Widow plans to give away 13-acre organic farm to winners of essay contest

A woman in North Carolina, United States, is ready to give away the sprawling organic farm that she cared for 18 long years. But architect-turned-farmer Norma Burns will only hand over the fruit of her labour to a couple who submits a convincing 200-word essay about why they want to own a farm.

Burns, who owns Bluebird Hill Farm in Bennett, reveals that she will shift to Raleigh to lead a more urban lifestyle. “To me, there's no better calling in life than raising organic food,” Burns said. I’m looking for a like-minded couple who have experience and training in organic farming and are willing and able to put in the long days and hard work that farming requires,” she told the Daily Mail. She took care of the farm along with her husband, Bob Burns, until his death in 2005.

The Bluebird Hill Farm is said to be worth $450,000. The deadline for the essay competition is June 1 and the winners will be declared on June 30.