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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA farm is any land that is cultivated for agricultural production – it is meant for growing crops and rearing animals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It could be a:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Crop farm<\/li>
- Fish farm<\/li>
- Dairy farm<\/li>
- Poultry farm <\/li>
- Meat farm<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
…and so on. Some farms are highly specialized, producing only one product, while others are more diverse in their scope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The United States Department of Agriculture<\/a> classifies a farm as any operation that can produce at least $1,000 in agricultural products a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Technically, that makes most homestead, farmstead, and hobby farm enterprises fall under this category. Note that the wording is that a farm is an operation that can produce <\/em>at least $1,000 in agricultural products a year – not necessarily sell<\/em> those products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, many farmers would scoff at hobby farmers or homesteaders who call their enterprises \u201cfarms.\u201d<\/em> Because of this, it\u2019s important to differentiate between the types a bit more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Makes a Farm a Homestead?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIs your farm a homestead, or a farm? For many people, it is very easy for the lines to blur in the distinctions between the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both farmers and homesteaders can be considered pioneers, hard workers who have a drive to produce things<\/em>. They might grow vegetables, raise animals, or something else along those lines. Both homesteaders and farmers can live on the same plot of land where they produce their animals and plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, that is where the similarities end. A homesteader is someone who strives for self-sufficiency and not necessarily to make a profit. A farmer, on the other hand, will be someone who is planning on selling something that they have produced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While there are homesteaders who sell a few products here and there to become more self-sufficient as well as farmers who strive to sustain themselves with the food they are growing, the key goals and main priorities for each are different. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Homesteaders generally are avid DIYers, tending to want to live off the grid and be as industrious as possible when it comes to making everything themselves. This is often referred to as a hobby farm, but again, a homestead and a hobby farm are not one and the same. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A homestead\u2019s main priority is to be self-sufficient and that often extends beyond traditional farming activities like gardening and raising animals. It can include things like food preservation, sewing, cooking<\/a>, repurposing<\/a>, energy generation, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That said, there are all kinds of opinions on this and everyone has a different perspective. Homesteady is a resource that you might want to consider if you’re interested in living the homesteading lifestyle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you watch this video, you\u2019ll find another explanation of a homestead vs farm (along with other property and homesteading information sprinkled in, too).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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