Opinions - Feasibility of a large market garden

[CJ]

One of my long time dreams, when DH retires is for us to have a greenhouse, and large gardens along with honeybees to raise for market.

For our own use, we will have the above, a small orchard and vineyard, and a small amount of livestock.

With our shaky economy, gas prices, unemployment rates and bankruptcies, coupled with the food scares, how feasible do you all think this plan is to support ourselves?

We won't have any debt, but we won't have any income either, other than what we earn. DH can always take a contract or 2 a year as long as that option is there, but I want more than anything to get him out of the rat race.

I'd like to grow veggies, flowers and herbs for market, along with honey. We intend to set everything up to make it as easy as possible labor wise, and will have a tractor to do the hard work.

It could be that things will get so bad no one will be able to afford to buy or trade, but being a necessity rather than a luxury... I'm thinking the market will always be there.

Most importantly, it's a dream we both share.

Opinions? Doable? Laughable? Better ideas?

The Wandering Quilter's Life in a Box!

[Alex]

CJ,

We share the gardening, or love to plant, watch grow, and eat veggies ideas with you. Because of that we have a garden on our deck in Vancouver, a beautiful plot in our Vancouver community garden, and a large garden at our homestead Quarter Section.

But we restrain our ideas so we don't get into another tough-business when we are retiring out of as you say a bit of a rat race. We don't want to get right into another.

We are going to keep our garden big for us, and sure maybe sell a few things at the Sunday market in town -- maybe not. We can do this because we won't have mortgages and have the government payments, and PLAN to live simply.

Unless you love the new business, then it could be fantastic for you, even in retirement it could be the best ever life.

Good luck to us all,

Alex

[BlueHeronFarm]

My vote is absolutely do-able. There is a growing interest in small-scale, naturally raised foods. People are starting to think more about what they eat and more people are willing to pay a fair price for locally, thoughtfully raised food.

Have you read the Omnivore's Delimma yet? It is what inspired us to start our farm - I highly recommend it.

[Ramblin Wreck]

I think CSA's, especially organic (or mostly organic) farms, can do quite well, but you need to do a market assessment and develop a business plan. If you are going to be within an hour or so of an urban or suburban area, you will probably have a market. (If you are in the boonies, probably everyone has a garden!) If you have a possible market, start building a plan around what will sell/work for that area. (You can't sell stone ground grits in Boston...but beans could do quite well there.) Carefully consider all your costs and potential revenue streams, and see what it looks like. You may find that a contract or two is necessary to supplement family earnings, or you may choose to change your lifestyle to accomodate less in earnings.

Best wishes in whatever path you choose.

[tallpines]

Within the Gardening Forum here at HT is a sub-Forum entitled Market Gardens.

You may find some helpful info there.

http://homesteadingtoday.com/forumdisplay.php?f=60

[Terri]

This is a good site.

http://forums.farm-garden.com/index.php

Your only source of income? Will you be retiring early, perhaps?

Personally, I think it sounds OUTSTANDING, but it would not serve DH and so we will not. He prefers the security of a regular paycheck and insurance.

I watched a place out here grow. What they did the BEST was to advertize with their starting date for several MONTHS before they opened, and they put directions on their ad with "All tomatos and marigolds 10 cents each" (Later they raised it to 15 cents)

People came for the tomatos and marigolds, but while they were there they ALSO bought the broccolli, the melons, and the petunias. I mean, they were going to buy them ANYWAYS and the plants were RIGHT THERE.... Might as well save themselves a trip!

[Jim S.]

We call it truck farming here, and lots of people do it -- from large operations to small.

It is incredibly hard work on the startup end, but if you can weather the first 5 years, you'll have an operation of genuine economic value. I know many such farmers. Best advice I have heard from anyone I know who is in it is to "Be a slave to what the market wants. Don't grow stuff nobody wants."

Sounds simple, huh? Yet this guy -- who now is big enough that he grows for Wal-Mart -- claims that 95% of those who drop out of the biz do it because they did not keep their ears open to the market, and grew stuff it did not want. One or two such crops, and it is all over.

Another grower I know says it is important to "keep a sharp pencil in your pocket." It is extremely easy, he says, to underestimate costs of a crop and overestimate sale price. It's a low return on investment endeavor, and falling into this trap will doom the venture, too. He is especially keen on knowing your labor costs.

