Alejandro Tobar

I am looking for 20-40 acres of land to make a fruit garden and a community meeting-point for my peers. It is a dream of mine to have a place for people to retreat to nature, as well as to harvest fruits and keep livestock.

Preferred counties/regions

Sullivan County
Orange County
Rockland County
Delaware County

Desired acreage

11-20
21-50

Farming Status

Beginning farmer: 10 years or less of experience managing a farm business

Currently farming part-time

Primary reason for farming

Farm will generate a portion of my income

Farming status, plans, and practices

I started farming in my home country of Ecuador - near the port city of Guayaquil - over a decade ago. I've been keeping all sort of tropical fruit trees growing in my property to personal use and some for the community markets. I've specialized in soursop, guava, mango, banana, and cacao. Additionally, I keep some goats and chickens.

My family and I have settled in Dover, NJ, and we have been doing day jobs that do not relate to productive agriculture, but mine is liked to landscaping and outdoor construction. It has been a long dream of ours to build a farm and community center in the Delaware Valley (Delaware, Sullivan, or Orange Counties) - both due to the weather/soil conditions, as well as proximity to our current residency in New Jersey.

Farm Experience & Education

Farmer training or workshop
Formal agricultural education
On farm work experience

Beyond the experience as a farmer in my native Ecuador and the work I carry daily as a landscaper, mason, and gardner - I recently completed the GrowNYC La Nueva Siembra program.

Farming Plans and Practices

Farming method or practice

Organic (certified)
Organic (not certified)
No method

Primary crops

Fruits

Primary livestock

Equine
Poultry

I would like - from the mid-to-long term - be able to keep horses in the land.

Marketing Method

To start, I would like to supply fruit to my local community in New Jersey, mostly around my Latino network and spriritual affiliation.

Farm business plan or farm resume

My business plan or farm resume is in progress

Farmland Needs

Infrastructure required

Barns - Equipment Storage
Electrical access

Basic farming infrastructure desired, but not mandatory. I would like to be able to develop some property on site to do community gatherings and agrotourisim in the future, but not interested in residential development.

Desired Tenure

Tenure options desired

For Sale

I am interested in buying/purchasing land, or in leasing-to-buy arrangements.

Estimated price range for a lease or a purchase of a farm property

$200K-$300k

Has this farmer received a pre-qualification from a lending institution?

Yes