What Is a Farmstead? Why I'm Building One in Cincinnati, Ohio

When I was a kid, farming was just what we did.

I grew up on the land, working alongside my dad, learning the rhythms of the fields, the animals, and the changing seasons. Back then, I believed farming only had one face: big tractors, long days, and endless rows of corn or beans. That was my worldview of agriculture. 

But life has a way of opening your eyes.

Over time, I began to realize that bigger does not always mean better. The health of the land, the well-being of the animals, and the quality of the food we put on our tables are all deeply connected.

That’s why I decided to start building Mission Farmstead.

Not just a farm. Not just a business. A farmstead. Something that’s more rooted, more intentional, more human.

Today, I want to share what a farmstead really is, what goes into starting one, why it’s different, and why this land outside of Cincinnati, Ohio, has become the heart of my family’s mission.

What Is a Farmstead?

A farmstead is more than just the fields or the barn. It's the house, the pasture, the animals, the tools, and the people, all woven together into a working, living system.

If you search “what is a farmstead” or “define farmstead,” you’ll find that it refers to the land, buildings, and home where farming and living happen side by side. However, the farmstead's meaning extends beyond just a piece of farmland. It’s about the relationship between the land and the people who care for it.

Historically, farmsteads were the backbone of rural America. These were places where families lived and worked on the same land, raising vegetables and pasture-raised animals not just for themselves but for their local communities.

For me, discovering the idea of a farmstead was like rediscovering my roots with fresh eyes.

I used to think the only way to start farming was to go big or go home. But regenerative farming, small-scale operations, and diversified practices showed me another way. One that could help heal the land instead of stripping it. One that focuses on quality over quantity. One that simply feels right.

The Physical Farmstead

A farmstead is not just an idea or a set of practices. It’s also a physical space made up of buildings, pastures, gardens, and working areas that all support one another.

Right now at Mission Farmstead, I’ve started with a barndo and a tractor barn. These are the first pieces of what I hope will grow into a full farmstead over time.

When I talk about this place, I'm talking about more than just the buildings that are here today. I'm talking about the farmhouse I hope to build, the barn where we’ll care for animals one day, the composting areas that will nourish the soil, and the pastures I’m preparing for diverse life.

The layout and design will matter because it shapes how people and animals live, work, and move through the land. Everything from where I place fences to how I organize farm tools will shape the rhythms of daily life as the farm grows. 

Farmstead vs. Homestead: What’s the Difference?

A lot of people ask if Mission Farmstead is just another word for a homestead.

I get it. They sound similar.

But here is the difference.

• A homestead is usually focused on self-sufficiency. It might include growing your own food, maybe raising a few chickens, and learning to live off-grid. A homesteading family may focus on backyard farming, home preservation, and DIY projects.
• A farmstead is a working farm. It’s small enough to stay hands-on but big enough to feed others. It’s where I plan to raise pasture raised animals like beef, pork, and chicken, not just for my own table, but for families in our community too. 

This distinction matters because it shapes everything I do. I'm not just living off the land for myself. I'm building systems, structures, and products designed to serve the wider community.

The History and Diversity of the American Farmstead

There’s something deeply nostalgic about the word farmstead.

In the old days, farmsteads were scattered across the countryside, each one its own little ecosystem. There was a farmhouse, a barn, a milk cow, a garden, maybe a few pigs or chickens. Families worked side by side, neighbors shared farm tools, and the local food system thrived because the food they raised went directly to the community around them.

Farmsteads were often diverse. They were not just corn or just cattle or just one thing. They were mixed, with gardens, animals, orchards, and sometimes even home-based goods or dairy. This diversity made them resilient and balanced.

But over the decades, industrial agriculture swallowed up many of those small farmsteads. Fields got bigger, animals were moved indoors, and the local connection between land and table started to disappear.

At Mission Farmstead, I want to bring it back. 

I want to reclaim the values of the classic American farmstead and pair them with the best farming practices I know today.

Why I’m Building Mission Farmstead in Cincinnati, Ohio

Why here? Why Cincinnati? Why Ohio?

Because Ohio has always been part of the farming heartland. It has rich soil, strong agricultural communities, and a growing hunger, both literally and figuratively, for local, ethical food.

For me, it's also personal. It's about creating a place where my family can live out the values we believe in, caring for the land, raising animals humanely, and producing real food that feeds real people.

I did not set out to build the biggest farm. I set out to build a better one.

How to Start a Farmstead

If you are curious about how to start a farm or small farm setup, here is what I can share from the early stages of building Mission Farmstead.

• Start small. Focus on what you can manage, not what you think you “should” scale up to.
• Invest in the right farm tools. Good tools will save you time, labor, and stress.
• Learn from others. I have spent countless hours learning from other farmers like Joel Salatin, farmsteading communities, and people who have walked this road before me.
• Focus on systems. Whether it's composting, grazing, or planting, build systems that support long-term health.
• Think about sustainability. Starting a farmstead is not just about how to make money farming. It's about building something that lasts and gives back to the land and the community.

For me, this journey is about much more than income or output. it's about creating a farmstead that reflects what matters most.

The Farmstead as a Community Connector

Farmsteads have always been more than just production sites. They were cultural and community hubs, places where neighbors gathered, families worked together, and local connections were built.

For me, that is one of the most exciting parts of building Mission Farmstead. I want this place to be more than just a working farm. I want it to be a space where people can come to learn, connect, and experience the beauty of a local food system. Whether it is a school visit, a farm tour, or a community event, the farmstead can help rebuild connections that have been lost in modern life.

How I Will Practice Regenerative Farming

At Mission Farmstead, I'm committed to following regenerative practices because they match my values.

• Rotational grazing to build soil health and restore grasslands
• No synthetic fertilizers or pesticides
• Pasture-based systems where animals thrive naturally
• Diversity in plants, animals, and ecosystem balance

It's not just farming. It's farming with purpose.

Economic Sustainability on a Farmstead

Sometimes people ask if you can really make money farming on a small scale. The short answer is yes, but it looks very different from industrial farming.

By focusing on direct-to-consumer sales, local markets, and regenerative practices, I believe Mission Farmstead can create a sustainable small farm setup that supports my family and contributes to the local economy.

This is not about chasing scale. It is about building something that is small enough to stay personal, big enough to matter, and smart enough to last.

How You Can Support Local Farmsteads

I can’t do it alone.

If you are reading this, you are part of the movement. A movement that supports small-scale farms, ethical meat production, and local food systems.

Here’s how you can help:

• Buy local beef, pork, and chicken from farms like mine.
• Visit your local farm market and shake the hand that feeds you.
• Come tour Mission Farmstead once I open for visitors and see firsthand what regenerative agriculture looks like.

Together, we can rebuild something beautiful, not just a farm but a farmstead.

The Future I’m Building

At the end of the day, Mission Farmstead is not just a business.

It is more than land, fences, or animals. It is a legacy. It is a return to something old, shaped into something new.

I believe the future of farming is not about how much you can produce. It’s about how you produce it. It’s about working with the land, not against it.

Thank you for walking this journey with me. I look forward to welcoming you here, sharing our table, and building a better food system together, one farmstead at a time.