Our Story

ABOUT THE RENTAL FARMER

The Rental Farmer was built from a lifetime of lived experience, not trends or internet aesthetics.

Founder Rachel Wesler was raised on a rural homestead in Oregon where life revolved around gardening, bartering, preserving food, and making the most of what was available. Growing up, horses were used for transportation, food was often grown close to home, and life looked very different than it does for most families today.

At five years old, Rachel learned to glean after a local farmer offered to pay her twenty-five cents for every pail of berries she picked. That small experience left a lasting impression: good food should never go to waste, and communities become stronger when people help care for one another.

Over the years, that foundation grew into a lifelong passion for regenerative gardening, pollinator habitat building, food systems, and practical outdoor spaces that support everyday life.

Today, The Rental Farmer helps homeowners create more manageable, water-wise, and functional outdoor spaces without expensive landscaping packages or overwhelming systems.

Whether you're hoping to grow food, reduce maintenance, support pollinators, improve wildfire resilience, or simply make your yard feel easier to care for in Southern Utah’s climate, the goal remains the same:

Outdoor spaces should work for real life.

A FAMILY EFFORT

The Rental Farmer has always been supported by family. David helps behind the scenes with projects, ideas, heavy lifting, and bringing big visions to life. Together, we believe stronger communities begin with practical skills, meaningful work, and caring for the places we call home.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

We believe:

• sustainability should feel approachable
• gardens should support people, not overwhelm them
• outdoor spaces can be beautiful and practical
• small changes matter
• and community resilience starts at home

Two people smiling outside in a backyard, one woman with long hair and sunglasses, and a man holding a yellow power drill. There are trees, a wooden fence, and a house in the background.
A garden with green leafy plants, small yellow and white flowers, and potted succulents on a brick border around a raised planting area.
A backyard garden with a person standing next to a outdoor shelving unit with plants in small pots. There are trees, a red fence, and utility poles with wires in the background. The sky is clear and blue.

How we started…

A backyard garden with a variety of plants, trees, and flowers, surrounded by a fence and a well-maintained lawn. There are multiple power lines and a utility pole in the background under an overcast sky.

How it’s growing!

A garden with a dirt pathway lined with various plants and tall cornstalks, surrounded by greenery and trees.
Garden with potted plants, green mesh fencing, and a cat lying on the grass in the foreground. Tall trees and flowering bushes in the background.
Lush backyard garden with leafy plants, trees, a small garden fence, blue recycling bin, and power lines overhead.
A small seed exchange box with a painted flower design on the side, located outdoors in a park. The box contains various seed packets labeled with different plant names, and a sign on top reads, "Please take only what you need."
L-shaped backyard garden with a wooden greenhouse and raised black planter beds filled with leafy green vegetables, surrounded by a white fence and neighboring houses.