Need on farm money making ideas

cdehne · #1 12/05/10, 06:58 PM

Hi Folks,

We are at a point in life where we are ready to make the land start paying us a salary.

We have 50k cash to invest and 3 cleared acres with a great southern exposure and no trees. How would you use this monetary investment and the land to make money?

I have alot of experience with breeding and raising animals. My husband has been in the idustrial construction trade for over 30 yrs and has extensive experience with pumps, water systems and hydraulics.

We are within an hours drive to Baltimore, and have a strong interest in sustainable farming practices and organic food production.

We would love to hear your ideas!

Thanks!
Chris

agmantoo · #2 12/05/10, 07:19 PM

I would buy more land!

michiganfarmer · #3 12/05/10, 07:42 PM

there is good money in maple syrup, but like agman said, you need more land

**Terri** · #4 12/05/10, 07:46 PM

Marketing-marketing-marketing: what can you SELL?????????

You might read "It's a long ways to a tomato", it is about a gent who started raising and selling vegetables.

The first year he did well to break even, but after that he knew what he could raise and sell successfully and his income went up slowly but steadily afterwards.

blufford · #5 12/05/10, 08:30 PM

You've got plenty of sunlight so grow organic tomatoes, Lima beans and strawberries. If you need water your husband could design an irrigation system. There are plenty of restaurants in Baltimore that might pay a premium for organics. There must also be green markets between you and the city unless you want to sell on site. A u-pick operation might work for you unless you have a strong back.

jwal10 · #6 12/05/10, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blufford

You've got plenty of sunlight so grow organic tomatoes, Lima beans and strawberries. If you need water your husband could design an irrigation system. There are plenty of restaurants in Baltimore that might pay a premium for organics. There must also be green markets between you and the city unless you want to sell on site. A u-pick operation might work for you unless you have a strong back.

Here, I would add sweetcorn, all kinds of peppers, greens, beets, string beans and several varieties of black berries and raspberries....James

jwal10 · #7 12/05/10, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blufford

You've got plenty of sunlight so grow organic tomatoes, Lima beans and strawberries. If you need water your husband could design an irrigation system. There are plenty of restaurants in Baltimore that might pay a premium for organics. There must also be green markets between you and the city unless you want to sell on site. A u-pick operation might work for you unless you have a strong back.

Here, I would add sweetcorn, all kinds of peppers, greens, beets, string beans and several varieties of black berries and raspberries. Maybe a few goats for milk and cheese....James

http://www.fairviewfarmdairy.com/the_farm

TheMartianChick · #8 12/05/10, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blufford

You've got plenty of sunlight so grow organic tomatoes, Lima beans and strawberries. If you need water your husband could design an irrigation system. There are plenty of restaurants in Baltimore that might pay a premium for organics. There must also be green markets between you and the city unless you want to sell on site. A u-pick operation might work for you unless you have a strong back.

I get the reasoning behind the tomatoes and strawberries...but are lima beans really that popular? Maybe I'm just prejudiced against them because I don't like them...

Heritagefarm · #9 12/05/10, 08:50 PM

We find it hard enough to make a living on 66 acres; I can't imagine doing it on 3!

Oldcountryboy · #10 12/05/10, 09:02 PM

Have you thought about purchasing 15' X 96' cold frames and raising vegetables for a farmers market? Or put in a orchard, berry bushes, grapes, etc..

Callieslamb · #11 12/05/10, 10:12 PM

What kind of produce do the good folks in Baltimore like to spend their money on? That's what I would do. I don't know of any animals you can do on 3 acres and do well - except chickens. And it would take a lot of them to make any real money.

rambler · #12 12/05/10, 10:19 PM

Gardening/farming is te easy part.

Time for harvest combined with time for selling is the hard part!!!!

As someone else said, marketing, marketing, marketing. What is going to sell, how will you sell it in your area, which you didn't mention.

What are your people skills, how far are you from a population center with a market to take your produce, and how much time do you have?

U-pick operation, you sell to resturants, you sell from your road, you sell at a farmer's market - what works _there_ is the key.

