Moving to a Farm
When moving to a farm, be prepared to meet your new neighbors!
Several years ago, my family and I visited some friends of my parents on their farm in rural Pennsylvania. The farm was built in the 1800s and still had the original barn and several old sheds located throughout the large property. The land consisted of boulder-strewn fields, woods, and a lake. We spent the day windsurfing on the lake and riding horses and spent the night in front of a bonfire. My parents’ friends had bought this farm for no other reason than wanting to live out in the country. After spending a day with them at their farm, I could clearly see the appeal.
Though moving to a farm isn’t in my immediate future, it would be nice to do at some point. I’m sure plenty of others share this view. If you do want to move to a farm, there are several things you’ll need to keep in mind.
The first step in moving to a farm is to find a real estate agent specializing in rural homes. This will be a big help in not just finding a farm but also helping your prepare for life in a new setting. The agent will help you find the property that is right for you, including the house on the farm as well as any other buildings you might want, such as barns, stables, garages, and sheds. The agent will also help you find the best amount of land for your needs; you probably won’t want to buy 200 acres of land and then struggle to maintain it.
Before purchasing a farm, or moving into one, make sure that you can get the necessary utilities connected, especially if the house is particularly old or remote. Find out where the water comes from and get it checked so you will know it is safe to drink. Also, find out in advance whether you’ll be able to get phone, cable, and Internet service. Of course, if you are moving to a farm to get away from it all, then these things won’t be much of an issue.
Another thing to consider is the location of the farm in regard to the closest town. While many farms can be found right off of major highways, others are located further away on narrow rural routes. Again, based on the level of solitude you want, try to find a location that best meets your needs. Whether your farm is just a few or a few hundred miles from town, you’ll still be a considerable distance from your neighbors, grocery stores, hospitals, schools, and other important places. Make sure you know the locations of each of these places prior to purchasing your farm.
You should also think about what you want to do with all of the land. Growing your own fruits and vegetables is a great way to make use of your land and potentially save some money on groceries. You might also want to bring some animals onto the farm. Before you go rounding up some random farm animals, make sure you know how to care for every animal you consider. While you might think it would save money to purchase some chickens for eggs, cows for milk, or pigs for food, keep in mind that there are many other costs associated with raising animals. You’ll need to install sufficient fencing, secure veterinary services, and buy a lot of feed.
Moving to a farm would definitely make for a drastic change of pace and scenery. Though it might not be the idyllic lifestyle that many people think it is, living on a farm has plenty of advantages. If moving to one is in your future, make sure you know exactly what you are getting into before doing so.
Have you ever moved to a farm? Tell us about it with a comment below!
