FAQs

Each Farm is different and unique with some providing “Food Only Benefits” and other providing a variety of benefits and amenities:

Potential Benefits of owning a farm and becoming an owner of a private farm park.

• You are helping to Preserve Small Farms
• You can Enjoy Your Own Private Natural area. “Farm Park” 
• You can Enjoy more Days in Nature
• You can have a Stay-cation at your Farm
• You can use the camping cabins
• You can Learn Farming and Gardening from a Master Farmer
• You can have access to your own private staff farmer who grows produce according to what you most request
• You can help raise baby chicks each season 
• You can use the space for small events like birthday parties, reunions, playdates, etc
• You can have a place to enjoy community dinners and potlucks with fellow owners, family and friends
• Your kids can have events that include cooperative summer camps, playdates at the farm, and kids farm days
• You can participate in Social Events: like Thanksgiving in the Greenhouse, Spring Fling, Fall Festival, Tuesday Pizza Oven Parties,  and more
• You can Enjoy Educational and Volunteer Days at the Farm; Composting, Bees, Raised Beds, Plant Identification, Growing Tips and Techniques, etc
• You will own a share in a cooperative that owns real estate
• You don’t have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy your own farm
• Your buy in is less than the cost of a luxury car
• Your Ownership shares can be sold, held, gifted or left as an inheritance for generations to come
• ***You get to be an owner from the beginning; so you get to see any appreciation in value and increase in share value as the farm sells out.

For purposes of  Wildwoods Cooperative Farm Park, the definition of a  Farm Owner and/or Cooperative Owner is an individual who has purchased one or more shares of the Wildwoods Cooperative Farm Park. A cooperative is a legal entity under North Carolina law.  Wildwoods Cooperative Farm Park will hold legal title to the property.  The Farm Owners are the shareholders in the Wildwoods Cooperative Farm Park and as such they are called the Farm Owners.  The Farm Owners vote and decide on  all the rules, budgets, projects and ultimately  control the farm as a group.

No, you can be a resident anywhere in the world and own a share

Yes, each owner pays a monthly fee similar to home owners dues that helps pay for things like property taxes, insurance, reserve funds, gravel road maintenance, electric, and other yearly expenses. This cost is calculated according to each farm’s budget and can often be $35 -$150 a month depending on the services, upkeep and amenities of that particular farm. The farm owners get to vote and control the budget.

Check with Your Desired Farm. Some Farm Parks allow Owners to use the Farm for Events.. some even include it as a Free benefit. For instance, Farmers Village Cooperative allows Each owner is allowed to hold small events like birthday parties, small family reunions, and small celebrations of 12-15 people at no cost; but a deposit is required for cleanup. Reservation is required to ensure the farm space is not double booked. For events of 20 or more; Board of Director approval is needed, and a fee may be required to help pay for the wear and tear on the gravel and parking areas.

• Each Farm has it’s own Buying Process so check with your desired Farm. Generally you would meet with the farm liaison to see if the farm is a good fit for you; then schedule a tour of the farm.  
• After touring,  if you wish to become an owner; farm share payment options will be offered to you, and you will attend a closing to buy your ownership share.

It’s recommended you seek legal or professional advice, do research and due diligence to understand all the possible risks of owning any property including a cooperative farm. Typical risks include things such as flood, fire, natural or other events; world and financial considerations, economic events which impact any kind of real estate; the ability to re-sell a share may take longer than normal real estate. The cooperative maintains insurance for some of these risks. The cooperative is not intended as an investment but the share may increase in value and can be sold in the open market.

Not Typically but Maybe.  The farms are usually cooperative day-use style farm parks so they are not often residential projects.  However, some Cooperative Farms can be designed as residential cooperative farms.  Please check each farm listing.  

Not Typically but Maybe.  It depends on the individual farm project,  please check the farm you are interested in to see if they allow building.  Typically, Farms are set up so no individual owners can construct any personal buildings on the farm without permission.  Please check with your desired Farm Cooperative.

Typically No …but Maybe.  Generally, Farm Cooperatives do not allow owners to conduct non-farm commercial or personal business on a Farm Cooperative, however your desired Farm Cooperative may have rules  which allow a personal business.  It is up to each individual farm.  For instance, some Farms also allow owners to create “farm partnerships” for certain events or projects which are farm related; such as holding a farm class, kids summer camp, social event, yoga, meditation, etc. Partnerships might be available at your desired Farm Cooperative with approval by the Board of Directors. 

Check with your Desired Farm, may locations have volunteer days and public Farm Educational Days and activities.  You can still help save small farms by donating to the Heritage Farm Foundation; which is the local farm preservation nonprofit; or you can also sign up to volunteer at local farms and community gardens. 

Please do not show up at any Farm without an appointment, this is for the safety and privacy of our farmers, owners and residents. 

Please contact the desired Farm for a tour or appointment beforehand.

Typically, the staff farmer is paid from monthly membership fees, and from the crops and specialty products the farmer grows.  The farm owners get first choice of what crops to grow that season.  In this way, the farmer gets a good living wage without having all the overhead of running a farm. The owners get the added benefit of having access to their own staff farmer.

Each Farm and State has different Rules, Please check with your desired Farm.

 For instance in North Carolina one individual can only buy up to 20% of the available shares. If a family would like to buy multiple shares; a spouse or another family member is considered as a different individual.  Some families buy multiple shares as a long-term way to ensure their children have access to their own shares of the farm, or to help further benefit the preservation of small farms.  Each share can be gifted, inherited, or sold.

Maybe! Each Farm has its own funding and financing structure so check with your desired Farm.

Some farms prefers that members find outside financing. 

That said, other Farms want to make sure no one is turned away because they can't find other financing and the Farm provides or works with lenders to provide financing.

 Financing often has requirements include but are not limited to: paying a downpayment, and negotiating with the lenders. Monthly payments vary depending on individual terms and interest rates. 

Potential lending terms vary widely according to the Farm and the lender and may  include loan terms of 5 year,  8 year, or 10 year loans.   Often, If you choose to sell or gift your share, any loan must be  paid off prior to the transfer.   

Monthly financing often does not include the required monthly membership fee, so please be sure to include and add your monthly dues payment to your loan payment.