Retiring? Leaving a job? Consider farming. According to The New York Times, the 2013 Economic Report of the President notes that one-third of beginning farmers (i.e., those who have been farming fewer than 10 years) “are over age 55, indicating that many farmers move into agriculture only after retiring from a different career.” Additionally, the report found that the average age of farmers and ranchers in the United States has been increasing over time.
The New York Times article features Connecticut-resident Debra Sloane, whose position with Cisco Systems was eliminated in 2013. She now operates a backyard farm in Washington, Connecticut; sells produce at local farmers’ markets; and runs a community-supported agriculture program (CSA). She has 11 CSA customers who pay her in advance in exchange for weekly portions of fruits and vegetables throughout the summer.
