Carving Out Our Own Row: Building a Farm from the Ground Up
- Malik Miller
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
If you’ve ever tried to build something of your own while standing in the shadow of a family legacy, you know it’s a tricky line to walk. For us, that legacy is 600 acres of thriving vegetable land my father-in-law has spent decades cultivating.
We love and respect the work he’s done — but my husband and I are determined to do things differently.
The Backdrop
Our farm story starts with 50 acres we lease from my father-in-law. My husband is a fifth-generation grower; farming runs in his blood. But his dad is old school — he’s been working the land for so long that he sees no reason to change what’s “always worked.” That means there’s no room for us to test new methods or take the reins on his operation.
So, we’re building our own.
We spend our days learning the trade by actually doing it: planting, harvesting, troubleshooting, and, yes, occasionally failing. But every decision we make is about building a farm that can stand on its own, with systems and safeguards designed for the realities of farming today.
This year, for the first time, we applied for crop insurance — something my father-in-law never believed in. To him, insurance was unnecessary. To us, it’s protection for our investment, our labor, and our future.
The Day-to-Day Reality
On social media, our farm (Liuzza Family Farm) might look like a postcard: rows of fresh greens, baskets of sun-warmed tomatoes, and my husband walking the fields at sunset. And those moments are real — but they’re only part of the story.
Behind the scenes, it’s:
Studying market reports showing that vegetable prices can swing by 20–30% in a single year
Running cost-of-production spreadsheets to figure out if a crop will turn a profit
Wrestling irrigation lines in the rain because a pump stopped at 2 AM
Sitting at the kitchen table after dark, with receipts spread out, trying to match expenses to projected income
It’s also navigating the mountain of paperwork that comes with modern farming. Every USDA loan form, conservation program application, and grant proposal has its own quirks. A missing signature or an unchecked box can mean months of delay or lost funding.
Lessons from the Field
Over the past couple of seasons, we’ve learned some hard truths:
Numbers don’t lie — but they can surprise you. Without a clear cash flow plan, even a bumper crop can lose money if the market shifts or costs creep up.
There’s money on the table — if you know where to look. We’ve tapped into USDA resources like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for conservation practices and are exploring Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) grants to expand our market reach.
The market rewards planning, not guessing. Planting what “feels right” can work for a season, but consistent profitability comes from knowing which crops fit your land, your labor, and your buyers.
Marketing matters as much as planting. Our social media is a great start — but real success comes from connecting those followers to CSA sign-ups, wholesale accounts, and farmers market sales.
Why We’re Doing This
For us, farming isn’t just about food. It’s about independence. We want to grow a business that’s strong enough to stand on its own, even if the family land and legacy loom large beside it.
We’re building with intention:
Protecting our crops with insurance
Diversifying markets so we’re not at the mercy of one buyer
Investing in soil health so the land produces for decades to come
Seeking out programs and funding that support sustainable growth
The road isn’t easy — but farming never is. And if you’re like us, trying to start or grow a farm in the middle of family history, know this: you can create something that’s yours. It takes vision, a willingness to learn, and a realistic plan built on more than just hope.
Because in farming, hope is what gets you out in the field every morning — but planning is what keeps you there for the long haul.
Comments