It'll take a year to learn what you can do,a nd another year to learn what works to sell, and the 3rd year you might break even, so the money will come in handy.

If you figure it out, you'll likely need more land in 5 years, but for now 3 acres is a great starter.

I don't see 3 acres supporting much livestock, tho depends on your location I just don't see enough elbow room to make something work big enough to be profitable by the time a critter turns low-protien fiber into high-value meat, egg, or milk it takes more acres to come out ahead or you need to buy 75% of your feed..... I have been known to be wrong tho.

If you got an urban center nearby, some folks grow pumkins and corn and hold a corn maze & pumpkin/squash/ gord/ festival for 3 weekends in fall, they only have to deal with people for 3-6 days a year, get some temporary event liability insurance, and make some pretty good money if the weather treats them right. But, takes 3 acres or so just for the maze, you'd need more than that for the other produce & some weeding help, plus parking room, etc. Kinda the best of worlds tho as to time management, dealing with people, and so on - lot of work, really busy month with people, and then plan for next year.....

Without being nosey, how much do you need to make to be worthwhile on this, will you still have 2 full time jobs or a full and part time, or retired. Some folks need to make $60,000 to be happy, others live on $15,000 and feel like kings, if you are happy getitng $3000 a year out of this then it can work out for you, if you want 2 full time incomes from it then you way more plannig and marketing.

We don't know your expectations, so hard to say do this or do that.

Good luck with it, keep asking and let us know how it goes.

Willowdale · #13 12/05/10, 10:37 PM

I know a man who makes a living farming 3 acres. He's got a leadership role in the farmer's market and has a CSA and is very savvy about what he can sell. All kinds of vegetables. He also sells eggs now. He farms full time, and has a couple of rental properties as well (the rents pay the mortgages -- he doesn't profit on the rents). Thing is he works all the time and just enough to get by (maybe 27k), but no health insurance. Still, it can be done.

Alice In TX/MO · #14 12/05/10, 10:41 PM

Research first.

Good place to start:

http://beyondthesidewalk.com/index.shtml

Dead Rabbit · #15 12/06/10, 07:22 AM

small tree farm. using experience in installing pumps and drip system. landscaping is a huge deal now adays, everyone wants ornamental trees, shrubs, and the such. put you a few trees in pots, in the ground. run the drip system for watering, and advertise.

you dont need alot of land for this endeavor.

cdehne · #16 12/06/10, 07:31 AM

Thank you all for your suggestions so far!

I was thinking about aquaponics- For those who have not heard of this you grow fish in a tank, the "dirty" fish water is then used to grow and fertilize a hydroponic crop like lettuce. Both the fish and the veg crop can be done organically.

There would be a steep learning curve-as I have never raised fish. With an initial 50k investment we would have to start off small.

We would love to but land, but you can't touch anything around here for that price!

Thanks again for your ideas, keep em coming!

blufford · #17 12/06/10, 07:52 AM

Here is a poster (veggrower) that is great information for you to read. Start with this thread.

Attention veggrower!

Callieslamb · #18 12/06/10, 07:52 AM

Another thought - small berry U-picks. But I don't know anything about the laws in your area or the insurance issues. I hope to put in a small blackberry and raspberry Upick this year on our place. I am in a good location for folks to drop by AND there aren't many others around. Blueberries also do well here -but there are a ton of U-picks for those and strawberries.

blufford · #19 12/06/10, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMartianChick

I get the reasoning behind the tomatoes and strawberries...but are lima beans really that popular? Maybe I'm just prejudiced against them because I don't like them...

I agree. I can't even stand the smell of them cooking. But they bring in a nice price at the beginning of the season.

Caitedid · #20 12/06/10, 09:11 AM

I would actually second the aquaponics. We had some demonstration set-ups at the farm I worked in MA, and I would guess that it could be done fairly inexpensively, plus it gives you produce to sell. I'd say mostly look at all your options, and don't look at anything with the idea of buying new equipment. What about pastured poultry? We make a decent amount off them and they really keep the insect population down, for not a huge capital investment.