I'd say get a business plan and hone it til it is realistic, then follow it closely, and try to find someone who has done it for years and see if they will mentor you along in your first few years while you get your feet under you. Both will aid the chances of success.

[CJ]

Wow thanks for the great links and the book source, I will check them all out!

We plan to semi-retire my hubby in 5 years. Our game plan is to have everything bought/built for cash in that time frame. We started with a 10 year goal (3 of which are up) but we may be able to shorten that... all depends on the crazy economy. The 1st 2 years we saved every cent we could and bought the land. This year, we'll buy an ATV, the tractor and implents, and build a storage shed/garage for them. Possibly, if we don't have to keep bailing out a few family members, we might even get a well in place.

Next 2 years, we plan to do nothing but save. And work on the land with the tractor. Get a feel for where things will go. Hopefully, in 2 years we can save enough to have the house poured... we're (99%) sure we're going to build underground, so utilities when we are no longer working are nominal). We'll do all the finish work ourselves, over time, as we can. At that time, we'll erect a greenhouse and start planting. DH can work a single outage at the nuke plants each year, and we can live an entire year on the salary from that, as long as we have no other bills.

So in 5 more years, I hope to start that garden market, and be in business within 2 years after that.

We don't want people coming to the farm, we'll take our food to markets, restaurants, however we need to get it out. Absolutely we don't want anyone coming to us though. I chose the piece of land we bought because of it's privacty. I hope to build and develop the land in such a way that you'd really have to look hard to know we're there!

As for job security... being married to a man who contracts for a living, you learn to deal with it. Always have a backup plan! LOL

The Wandering Quilter's Life in a Box!

[Forerunner]

There must be a reason why so many cultures throughout antiquity based their entire economy, social structure and livelihood around the production of food.
I suppose one good reason is that most people like to eat, even up to two or three times a day or more!
There is no better survival cushion, economic or otherwise, that to learn and apply everything you can, as a homesteader or otherwise, about the simple act of placing a seed in extremely fertile soil and preserving the crop for family or community use.
Having a tendency toward overkill and keeping an eye on the uncertainty of the future, we started from scratch and built a monstrous composting operation. Then we researched open-pollinated seeds and how to preserve them from year to year. Then we enrolled in the school of super hard knocks and began starting our own seeds indoors in late winter. It never ceases to amaze me, the pitfalls that are out there to separate the insincere gardener from the successful. Finally there was the task of learning what each crop needed for it's own preservation over the winter months.
Canning has it's place. Dehydration preserves far more nutrient value.
Freezing is great for some crops if you can sustain the low temps required.
A root cellar is a must. A fruit cellar is also required if you plan to keep fruits fresh over the dormant season. Roots and fruits do NOT store well together.

The long and the short of it is, if you've the land and the heart, you can NEVER go wrong growing food. We're a dozen or so years into our effort and each year is easier. The gratification and security has been worth every drop of sweat. Our actual garden is up to four acres and growing.....and we don't even sell any of it yet.....

[CJ]

Originally Posted by Forerunner

The long and the short of it is, if you've the land and the heart, you can NEVER go wrong growing food. We're a dozen or so years into our effort and each year is easier. The gratification and security has been worth every drop of sweat. Our actual garden is up to four acres and growing.....and we don't even sell any of it yet.....

That's pretty much the way I feel. Even if we've no luck with it as a business, we can still provide a good portion of our own food, and for family members. Not to mention it's very theraputic, and great for your health!

The Wandering Quilter's Life in a Box!

[fransean]

You must have read my mind! This is exactly what I want for our future. I think DH is finally getting on board because one day I got home from doing some errands to find that he had planted tomato seeds.
I know that I will have to be the one to handle all the actual sales but it appears that he will be willing to help with the fruits and veggies at home while I handle all the "outsiders"
For insurance purposed one of us will probably still require a part time job.

Bev

[veggrower]

Totally doable. I dropped out of my corporate telecomm gig at age 34, 18 years ago, to become a market gardener. I've never looked back.

[CJ]

I'd like to specialize in heirloom plants. We always grow organically, but I don't know about getting the certification, if it's worth it or not anymore.

Baker Creek seeds (heirloom) is in the next town over from our land, and they appear to be thriving.

Those of you that deliver to market's now, what is the best method for transporting your plants? Enclosed trailer with some type of shelving?

The Wandering Quilter's Life in a Box!