Hobby farm facts for kids
A hobby farm is a small piece of land or a small farm. People own these farms mainly for fun or as a hobby. They are not usually the main way someone earns money. Some people have hobby farms to feel closer to nature. Others use them for hobbies like riding horses. Sometimes, they might grow things or raise animals to earn a little extra money.
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Hobby Farms Around the World
Hobby farms are smaller than big commercial farms. Even though they are small, they produce a lot! Farms that are 2 hectares (about 5 acres) or less make up a big part of the world's food. They produce about 29% of all crops for people, animals, and fuel. This means they provide 32% of the food we eat globally.
It can be harder for young farmers to get small pieces of land today. This is due to things like worldwide trade and changes in climate. Because of this, the average age of hobby farmers around the world is about 60 years old.
The size of a hobby farm can be very different depending on the country. It also depends on how many cities are nearby and how easy it is to get land. For example, a small farm in Brazil might be less than 500 hectares (1235 acres). But in America, a small farm is usually less than 20 hectares (50 acres). Still, 84% of all farms worldwide are smaller than 2 hectares (5 acres).
Hobby Farms in Different Countries
Australia
In Australia, people who live in rural residential areas often have very large home sites. These are usually found on the edge of a city. Often, these pieces of land used to be part of bigger farms. People use them mainly as homes because they enjoy the countryside. They might also have hobbies that need more land than a normal city block. These hobbies could include gardening, horses, or fixing old cars. Some people just like the privacy of living far from others.
People living in these rural areas usually know that they will have fewer local services. This means things like shopping centers or public transport might be further away. They are ready to travel more to get to these services.
United Kingdom
In the UK, living in the countryside is becoming more of a hobby than a job. The number of farms in England that do not make money has grown. In one year, it jumped from 90,000 to 115,000. At the same time, the number of very large farms dropped to only 15,000.
Willy Newlands, who wrote a book called Hobby Farm, explains it well. He says hobby farming can be anything from keeping chickens in your backyard to having large areas for animals to graze. The main differences are money and work. A hobby farmer usually earns most of their money from a job away from the farm. Their farm does not have full-time workers.
There is a small difference between a smallholder and a hobby farmer. A smallholder tries to earn money from their land. A hobby farmer usually spends money on their land. Mostly, it's about how they think about it. A new farmer is, most importantly, having fun.
United States
In the U.S., many farms could be called hobby farms. In 2007, over 40% of farms reported earning less than $2500. Also, over 10% of farms had less than 10 acres (about 4 hectares) of land. More than half of the main farm operators said their main income came from a job outside their farm. This includes some very large and productive farms, and some operators who do not farm themselves.
As farms in the U.S. get bigger, older, smaller farms become less profitable. Some of these older farms are bought, and most of their land is added to larger farms nearby. However, the large farm usually doesn't need the old buildings. These buildings can be sold with just a small piece of land. But they sell much better if a bit more land, like 5 to 15 acres (20,000 to 60,000 square meters), is sold with them.
Some hobby farms, especially in developed areas, are used as truck gardens. These farms grow fresh produce to sell. They might have their own stands or sell at a local farmer's market.
Canada
Canadian hobby farms do not have to follow some taxes and rules that apply to commercial farms. However, there are rules about what makes a property a hobby farm. The Government of Canada checks if a farm is for business or for pleasure. They use a test with several points. Some of these points include:
- How much money the farm makes (it should be under $10,000 in net income per year for a hobby farm).
- The number of employees.
- How much time is spent on the farm compared to time spent earning main income.
- Whether the farm is run like a business.
Most hobby farms in Canada are in Ontario and British Columbia. Hobby farming in Canada has become very popular in the last few decades. People enjoy it, and it can also help them earn extra money. A census in 1998 showed that 40% of Canadian hobby farmers reported earning a positive income.
The size of these farms seems to be getting smaller. This is partly because cities are growing, and it's harder for regular Canadians to get large pieces of land. However, the average income earned by these small farms has increased a lot. In 2016, it went up by 144.4%. This makes these small farms more profitable than ever before.
