Starting a hobby farm might sound like something out of a Hallmark movie or a Yellowstone storyline… but if you ask me, it’s more about lifestyle than livestock.

I grew up on a 100-acre working farm in East Tennessee that my great-grandparents purchased initially. It started in the 1950s with about 10 cows and was their retirement project. Where the cows spent their time during the heat of the day (aka the breeziest spot) is where my great-grandfather built the barn and, eventually, the home my dad still lives in. That same shady patch is now the best place on the property for an afternoon nap under the trees in a hammock.

My dad still tells stories about his time spent there with his grandparents, and that land holds all of my own childhood memories until I moved away for college. As neighboring parcels came up for sale, my parents bought more land little by little to grow the farm. It wasn’t fancy. It wasn’t huge. But it was ours.

Now, I help other families find properties that can offer that kind of meaning.

Why a Start a Hobby Farm?

You don’t need 100 acres and a dozen tractors to start a hobby farm. A hobby farm is simply a small-scale farm that fits your life, not the other way around. It can mean a few goats and chickens, a garden that feeds your family, or enough pasture for a couple of horses.

It can also mean:

• Space to roam and breathe
• A deeper connection to the land
• Food security and sustainability
• A meaningful project for your family
• A place for family gatherings and memories
• The opportunity to build a legacy

Riddle Road: Where the Dream Feels Possible

Our 22-acre listing on Riddle Road in New Market, TN, is exactly the kind of place where this dream gets real. The land is open, workable, and surrounded by mountain views. It has space for:

• Animals (horses, goats, chickens, you name it)
• A barn or workshop
• Gardening or small-scale crops
• Kids to run, explore, and grow

And here’s the thing… 22 acres may sound like a lot, but it’s manageable. The whole property can be bush-hogged in a day, which means you can maintain it without feeling like it’s taking over your life.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about possibility.

Building a Legacy (Without Burning Out)

A hobby farm is more than a piece of land. It’s an invitation to slow down, breathe deeper, and create something that lasts.

Maybe that means selling fresh eggs at a roadside stand. Maybe it means teaching your kids how to pull carrots from the dirt or how to respect and care for others while raising baby calves. That’s the kind of memory I look forward to someday making with my children.

And if you’re picturing something closer to Yellowstone than a weekend garden plot? You’re not alone. But even if the wide-open freedom that Cara Dutton speaks about in 1923 dances in your dreams… that dream doesn’t have to mean 200 remote acres. It can live right here, just outside Knoxville, with grocery stores, takeout, and a real community still within reach.

Your legacy doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It can be 22 acres and a quiet morning routine. Maybe it can be the place where your kids grow up dirty, happy, and grounded. It can be chickens clucking near the back porch, dogs stretched out in the sun, or a hammock strung up under the trees.

Whatever it looks like for you, it starts with the right space, and Riddle Road might just be it.

Want to see if this land could be part of your next chapter?

I’d love to show you around Riddle Road, talk through your vision, and help you decide if hobby farm life is calling. Reach out to schedule a tour or learn more.