Articles Tagged "farm"

It's almost time once again to enjoy the wonderful flavors of fall, and you won't have to travel far to find delicious fall treats in the Shenandoah Valley. From festive drinks to pastries, pies, and all of your other favorite fall foods, you're sure to find a place near Shenandoah County homes for sale to satisfy your craving for all things fall. Our real estate agents have all of the delectable details on some of the best places in the Shenandoah Valley to order seasonal treats this fall.

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• Valley Pike Farm Market – 3494 Lee Hwy., Weyers Cave, VA 24486
  Need to pick up ingredients for your own fall treats at a location near Weyers Cave homes for sale? Then simply head to the Valley Pike Farm Market, where you can find the fruits of the fall harvest. This market also stocks one of the largest selections of craft beer and wine in the Shenandoah Valley, with more than 300 options to choose from, including some flavors created especially for fall.

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Rockingham County has rich soil and optimal weather, which help produce a bounty of gifts at local farms. When our real estate agents want to get back to the land, they head to these great farms for fruits, vegetables, and flowers. 

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Farmer's markets are much more than places to buy food. Many of these locations serve as community centers, where you can chat with local and regional growers, enjoy live entertainment, and interact with your neighbors. Our real estate agents share their favorite farmer's markets around Shenandoah County homes for sale.

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Fall is in the air, and it's the best time of year to visit your local farms in the Shenandoah Valley! Our real estate agents love this season because of the amazing variety of available crops—apples, grapes, pumpkins—and the fun fall festivals that return year after year. 

If you happen to be in the Charlottesville or Harrisonburg area this fall, be sure to check out some of our favorite local farms, orchards, and markets!

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Every once in a while, a holiday comes along that our real estate agents can really get behind. Case in point: National Cheese Lovers Day is coming right up on January 20th!

If you happen to be in Virginia looking for Augusta County homes for sale, then you're in luck. Our neck of the woods happens to be home to some amazing local cheese shops, creameries, and farmers markets, and we're thrilled to give a shout-out to some of our favorites in honor of the upcoming holiday!

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Home is where the heart is — and it's the compassion, honesty, and integrity that's inside our hearts that truly brings us together as a united community. Our REALTORS® at Old Dominion Realty believe that home is more than a place where we live. It's a place where our food, our children and our community grows. It's a space where we come together to support each other and pass along our values. Home is where we give back to our community and our local farmlands are vital resources that foster the growth of each and every one of us.

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If you love fresh, local food, fun times, and friends, then visiting community farmers markets is a great way to spend a day. Local farmers markets offer many benefits to communities, including healthy dining options, fresh produce for all of your meals, fun events, great deals, and the opportunity for small, local businesses to find a market for their wares. In addition to offering food, many farmers markets feature vendors selling crafts, art, handmade jewelry, and plenty more. Our real estate agents love shopping local, and we've got the inside scoop on eight local farmers markets you need to explore.

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Harrisonburg Celebrates National Farmers Market Week

Today's farmers markets began in 1934 with an idea and two entrepreneurs from Los Angeles.   What started as one market with a dozen farmers plus a few others selling fresh produce from the back of their trucks has evolved into over 8,600 farmers markets nationwide.

As demand for locally grown, fresh food continues to grow, so too have the opportunities for America's farmers to market fresh food directly to the consumer. 

Our hometown of Harrisonburg, VA joins other communities across the country in celebrating National Farmers Market Week August 6 - 12.

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Ever dreamt of buying a farm? Here's a guide of things to consider before buying farmland.

So, you've been dreaming of moving to the country. Whether you want to become a professional farmer or have a passion for living in the country and growing your own produce, buying agricultural land can be a complex process.  Here is a guide for things to consider before buying a farm.

1.  Define Your Goals.

You want to become a farmer and buy land in the country.  Each person has their own reasons why they want to own or work on a farm.   Before going down the path of actually buying agricultural real estate, ask yourself these questions to help determine your goals:

• Do you want to own a farm and make a living as a professional farmer?
• Do you want to become a "weekend" farmer and grow produce for your family's needs?
• Are you looking for a real estate investment?

2.  Find the Right Location.

Finding the right piece of real estate goes along with defining your goals.  If you want to buy a working farm, determine where the nearest market for selling your produce is located.  Make sure the neighborhood suits you and the type of farming you want to do. 

If your plan is to live in the country enjoying a quieter, simpler lifestyle, then buying farm property away from a larger community might be for you.

Old Dominion Realty specializes in farm and rural properties in our local marketplace.  We can help you find the right location for you in the Virginia and West Virginia real estate markets.

3.  Find the Right REALTOR®.

Find a real estate agent with experience in helping customers buy and sell farm property.  Our team of REALTORS® in the Virginia and West Virginia real estate markets has the knowledge and experience you need to buy farm and rural properties.  They have expert knowledge about zoning, easements and details like soil type and water rights to help guide your decision.

4.  Understand your financial needs.

You'll need to understand your financial needs and budget to pay for and run your farm.  Cash buyers can compare their available amount of money with the price of the land they wish to buy.  If you need to finance a portion of the purchase price, find a lender experienced in financing farm properties.

5.  Zoning.

Zoning for agricultural property is in place to restrict non-farm uses of land.  The use of land, minimum farm size, and non-farm use buildings on the property can be determined by local zoning laws.  Working with experienced REALTORS® who have a knowledge of selling farm property will help you understand your limitations for use before you buy.

6.  Know what's included with your real estate purchase.

It is important for all parties involved to understand what is included with the purchase before the transaction is completed.  Buying farm equipment, building fences, gates and structures can be expensive.  A detailed list of everything included with the purchase needs to be a part of the contract.

7.  Water.

When searching for the perfect farm, its water supply is an essential resource to consider.  Are there streams, ponds or rivers on the property?  Is there standing water?  Find out more about water quality standards by visiting your state's Department of Health or Department of Natural Resources web site.  Learn how to take a water sample and where to send it for testing.

8.  Soil.

Whether or not land can be farmed is determined primarily by soil type.  Know your soil limitations before buying farm land.  To learn about your potential property's soil limitations, visit the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) web site and search the farm's site address.  Take a soil sample and send to a nearby soil-testing to test the soil for nutrients and deficiencies.

Buying a farm can be a complex process. However, if you work with the right real estate team, owning a farm can be a rewarding experience.  Contact our team at Old Dominion Realty today.