farming in northern florida

I have been dreaming lately, I guess...


I have been looking at florida real estate sales and have seen quite a few farms selling for what I think are decent prices.


Looking at google satellite maps, I can see harvested fields look white. Is that sand?



In northern Florida near the Georgia line, I see this. I also see farms for sale.



Anyone hear farm that part? what is it like?



I see below lake Okeechobee there is a lot of nice strips, but I see no houses, just parcels. What are they growing there? Where do they live? do they own that ground?



Northern florida is my main focus. I see really good land prices. I'd love to be down there on less than 100 acres to have something to do in the winter, but I see they get 53 inches of rain a year. Does it all fall during the winter? That sounds like you need a diving suit to keep from drowning in a rain storm.


I am not at all familiar. I just wanted to know more, perhaps I could be your neighbor down there soon. Winter is really nasty up here, and my dad's health is failing fast. He won't go outside at all anymore. I just think maybe getting down there will be better for him if he can move around some.



I'm just dreaming, but, I do have the funds to do something like that. I guess I need to know what the story is, how things are, and what it is like. It just seems like I could buy a farm down there and keep busy year 'round.

More importantly, I could keep my dad busy, and at this point, it is pretty critical to do that. He needs to be moving around they say, but not straining. If Florida is something that can help him and keep him going, I think I need to do that for him. The blood thinners he is on make him cold in 70 degree weather, let alone the below zero we are facing. The draft in the house right now is bad. with the draft, it's about 52 degrees in here. He is not getting any comfort. I can't loose him right now.

I guess i'm just ranting, but, I'm pretty serious, I just don't know what I am stepping into.


I'd like to hear from anyone in the area to know if this is something that is feasible.


I'm clutching at straws right now, but, this straw seems to be pretty darn strong!




Thanks for reading... I hate blogging my life, but, with the current temp at 9 degrees, the windchill at -23, and no heat in our big buildings, cabin fever is making everyone really lethargic. It's like a morgue over here... The only thing we are missing is lack of pulse and a coroner...

come farther South,SW of Tampa, in hardee,polk,
manatee county. Plenty of farming,better
temperatures than north Fl. land will appreciate
faster. GRAB your dad and come down this month and
see our coldest weather. Our rainiest season is in
the summer. Lived here 35 years and wish I had come
sooner. Good Luck!

Was born and raised in St.Petersburg Fl. Back when
it was small town with a lot of dairies and orange
groves. My parents were dairy, beef, vegetable,
and flower growers. Great place to grow up but so
many people moved in and force all the farmers to
north Florida. Wall to wall concrete. Still have
some farms around Ruskin and plant city
strawberries area But Mexico is giving the tomato
growers a hard time and there going thru building
pressures just about anywhere in south Florida.
you need to watch for water restrictions down
there. We move north 30 years ago, Lots of
Dairies have moved up here.Gets colder up here
outside Gainesville but It is nice place to
live.Rains in the summer time, Dry other times.
Our fields are white today because we have frost
covers over them. forecast this week is lows in
the 20's But no snow, only seen snow here on the
ground about 15 years ago and in St Petersburg in
the 70's. Most of the soils are different sand
types, Need irrigation to get a good crop. Hope
the info helps. Lot different farming in Florida!

My neighbor passed on Christmas day. I think he would still be with us if he was in someplace warmer. We had our power go out, and single digit temps forced him to move out of his house, he fell in the new place. Next day, he didn't wake up. It's -10 here in Howell, Michigan.

Sorry to hear about your neigbor. Believe it or not we still hear of people Passing during the cold snaps here in Florida. Some houses are not very good at being heated down here and some on fix incomes cut back heating their house thinking it will only be couple days of cold. Always sad.

Good morning neighbor. Brighton Mi

[ John the what you were seeing was most likely the white plastic we cover our beds with to grow vegetables keeps the weeds out and the moister in. It could have also been cotton but it is a little late.
No there isn’t much white sand lying out in the open on top.

While you are looking look at south GA too after all that is all north FL is and if you stay below Tifton it is about the same climate.
Larry

Lots of produce in Georgia and Florida. Seems to be a pretty sandy soil, too. South of Okeechobee is likely sugar cane. There's a plant there near the south end, think it's just east of South Bay. Sat there all day waiting on a load that was supposed to be ready at 7AM enough times, then everyone wanted it delivered at the same time as if you left at 8.

I always liked running across southern Georgia off the interstates, especially in winter. Nice and flat and decent people, too. And not too cold. Southern Florida can be downright hot even in mid-winter.

The worst thing about north fla and south ga is the heat from about mid April to mid September. Other than having to be outside for work most folks try to stay in the AC unless they are swimming. It's hot at night too.