Backyard and Urban Farming: How to Start—Whether You Own Land or Not

The backyard and urban farming movement is becoming increasingly common in the Front Range area of Colorado and near many other urban centers. Since the lockdowns in 2020, more people are tending the land to which they have access, growing food and flowers or raising chickens in an effort to become either self-sufficient or supply fresh goods to their communities. Detroit has had a massive urban farm presence for more than a decade, with farmers using residential yards, apartment complex courtyards, and vacant lots to grow healthy foods for people in a city with high rates of food insecurity. With inflation rising and the cost of groceries becoming a burden for many families, it’s a perfect opportunity for urban and backyard farming to become even more widespread. 

How to start farming if you have access to land

Farming your own land:

First you need to figure out the logistics:  

How much usable space you have. Determine the scale it can support and if that’s enough for your goal. Will you need to scale? How might you do that in a way that you can afford? 

Figure out your water access/irrigation. Look up whether your area has water usage laws (common in drier climates) and if it’s enough to support your needs. Experiment with water catchment systems such as rainwater harvesting or creating swales to reduce your costs and reliance on city water.

Will you need to work around a job? Think about what you need to have in place to integrate a farming job into your lifestyle. 

How profitable do you need to be to continue farming? Brainstorm ways to get there—through farm stands, markets, specialty crops, workshops, alternative farm-based income streams, etc. 

Determine if you will need labor support for tasks or markets.

If you want someone else to farm your land:

Alternatively, you may have a large yard and want it to be used for agricultural activity, but you are unable to run a farm yourself. You can offer it up to be used by someone else, and in return get an abundance of vegetables or flowers! 

Use community and social networks to your advantage. Ask around to find the right person to tend your land. Nextdoor, Facebook, your local farming community, or local National Young Farmers Coalition chapter are great places to start. You may even contact your city to see if there are organizations promoting urban agriculture that you could connect with to find a land tender. 

Discuss the following questions with anyone who might farm on your property: 

• What are their land management practices? Do you feel comfortable with how they will be using your property? (For example, will they use chemicals, tillers, etc.) 
• How often will they be there? Oftentimes, some farm work needs to be done in the wee hours of the morning when it’s cool. Have a conversation about what that might look like for it to feel good for everyone involved. 
• What areas of your property will they be able to access? 
• Will they be able to use city water or is there another water source available such as a well? 
• Will you create a contract? Will you charge a rental fee or payment for water? Or will you allow everything to be used in exchange for some of what they’re growing? 

How to start farming when you don’t have access to land

Lean on your community, first and foremost. There are a lot of people out there who want to support local agriculture, and also don’t want to do yard work! Be sure to discuss upfront, in as much detail as possible, your vision for the space and anything you need to be successful. And just like with any relationship, this will take work! Practice clear and compassionate communication, and learn how to properly address and work through conflict. 

First, gain some experience. Apply for positions at local farms, start volunteering in community gardens—anything to help you understand what a successful farm needs. You’ll learn so much about seedling care, planting, caring for crops, harvesting, and marketing without having any personal risk involved. 

Use community and social networks to your advantage. Ask around to find someone who is willing to share their land. Nextdoor and Facebook are great places to start. 

Use Google maps and “cold call” neighbors with large yards. Write a nice letter and drop it in their mailbox, leaving your contact information so they can reach out if interested. 

Figure out what funding you need. Realistically, how much capital do you have or can you access to start farming? While you can do it in a lower-cost way, you will still need supplies, tools, seeds, and more. Can you use savings, or will you need to borrow or raise money? Costs will vary with scale, but having a good understanding of this before diving in is crucial. 

Discuss your land management plan with the land owners. While this may evolve and change, have a good idea of how you will care for the space. 

• How long do you expect to use the space? What are your expectations or desires for scaling over time, and will that affect your use of the land? 
• Are you willing to sign contracts or come to other forms of agreement? 
• Will you use chemicals, or grow organically? If using synthetic chemicals, which ones? This is especially important if they have children or pets. 
• Will you need to till or implement any infrastructure? 
• Who will pay for what? For example, investing in things that will stay onsite permanently may be a shared expense. But infrastructure such as irrigation systems or drip lines that will only be used for farming may need to be an expense covered by you. 
• Will it just be you on the property, or will others be involved (such as volunteers or paid labor)? 
• Do you need liability insurance to cover your business and avoid personal risk? 
• What boundaries (physical or relational) need to be in place to ensure that your crops are not damaged by kids, pets, visitors, toys, etc.?

Do you have other tips to share?  Let us know in the comments!

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