Finding Good Farmland: How to Evaluate and Acquire Land for Raising Crops and Animals. a Storey Basics Title (Storey Basics)

Find and purchase rural property for the perfect small-scale organic farm of your dreams. A reliable supply of clean water, good drainage, and the right soil for the farming you want to do are just a few of the things you'll need. Longtime organic farmer Ann Larkin Hansen describes how to conduct your search. She also recommends investigating what's happening in the neighborhood — now and in the future — and she offers plenty of practical advice on funding your purchase.

Ann Larkin Hansen is the author of A Landowner’s Guide to Managing Your Woods, The Organic Farming Manual and the forthcoming Finding Good Farmland. For the last 20 years, she has studied and used electric fencing on her own farm in Bloomer, WI.

1 Location: Where to look for land, and how to begin the search

2 Water: Source, quantity, reliability, ownership, and quality

3 Good Land: Soil type, fertility, aspect, slope, drainage, and field histories

4 Building and Utilities: House, outbuildings, fences, septic, electric, driveway, and a few other things

5 Neighbors and the Neighborhood: Finding out who the neighbors are and what they're doing, now and in the future, and the overall quality of life in the area

6 Government Regulations and Services: Permits and codes, land use planning and zoning, property taxes, protections and programs for farmers, roads and other government services

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