Many city folk dream of buying a hobby farm, but the reality can involve a steep learning curve. Harvey Grennan reflects on the satisfaction and pitfalls of life on the land.

My midlife crisis included buying a farm without even setting foot on the property. Well, at least I'd looked over the fence.

Like many city dwellers, I'd hankered for a rural lifestyle without knowing much about it. A week after I ordered my first lot of cattle from the local stock and station agent, I rang to ask when they would arrive. They had, in fact, been delivered days before and had already torn down every fence on the property.

Thanks to the help of a generous neighbour, an earlier escapee from the city, my rural experience turned out to be a good one and I graduated to bigger farms. But for many would-be graziers, vignerons and olive growers, the country adventure has not turned out so well.

The term 'hobby farm' covers many possibilities, from a few hectares with a vegie garden to a small but intensive-use concern - such as a vineyard, berry farm or flower-growing enterprise - to large acreage for running cattle or sheep. Some are intended to produce an income, while some are purely for lifestyle. All require time and much physical effort mending fences, spraying weeds or castrating calves.

The first thing to realise is that it's not about money, it's about lifestyle. You may make a modest income but you'd be better off financially if you stayed in the city.

The second is that the lifestyle is one of hard work. If livestock is involved, it's potentially dangerous and sometimes heartbreaking toil. Handling an irate 800kg bull makes for an exciting day, as does flipping a quad bike on the side of a mountain, miles from help.

A common problem can be isolation. If you buy a farm too far from a town, the lack of social interaction can drive you back to the city. So can being too far from family and friends.

Falling in love with a rural property can lead you to pay too much, so do your research well. It's not just a question of comparable sales in the area but also of comparable land. A bush block can be worth a fraction of an arable block. And keep in mind that if you ever decide to go back to the big smoke, selling up can take a lot longer than it does in the city.

All that said, moving to the country can be very satisfying. For me, it was about finding a real world and doing something useful, such as producing food, rather than being a journalist and producing less tangible results. But even good things come to an end, and I'm now back to producing mere words.

Outward bound

Questions to ask before buying a hobby farm:
How far is it from a town and services?
How far is it from family and friends?
How much is the dream farm really worth?
Are you ready to learn about your chosen farming activity?
How successful are similar enterprises?
How do you rate your health and fitness?
What rewards do you expect financially, and is there room to change your mind?
How will your children fare regarding friends and education?
How would you cope in a flood or bushfire?

Country life

Goulburn Mulwaree Council in NSW has produced the Rural Living Handbook, with helpful information on buying and managing a property. Download it from www.goulburn.nsw.gov.au.