Is Living on a Farm Worth It? Pros and Cons (2024)

FAQs

Is Living on a Farm Worth It? Pros and Cons? ›

Farm jobs with housing have been around for a really long time for good reason. While self-sufficiency, connection to nature, reduced stress, income, and community are all significant benefits, physical labor, financial investment, isolation, maintenance, and weather can pose challenges.

Exposure to farm chemicals, such as fuel, pesticides and fertilizers, and toxic gases which may be produced from common farm practices like manure decomposition and silo crop storage. Exposure to high levels of dust, which can contain mold, bacteria, and livestock fecal materials, among other things.

Being on a Farm Is Peaceful

Surrounded by woods or mountains, farm life means you can enjoy a tranquil environment. The lack of city lights also means a sky full of stars during the night time. Lay in the grass and enjoy the beauties of nature free of distraction.

Farming/ranching has long been one of the more stressful and dangerous occupations, but also has its share of rewards and satisfactions. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has examined multiple occupations and found those working in agriculture often deal with stress-related conditions.

Farming is stressful and dangerous. It is interesting, that when you ask those outside of the agricultural industry, they would probably identify workload as one of the key sources of stress. Farmers are constantly working on their business. Not just 9 to 5.

Typically, it's recommended to live at least 500m (o. 3 miles, 1640 feet) from large-scale farms and 200 km (0.12 miles, 656 feet) from small scale. This article will explore the factors to consider when evaluating the safest distance.

Farmworkers are at high risk for fatalities and injuries, work-related lung diseases, noise-induced hearing loss, skin diseases, and certain cancers associated with chemical use and prolonged sun exposure.

Several studies showed a higher prevalence of wheezing and difficulty in breathing, and lower lung function with increased livestock exposures in residents near farms [1–3].

What are the challenges of living on a farm? ›

Cons of living on a farm

Physical Labor: Farming is hard work that involves long hours and physical labor. This can be challenging for individuals who are not accustomed to this lifestyle. Lack of Amenities: Living on a farm can mean being far away from amenities such as stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

Farm operator households have more wealth than the average U.S. household because significant capital assets, such as farmland and equipment, are generally necessary to operate a successful farm business.

"Farming isn't something that can be taught. Each plant tells its own story that has to be read repeatedly." "Earth is here so kind, that just tickle her with a hoe and she laughs with a harvest." "Life on a farm is a school of patience; you can't hurry the crops or make an ox in two days."

Additionally, ​​according to a study conducted by the USDA, families who live on farms get more nutrients like calcium, protein, iron, and phosphorous in their diets compared to their counterparts in the city. There are so many other wonderful benefits of living the farm life.

Starting a farm from scratch is no easy task. A lot of people want to start one but don't know where to begin. When you're trying to decide how much work is involved in starting a successful farm, it's hard not to get overwhelmed by the details and possibilities.

For those who want to farm, spiralling prices often present insurmountable barriers to accessing land. And laws and customs often mean that the women and immigrants who do much of the world's farming are denied agency over their work.

Maintenance: Farmhouses can be costly and time-consuming to maintain due to their age and size. Regular upkeep and repairs may be necessary, which can be an added expense. Isolation: Farmhouses are typically located in rural areas, which can mean being far from shops, restaurants, and other amenities.

According to Kontogeorgos et al., (2017), the main weaknesses of farmers, and especially the young, are access to land, high start-up costs, low profitability, low status associated with farming, limited desirability of rural life, access to information, adoption of information and communication technologies, ...

The USDA defines socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (SDFRs) as those belonging to groups that have been subject to racial or ethnic prejudice. SDFRs include farmers who are Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Hispanic or Latino, and Asian or Pacific Islander.