Why farming part time might be the answer - with James at Honeyed Acres (SFFF56)
For many aspiring flower farmers, full-time farming feels like the ultimate goal. Quitting your job, scaling your fields, and running your farm as your only source of income—it sounds like the dream, right? But what if your best version of farm life doesn’t require that level of risk? What if keeping your day job is actually the reason your farm thrives?
That’s exactly what James and Ariana at Honeyed Acres have done. They farm just a third of an acre outside of Rochester, New York, while both working full-time job: James supports farmers with business planning and grant writing, and Ariana teaches elementary school. And yet, even with limited hours and space, they grossed $75,000 last season from one market and a 20-member CSA. That’s proof that part-time farming doesn’t mean part-time success.
Small Farm, Serious Strategy
James and Ariana are intentional with every decision they make on their farm. From crop selection to tool investment, everything is filtered through one lens: will this improve profitability? They don’t rely on off-farm income to subsidize a hobby—they treat their farm like a real business. One that happens to fit within the rest of their life, instead of taking it over entirely.
And that approach is working. Their farm pays for itself, covers reinvestments in infrastructure, and soon will help grow their retirement savings. They’ve built a lean, low-input operation that allows them to say “yes” to what matters and “no” to unnecessary stress. It's a model more flower farmers should consider—especially if burnout is starting to creep in or the pressure to “go full time” feels overwhelming.
Scaling Up Isn’t Always the Answer
Before Honeyed Acres, James ran a full-time farm on 15 acres with a 100-member CSA and multiple markets. From the outside, it looked like the dream—big fields, decent revenue, and high demand. But the profit margins didn’t follow. He found himself maxed out on time and energy without seeing long-term sustainability or financial growth.
That experience helped shape his current mindset. Instead of chasing volume, he and Ariana focus on maximizing what they already have. They keep their systems simple and nimble, using tools that are appropriate for their scale and tracking how every hour and dollar is spent. It’s not about doing more—it’s about doing the right things at the right time.
There’s a lot of pressure in agriculture, especially in the flower farming world, to go “all in.” But success doesn’t always mean scaling up, hiring a crew, and quitting your job. For James and Ariana, success looks like flexibility, reduced stress, and a high profit margin—even if that means working fewer hours or selling less overall.
James Cagle and Ariana Pineda are the co-owners of Honeyed Acres, a small-but-mighty vegetable farm located just outside Rochester, New York. Farming a third of an acre while both working full-time jobs—James in agricultural business support and Ariana as an elementary school teacher—they’ve built a lean, profitable operation focused on intentionality, sustainability, and smart systems.
With a background in small-scale organic farming since 2011, James brings deep experience and a passion for helping other growers succeed. Ariana balances the farm’s hands-on work with her dedication to education, proving that it’s possible to nurture both plants and people. Together, they run a successful 20-member CSA and maintain a vibrant presence at the Brighton Farmers Market.
Honeyed Acres is built on the belief that farming part-time can still mean farming professionally. James and Ariana are reshaping what success looks like for small-scale growers—showing that with the right mindset and strategy, you can build a profitable farm without giving up your day job.
Follow along on Instagram at @honeyed_acres, or reach out to James at james@honeyedacres.com.
Practical Tips for Starting a Side-Hustle Farm
If you're just getting started or trying to build a profitable flower farm while keeping your day job, James offers some solid advice: keep it simple, lean, and professional. Set up your business legally. Open a separate bank account. Hire a tax accountant who specializes in farms. And track everything—your expenses, your sales, your hours, and your notes.
Even more important? Get real-world experience before going all in. James worked on other farms for years before starting his own, and he credits that time with giving him the perspective to avoid costly mistakes. If you’ve never worked on a farm before, consider interning for a season. You’ll gain hands-on skills and learn systems that will help you make smarter decisions from the start.
A Different Path to Profit and Fulfillment
Farming part-time doesn’t mean your farm has to stay small forever. But it does mean you have options. Whether you want to eventually grow, stay small and mighty, or keep things exactly where they are, the key is building a farm that works for your life, not the other way around.
You don’t need a 70-hour workweek or a 10-acre field to be a “real” farmer. You just need a clear vision, a solid plan, and a willingness to treat your small farm like a real business from day one. James and Ariana are living proof that you can farm part-time and still earn a full-time income—or at least a full-time sense of fulfillment.
Want to see if part-time farming might be the right fit for you? Hear all these tips and more in episode 56 of the Six Figure Flower Farming Podcast!
