Live Off the Land -- but Not Off the Grid -- at These 5 Hobby Farms
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Want to tap into your inner farmer? For those who really want to get back to living off the land, we've found lush spreads of agricultural land on the market from coast to coast. But we're not talking about living the pioneer lifestyle. These spots also allow you to be close to the culture of a city and live with the comforts of a modernized home.
And look at all the cute perks like a wraparound porch, red barn, and chicken coops. From California to New York, New Hampshire to New Mexico, here are five sweet hobby farms to consider.
Whether you plan to milk cows, sow your (organic vegetable) seeds, harvest nuts, raise chickens, or just enjoy being a landowner, see if your dreams might take root in the fertile soil of one of these properties.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Price: $1,450,000
Fun farm facts: Just 40 miles from Boston, this farmstead on 26 acres currently operates as a flower and landscaping business -- and has been in the family for 50 years -- but it could easily be adapted for other uses. The next owner will have access to a greenhouse, barn, irrigation pond, and tile silo, as well as the 1763 updated farmhouse, three-bedroom townhouse, and one-bedroom apartment.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}E7530 Hinkst Hollow Road, Viroqua, WI
Price: $299,900
Fun farm facts: Tucked into Wisconsin's Driftless Region -- two hours from Madison and home to many organic farms as well as the farmers' cooperative Organic Valley -- these 15 acres (9 are wooded; the remaining 6 are perfect for vegetable crops) feature a rambling five-bedroom farmhouse and a cute red barn. A wraparound porch and a finished attic expand the living space even more.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}342 County Road B41 E, Ribera, NM
Price: $387,500
Fun farm facts: An organic and biodynamic farm is up and running on the property's 5 acres, which also features a three-bedroom home. Two greenhouses, a hoop house, a chicken coop, a beehive, a goat house with a milking station, and a woodshed all exude charm. Ribera is just 45 minutes from Santa Fe, which is filled with farmers markets and gourmet restaurants -- all in need of farm-to-table ingredients.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}12480 Vineyard Ave, Patterson, CA
Price: $4,000,000
Fun farm facts: This 20-acre almond orchard comes with a luxurious 8,825-square-foot estate (with a pool and a climate-controlled wine cellar) in California's Central Valley, which is an easy drive to the San Francisco Bay Area (just under two hours), as well as Napa Valley and Monterey. You also get a classic rustic aesthetic with an "award-winning" barn. A retractable wall allows you to easily check out the land -- from the comfort of your armchair.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}149 Buckwheat Bridge Road, Germantown, NY
Price: $995,000
Fun farm facts: Oneathesedays Farm -- farmed organically since the 1980s -- sits along a tributary to the Hudson River. The farm's 17 acres boast a sandy beach, a barn that's attached to the passive-solar farmhouse, and views of the Catskill Mountains. Bordering a land conservatory, the property won't face encroaching development.