land: 40-acre farmstead for rent

Retired teachers seek enthustiastic couple or family to revive beautiful farmstead outside of Albion, Indiana. Hand-made home, outbuildings, woods, and farmland:

We are looking for an interested party to rent and revive an approx 40 acre retired homestead.  Facility includes a 4000 sq ft handmade home (open loft construction style using mainly recycled/repurchased building materials). 

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Was last set up as 4 BR/2 bath with finished basement, partially completed 3 season room, a 30 x 10 roofed deck, a 4 story spiral staircase that leads to a partially completed 360⁰ observation room and a one car, attached carport.  Central heat is a multi-fuel furnace (wood and LP), window AC but usually not needed because of wooded bldg site. 

Property is surrounded by natural wooded  lowlands that feed into south fork of Elkhart river which is just across the road.  A very unique home for a couple or family wanting to try their hand at homesteading.

Outbuildings include a 2400 sq ft, 2 story woodworking shop (2nd story used for storage but with plans for an eventual 2 br apartment), a 30 x 40 hay storage above/7-10 x 10 stalls below livestock barn, a 20 x 20 barn with hay storage above, approx 50 x 40 machine storage shed with dirt floor and open walls. Chicken coop, several 10 x 10 portable pasture turn-out sheds, 100 x 50 organic-type garden (not certified), framework for 72 x 24 high tunnel in place (plastic covering on site just not installed), 3 acres of fenced pastures in approx 3/4 acre lots for rotational grazing with access to barns (some fencing will need repaired, replaced &/or tightening), 14 acres is tillable farm ground currently rented to neighboring farmer for hay plus approx 5 acres wooded.  

Location is approx 2 miles south of Albion, IN.  Chain O Lakes State Park is a short 2 miles away, too.  Neighbors are friendly, helpful and supportive.  A beautiful and safe spot in the rolling hills of noble county.

Farmstead has been idle for past 5 yrs and needs to be put back into production soon to avoid ongoing deteriation.  We are retired teachers and our 5 grown children, who were raised here, have moved away and we can't invest the time and energy it takes to maintain the operation. 

We are hoping to find an enthusiastic and energetic couple or family that would like to rent the entire facility who might want to break out of the city and give the farmstead life a try.  Someone who is working for someone and would like a chance to be on their own might have an interest in this property as well.   It also could be a suitable site for horses or some other appropriate specialty farm.  Possibilities are endless!  

It will require some sweat equity to bring the operation back to its original state, and then beyond if desired.  This would be a great starter site for the right party with an aptitude for hard work and a desire to learn on the job.  We will be seasonally living near by so our advice, expertise or our contacts will be available if desired.  Any major changes or improvements would need to be discussed with us but we would like to be as hands off as possible.  

My name is Patrick Cole and if interested in more details or have questions, please reach out. Make sure to leave your contact info if the machine takes it and we'll get back with you asap.

260 226 2140
Colepatricka@gmail.com