The 15-Minute Guide: How to Buy Your First Farmland Asset (Live Walkthrough)
You have read the guides. You know the risks. You are ready to start.
But if you have never used an Agri-Fi (Agricultural Finance) platform before, the dashboard can look a bit like the cockpit of a spaceship.
In this guide, we are going to stop talking theory and start executing. We will walk you through the entire process—from “Sign Up” to “Owner”—on the three best platforms for 2026.
- Time Required: ~15 Minutes
- Budget Needed: $50 – $100
⚠️ Disclosure: Some links in this tutorial are affiliate links. If you sign up through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps keep our educational content free.
Phase 1: The “Go-Bag” Checklist (Do This First)
Before you click any links, you need to prepare your digital paperwork. All legitimate Agri-Fi platforms are regulated, which means they must perform KYC (Know Your Customer) checks.
If you don’t have these ready, the site will time out, and you will get frustrated.
1. Government ID 🆔
- Why You Need It: To prove you are a real person (Passport or Driver’s License).
- Pro Tip: Ensure no glare is covering your name or photo.
2. Proof of Address 📄
- Why You Need It: To prove where you live (Utility Bill or Bank Statement).
- Pro Tip: Must be a PDF dated within the last 3 months.
3. Smartphone 📱
- Why You Need It: To take a “Live Selfie” for facial recognition.
- Pro Tip: Clean your camera lens first!
Phase 2: Choose Your Path
We have broken this down into three paths depending on your location and risk tolerance.
Not sure which model fits your budget? Read our breakdown of the 4 Ways To Invest In Farmland With Little Money first.
🅰️ Path A: The “US Standard” (Steward)
- Best For: US Residents seeking simplicity.
- Asset Type: Sustainable Farm Loans.
- Currency: $ USD.
- Min. Entry: $100.
🅱️ Path B: The “Global Yield” (InSoil)
- Best For: Investors seeking high yield & Carbon Credits.
- Asset Type: Green Loans + Carbon Credits.
- Currency: € EUR (Auto-converts).
- Min. Entry: €100 (~$105 USD).
©️ Path C: The “Crypto Route” (LandShare)
- Best For: Tech-savvy users wanting liquidity.
- Asset Type: Tokenized Real Estate.
- Currency: USDC (Crypto).
- Min. Entry: ~$50.
Path A: The “US Standard” Walkthrough (Steward)
Best for: Americans who want a hassle-free, dollar-denominated investment.
Step 1: Create Your Account
Go to the Steward Sign Up Page. Select “Lender” (since you are investing, not farming). Enter your email and create a strong password.
Step 2: The “Investor Profile”
Steward will ask you a few legal questions. Don’t panic—this is standard for US law (Reg CF).
- “Are you Accredited?” If you earn less than $200k/year or have a net worth under $1M, click “No”.
- Note: You can still invest! Unaccredited investors just have limits (usually ~$2,200 per rolling 12 months).
- “Investment Goal”: Select “Impact” or “Interest” based on your preference.
Step 3: Link Your Bank
Click “Wallet” → “Link Bank Account.” Steward uses Plaid (the secure system used by Venmo). Log in to your Chase/Wells Fargo/BoA account directly.
- Troubleshooting: If Plaid fails, look for the “Manual Verification” option. Steward will send two tiny deposits (e.g., $0.03) to your bank. Check your app the next day to verify them.
- Transfer: Move $100 into your Steward Wallet. This usually takes 1-2 business days to clear.
Step 4: Pick a Farm
Go to the “Lend” tab. You will see sustainable farms (e.g., “Organic Dairy in Vermont”). Look for these three things:
- Interest Rate: Usually 6% – 8%.
- Term: Usually 9 Months (Short term) or 1-3 Years.
- Status: Ensure it says “Funding” (not “Fully Funded”).
Step 5: Execute
Click “Participate.” Enter $100. Sign the digital note. Success: You are now lending money to a real American farmer.
Path B: The “Global Yield” Walkthrough (InSoil)
Best for: Investors who want higher yields (10-13%) and don’t mind currency conversion.
