I built a 20x20x2 melon farm out in the middle of an ocean in the wild. Farmed that for a bit.
I then bought a 20x20 plot in a town and turned it into 20x20x4 wheat farm. Farmed that for a bit.
My wheat farm then got griefed -_- so I went back to my melon farm. Farmed that for a bit.
A mayor found me, and gave me a free plot in his town. He helped me build a 20 floor chunk wheat redstone lamp farm (back when they were allowed). Farmed that for a while and finally got Resident (also farmed it to buy most of my features -- back when they were 3k/$1 USD -- as well as Mayor).

Funny thing, my melon farm didn't get griefed until about the time I got mayor :D

 

I farmed seeds in the wild... and a lil bit of farming too.

 

Hunger Games and Mining.