Farms with Acreage..A Vanishing Commodity?

It seems to be getting harder and harder to find any kind of a farm with acreage for sale, almost at any price, anymore.

For some time, I've been researching around, attempting to find any kind of acreage for sale that is larger than 17 acres that's still within driving distance of Tallahassee. That search is starting to drag on..and on..and on.

My family raises horses. There are five, plus the new baby, at the moment. The problem is, there's not enough pasture for them. Consequently, my folks are spending at least $60 a week just buying hay for them. So, they have been looking around for a larger farm.

The trouble is, everything is so expensive, they would almost have to sell our place where we live now FIRST, in order to be able to buy anything else. Plus, then, it's possible to find that there's no place to go.

I realize many people are content to live on what I call the "postage-stamp" lot, which has practically no yard..no maintainance...sigh.

Given our family's lifestyle, that ain't gonna work for us. We like to grow flowers, maybe another garden down the road, picnic table area, swingset, play area for the grandchildren and nephews, why, maybe even another radio station antenna set-up on down the journey of life.

I visited a few homes at this year's Parade of Homes, primarily those with 3 acre plots. They are okay, but the smallest place I've ever lived was seven acres, and I like having some room to explore. I grew up with space, and I still like that concept.

Meanwhile, I'm still researching options, but every one of them seems further and further away from Tallahassee. All the local farms are getting swallowed up by developers and split into the postage stamp lot model that I DON'T LIKE.

I hope some realtors read this. Not everyone is enamored with being squeezed into houses that are jammed up next to each other, out in the county, just so city folks can say "I live in the country."

Your ideas and comments are welcome.