Rooted in Sustainability, Blooming in Community
Wildwoods Mission
PRESERVING SMALL FARMS, A SPACE FOR NATURE, AND PROVIDING LOCAL FRESH PRODUCE:
Small farming is disappearing and when a small farmer quits or an older farmer retires, they sell their farmland to a developer or private party and that farm disappears from farm use forever.
Now there’s a way to help preserve small farms. The local community steps in with a “community buy-in”; literally the members of the community will buy into each specific piece of farmland to own as their own cooperative farm park.
By the power of community buying, the farm will stay preserved as fertile abundant green land in perpetuity. Plus, as an added benefit, these members have access to their own private nature park and their own private staff farmer.
This solution ensures that local farmers make a good salary without having the extra expense of owning their own land and equipment. The farmer can just do what they love; which is to grow produce, take care of animals, and make a variety of farm products. It also frees the farmer to take on specialty growing projects like mushrooms, bees, microgreens, herbs, flowers, etc.
A Farm Cooperative is a property that is owned by multiple people who share in the pride of ownership and share the costs of owning a farm. It allows everyone enjoy the benefits of owning a farm without having to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on their own.
Shared ownership also means that no one individual is burdened with the every day labor, maintenance and upkeep of the farm. Owners can just enjoy the farm park, or they can volunteer to help at the farm and participate as much or as little as they choose.
Farm Owners also have a staff farmer who is able to grow fresh produce for the owners throughout the year.
- You are helping to Preserve Small Farms
- You can Enjoy Your Own Private Natural area a.k.a. “Farm Park”
- You can Enjoy more Days in Nature
- You can have a Stay-cation at your Farm
- You can use the camping cabins
- You can Learn Farming and Gardening from a Master Farmer
- You can have access to your own private staff farmer who grows produce according to what you most request
- You can help raise baby chicks each season
- You can use the space for small events like birthday parties, reunions, playdates, etc
- You can have a place to enjoy community dinners and potlucks with fellow owners, family and friends
- Your kids can have events that include cooperative summer camps, playdates at the farm, and kids farm days
- You can participate in Social Events: like Thanksgiving in the Greenhouse, Spring Fling, Fall Festival, Tuesday Pizza Oven Parties, and more
- You can Enjoy Educational and Volunteer Days at the Farm; Composting, Bees, Raised Beds, Plant Identification, Growing Tips and Techniques, etc
- You will own a share in a cooperative that owns real estate
- You don’t have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy your own farm
- Your buy in is less than the cost of a luxury car
- Your Ownership shares can be sold, held, gifted or left as an inheritance for generations to come
- ***You get to be an owner from the beginning; so you get to see any appreciation in value and increase in share value as the farm sells out.
For purposes of Wildwoods Cooperative Farm Park, the definition of a Farm Owner and/or Cooperative Owner is an individual who has purchased one or more shares of the Wildwoods Cooperative Farm Park. A cooperative is a legal entity under North Carolina law. Wildwoods Cooperative Farm Park will hold legal title to the property. The Farm Owners are the shareholders in the Wildwoods Cooperative Farm Park and as such they are called the Farm Owners. The Farm Owners vote and decide on all the rules, budgets, projects and ultimately control the farm as a group.
Yes, you must be a North Carolina resident to buy a share in the farm. The cooperative is formed under North Carolina Laws which require owners to be North Carolina Residents.
The law allows a small number of exemptions for people who were N.C. Residents and moved out of state to keep their ownership share. You will have to contract the board of directors to see if there are still exemptions.
Yes, each owner pays a monthly fee similar to home owners dues that helps pay for things like property taxes, insurance, reserve funds, gravel road maintenance, electric, and other yearly expenses. This cost is normally around $35 a month; or you can pay it all at once each January. The farm owners get to vote and control the budget.
It’s recommended you seek legal or professional advice, do research and due diligence to understand all the possible risks of owning any property including a cooperative farm. Typical risks include things such as flood, fire, natural or other events; world and financial considerations, economic events which impact any kind of real estate; the ability to re-sell a share may take longer than normal real estate. The cooperative maintains insurance for some of these risks. The cooperative is not intended as an investment but the share may increase in value and can be sold in the open market.
No. The farm is a cooperative farm park so it is not a residential project. Owners may use and visit the farm during the open hours. Owners may spend the night in the camping cabins, or camp with a reservation.
You can work on and suggest building projects to be approved by the board of directors; but no individual owners can construct any personal buildings on the farm without permission. There are multiple community structures which everyone can participate in building.
Maybe. Generally, no owner can conduct any commercial or personal business at the farm. However, some owners may be able to create farm partnerships for certain events or projects which are farm related; such as holding a farm class, kids summer camp, social event, yoga, meditation, etc. All Farm Partnerships must be approved by the Board of Directors. It is at the discretion of the Board of Directors if the farm business partnership will be done exclusively for the owners, or if outside persons may also attend. Please click the Farm Event and Class Partnerships page for more information.
Yes and it’s free! Each owner is allowed to hold small events like birthday parties, small family reunions, and small celebrations of 12-15 people at no cost; but a deposit is required for cleanup. Reservation is required to ensure the farm space is not double booked.
For events of 20 or more; Board of Director approval is needed, and a fee may be required to help pay for the wear and tear on the gravel and parking areas.
Architecting Our Sustainable Future
Build Projects: NEW BUILDINGS
Wildwoods has plans for new buildings including: a new grand greenhouse, and an educational barn with second story farm intern accommodations. Take a look through this link! (link to pictures of architect drawings).
Other plans for new buildings and structures include; a meditation deck, hot tub gazebo, garden seating, water features, new entrance gates and signs, garden sculptures, murals and art, and other improvements. As an owner, you get to vote on the improvements and participate in the construction as you wish, and as your board of directors decides.
First, you will meet with the farm liaison to see if the farm is a good fit for you; then schedule a tour of the farm.
After touring, if you wish to become an owner; farm share payment options will be offered to you, and you will attend a simple closing for your ownership share.
Yes, If you decide against owning a farm share; you can still help save small farms by donating to the Heritage Farm Foundation; which is the local farm preservation nonprofit; or you can also sign up to volunteer.
All proceeds for the Heritage Farm Foundation go to fund the farmers and preserve small farms.
Please do not show up at the Farm without an appointment, this is for the safety and privacy of our farmers and residents.
Please contact us beforehand.
The staff farmer is paid from monthly membership fees, and from the crops and specialty products the farmer grows. The farm owners get first choice of what crops to grow that season. In this way, the farmer gets a good living wage without having all the overhead of running a farm. The owners get the added benefit of having access to their own staff farmer.
Because of the limited number of shares; one individual can only buy up to 20% of the available shares. If a family would like to buy multiple shares; a spouse or another family member is considered as a different individual. Some families buy multiple shares as a long-term way to ensure their children have access to their own shares of the farm, or to help further benefit the preservation of small farms. Each share can be gifted, inherited, or sold.
The farm prefers that members find outside financing. That said, the hope is that no one is turned away because they can't find other financing. Finance requirements include but are not limited to: paying a downpayment, and negotiating with the lenders. Monthly payments vary depending on individual terms and interest rates. The current lowest downpayment is at 20*** percent, with an interest rate of ***12-14 percent.
Potential lending terms include 5 year, 8 year, and 10 year loans. The loan can be paid off at anytime. If you choose to sell or gift your share, any loan must be paid off prior to the transfer.
Monthly financing does not include the required monthly membership fee, so please be sure to include it in your calculated loan payment.