folk.
There is more maintenance work on a farm as well so you might have some additional expenses coming up from time to time.
Regardless of whether or not the business is profitable, there are going to be upfront costs to live on a farm including:
- The cost of land
- Livestock animals
- A tractor
- Machine
- Shed
- Building materials
- Seeds
- Fertilizers
- Pesticides
- Insurance
You’re also going to have to factor in the cost of living as those who live outside cities tend to spend less on food because they grow their own vegetables and raise their own animals.
They also don’t need house cleaning services which saves them a lot of money over time.
5. How hard is it to live on a farm?
About 98% of U.S. farms are operated by families – individuals, family partnerships, or family corporations.
It’s not easy as it looks, but that’s because farming is actually a very difficult job. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get the farm back into shape after a long winter.
You might think that you can just start fresh in the spring, but when the ground is soft and wet, it’s difficult to plow and plant seeds.
You’re going to wake up very early in the morning and go out into the frosty air before dawn breaks. Even if it’s cold, you’ll still need to milk those cows before eating breakfast.
After you’ve eaten, you might have some time before your chores officially start for the day.
But don’t get too comfortable as there will be plenty of work waiting for you once those chores are done.
When it comes to working on a farm, no two days are ever alike. There’s no telling what new problems will arise from one day to the next — it seems like trouble is always popping up just when you think that you’re going to get a break.
Sometimes there just isn’t enough time in the day to complete all of your tasks and you’ll probably spend many sleepless nights thinking about how much work needs to be done.
6. Do farmers make a good living?
Despite popular thinking, living on a farm can be enormously profitable, you just have to be willing to work your tail off for that money.
Nationally, the average farm cash income for dairy farms increased from $120,450 per farm in 2018–19 to $187,100 in 2019–20—an increase of 55%.
In 2021, farming is still a very profitable industry, but it’s important to bear in mind that these numbers reflect an average.
Farming is the most crucial job in the world, therefore it requires a fresh image. According to the 2017 USDA census, the average American farmer is 57 years old and with few young people entering the field, farming is in desperate need of new blood.
There’s much more than centuries of tradition at stake.
People who run small farms are considered a small businesses and as such, they don’t pay as much in taxes as other small businesses like an ice cream shop or a car garage might.
Depending on the size of the farm, they might even qualify for agricultural tax breaks that were designed to encourage more people to try their hand at farming and growing crops.
Is this lifestyle for everyone?
Short answer: no, it’s not for everyone.
A typical farmer only gets about four hours of sleep every night and there are times when he or she can go without sleeping at all if they need to finish up something important before the sun goes down.
To live on a farm is hard work and it takes a very strong person with plenty of manual labor experience (or lots of luck) to make things less difficult.
If you don’t mind living in an area where nothing ever happens, then this might be the right lifestyle for you.
If you prefer being around people more often or find yourself content with watching something new on television every night, then living on a farm probably isn’t for you.
Sarah Lane has been a farm wife since 2010 and mother of two children for nearly as long. She and her husband, Jonathan, live on a small farm in Texas where they raise dairy goats and beef cattle as well as chickens for eggs and meat. In addition to growing their own hay, straw and garden produce, the Lane family works with other nearby farms to source organic grain from which they make artisan bread sold at local farmer’s market.
