What is the best way to find a farm in Pennsylvania for purchase?

Question

I'm not limiting the request to websites, but also personal experience, recommended books, etc.

I am familiar with some websites such as

http://www.landsofamerica.com

http://realtor.com

http://www.landandfarm.com/

I am looking for 100 acres +, with about 20 - 30 acres or more tillable, ~10 acres+ gently sloping ground suitable for grapevines, pond/spring.

Thanks in advance !!

Answer 1

Because your description would include about 10% of Pennsylvania,  you need to start with some more specific criteria.

20 to 30 acres may be contiguous or interspersed among rocky ridges. It can be all at teh bottom of a rocky moraine that sends a ton of freezing or near freezing air down onto the frost prone river flats.

Or, it may be high enough that cold air drains off the land you cultivate.

Just as an observation, Pa has a lot of land that is pronouncedly acidic. What are your pH tolerances? DO you want land that will grow azalea and cranberry?

A lot of Pa has a lot of rain, so it can be subject to water erosion and certainly heavy leaching.

That can leave land very infertile, but it can also mean that leachates may have collected to toxic levels, and in surprising places.

Now Pa does have extensive soil surveys available from your agricultural services. You should certainly avail yourself of them, and know what all the terms used in them mean, in terms of the kind of farming you propose to do.

If you have solid rock, you may be willing to blast out a pond to provide an irrigation storage. But be sure the water coming down the hill is usable, not laced with iron ore or the like.

Answer 2

Contact a local realtor in the area you are interested in. They will know what is available and watch for something you would be interested in. Often farms are sold by live auction. The realtor can alert you when one is coming up or you can authorize them to bid for you.

Answer 3

Most counties have a county farm agent.  Check the courthouse.  He'll probably have a better knowledge to help you in your particular quest than a realtor.

Answer 4

Local realator would probably work but can be slow even if they don't have anything for purchase themselves they can point you in the right direction.

The free local classifieds I.e your 'bucksavers'  pennyinchers that sort of thing

maybe your countys office that handles land and stuff

sherifs office that kinda junk