🔄 2026 Update: You may know this platform by its old name, HeavyFinance. They rebranded to InSoil in 2025 to reflect their new focus on soil health and carbon removal. It is the same team, just a new name.
Step 1: Sign Up
Go to InSoil
- Note: The site accepts US Citizens, but you must accurately declare your tax residency during sign-up.
Step 2: Verify Identity (Strict)
InSoil uses a very strict AI verifier (usually Veriff or Onfido).
- Click “Verify.”
- Switch to your phone via the QR code provided.
- Take a live photo of your ID. Hold steady. If it fails, try placing the ID on a dark background for better contrast.
Step 3: Deposit Funds (The USD → EUR Trick)
Since InSoil operates in Euros, you have two options:
- The Easy Way: Use a credit card/debit card. Your US bank will auto-convert your Dollars to Euros.
- Warning: Your bank may charge a 1-3% foreign transaction fee.
- The Pro Way: Use a service like Wise (formerly TransferWise) to send Euros directly with lower fees.
Step 4: The “Green” Market
Go to the “Projects” tab. Look for the “Green Loan” tag.
- The Bonus: These loans often pay you interest PLUS a share of profits from the sale of Carbon Credits generated by the farm.
Step 5: Invest
Select a project. Enter €100 (approx $105). Click “Invest.”
Path C: The “Crypto” Walkthrough (LandShare)
Best for: People who want liquidity and are comfortable with Web3 wallets.
Step 1: Get a Web3 Wallet
You cannot use a bank account directly here.
- Download MetaMask (a browser extension).
- Security Alert: Write down your 12-word seed phrase on paper. Never share it with anyone—not even support staff.
Step 2: Buy “Stablecoins”
You need digital dollars (USDC or USDT) to buy the land.
- Go to a standard exchange like Coinbase or Binance.
- Buy $50 worth of USDC.
- CRITICAL STEP: Send it to your MetaMask wallet address on the BNB Chain (Binance Smart Chain). Do not send it via Ethereum (ERC20), or you will pay high gas fees and it won’t work on LandShare.
Step 3: Connect & Buy
Go to the LandShare App
- Click “Connect Wallet” in the top right.
- Complete the KYC (yes, even crypto sites need ID now).
- Go to the “Property” dashboard, select a house, and click “Buy Token.”
Phase 3: What Happens Next?
Don’t Panic if Nothing Happens. Farming is slow.
- Days 1-30: You likely won’t see any returns. The farmer is buying seeds, fuel, or equipment.
- Day 31+: You might see your first interest payment appear in your dashboard.
The “Reinvest” Strategy
The secret to wealth isn’t the first $100—it’s the compound interest. When you get paid your $2 in interest, don’t withdraw it. Use it to fund the next deal. This is key to building a lending strategy that actually compounds.
Frequently Asked Questions (Transaction Help)
Q: Why was my Credit Card declined? A: Agri-Fi platforms are often foreign (like InSoil in Lithuania). Your US bank might flag the transaction as “suspicious.”
- Solution: Call your bank to authorize the charge, or use Steward (Path A) which is domestic.
Q: Are there fees?
- Steward: Generally No fees for investors.
- InSoil: No fees for Primary Market investing. (Note: Secondary market sales often have a 1% fee).
- LandShare: Standard blockchain “gas fees” (usually pennies).
Q: Do I get a paper certificate? A: No. Your ownership is recorded digitally. You can download a PDF of your loan agreement from your dashboard anytime for your tax records.
Conclusion
Congratulations! If you followed the steps above, you are no longer just a “reader”—you are an agricultural investor.
You now own a fractional piece of the food supply chain. Whether you chose the stability of a US dairy farm on Steward, the carbon credits of InSoil, or the blockchain tech of LandShare, the hardest part is over.
Ready to explore more options? Check out our review of the Top 7 Agri-Fi Platforms for 2026 to see other ways to diversify your portfolio.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for educational purposes only. We are not financial advisors. All investments involve risk, including the loss of principal. Please review the full offering documents on any platform before investing. “InSoil,” “Steward,” and “LandShare” are trademarks of their respective owners.
