LA couple bought $925,000 farm, made barn a home, started cider business

David Bailey, 40, and Dana Tiel were advertising professionals in Los Angeles before deciding to trade city life for a different kind of challenge. Their growing interest in gardening got them thinking about farming. Before they knew it, they had their eyes set on a 16-acre farm in Mariposa, California, with a four-acre apple orchard and an established hard cider business. They purchased the property for $925,000, despite there being no house on the land. They spent another $100,000 converting the barn loft into a home. Their curiosity project has now grown into Sierra Cider, a family destination offering cider tastings, a petting zoo, a seasonal pumpkin patch and a pick-your-own apple orchard.Where a pastime search endedThe couple started looking for properties as a pastime. For about three months, they sent each other listings during the workday, ruling out anything above 500 acres.