Hobby farms boost rural population as urbanites seek rural retreats or retirement

A weekend away from the city is taking on new meaning for many who have chosen to spend their free time — and money — on small hobby farms of less than 30 acres. The trend is growing, and it could reverse the reduction in the number of farms in the United States, reports Time magazine. These rural retreats have become prime retirement spots, and thanks to the popularity of organic food — which these small farms produce — the trend should continue.

"The number of farms in the U.S. has been shrinking for seven decades," writes Dan Kadlec. "But the rise of 'lifestyle' or hobby farms — typically about 30 acres (12 hectares) that produce little or no income — promises to halt the decline, say officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Largely because of hobby farms, whose numbers are growing 2 percent a year and now account for about half of all farms, the population of rural counties is up 12 percent since 1990 — the first gain in such areas since the Depression."

The rural lifestyle has brought many to the countryside, such as Ann and Walker Miller (in a photo for Time by Carrie Shell) who own a pick-your-own farm called Happy Berry in South Carolina. They generate half their income from their farm, but many other hobby farms do far less business and may have some unexpected consequences. "Hobby farmers drive up land prices in hot areas," Kadlec writes. "They also raise big-picture concerns about total farm output. Hobbyists get far less yield per acre than the lifetime pros, and in times of food shortage they would further crimp the supply, USDA officials warn." (Read more)