07/23/2026
We have felt the same thing at times. Very tough to build a farm from grass roots with so many regulations and ordinances in place in the current community landscapeā¦hopefully we can figure it out one day to avoid a similar outcome
A large parcel, once an old farm and orchard has hit the market in town. Not really far from us, but it's RI and nothing is far from anything.
As expected the town page is a blaze with comments of "don't sell" and " don't let it be developed", with calls for someone to farm it. But the owner is clear, they are older and retired and done. Listing price is almost $3 million.
At the same time we have a š¤ farm in town dealing with regulations over their small chicken flock and selling eggs. While I'm not doing their books, I can say from my own experience they probably make about $500-$600 a year when all is said and done.
We want farms. We want to preserve them. But we don't want FARMERS. And we surely are doing nothing to keep them in business.
Forget the land, who is going to work it? Prune and spray trees? Mow? Plant gardens? Care for animals?
A farm isn't just land, land is land. A farm is a farm because of the farmer.
This is a broader question for our community. Because it's not feel good vibes and positive thoughts. It's changing regulations to allow small farms to more easily enter the market, it's allowing value added products and it's changing shopping habits as consumers to support what they want to see in their communities.
Until then yes, farm land will continue to go to development as the market dictates, but if we made a market for farms we would have a market for farmers.
