Going back to my plough -- lifestyle farming growing more popular

Updated

Tired of the urban grind? Sick -- literally -- of the produce from your local supermarket?

You are not alone. A growing number of urban dwellers and suburbanites seeking a rural life where they have more control over the food they eat and can get their fingernails dirty are taking up farming as an avocation.

The trend, dubbed "hobby farming" in some circles -- and "lifestyle farming" in others --is loosely defined as one in which the participants' incomes are not derived solely from farming. Many who slip on their first pair of overalls have no experience whatsoever with the avocation, but their business skills give them a leg up. They also are enthusiastic about trading in their lattes for Lima beans, so don't mind the learning curve.

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