Is buying land to farm for fresh food, or buying a house instead of renting, contrary to asceticism, knowing that the Prophet, may God's prayers and peace be upon him, owned land and a house?

Asceticism is not negated by earning a livelihood, so long as it does not involve aggression against people's property, or greed, or distraction from acts of worship. Indeed, a rich person may be more ascetic than a covetous poor person. Agriculture is among the best means of earning a livelihood, and it has been narrated in a hadith (definition) that everything edible that a Muslim plants or cultivates will be a charity for him. The hadith encourages the cultivation of the earth, and it contains evidence for the permissibility of acquiring and managing an estate, provided that it does not distract one from matters of religion.