Very Encouraging

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Was putting in a Raised Bed by the road.Neighbor stopped introduced himself.Asked if I was putting in a Little garden? told him yes.The problem is I was having problem finding a Good spot close to the House and definitely around where the Barn was.He told me I had to get on back said I had real good soil

Got to talking about the place.Oh you have one of the Best Wells in the area.Once again

With all this News do we just want to raise enough for us or Start a Berry,Produce Farm?

I brought up raising and selling Produce and have You Pick Berry Farm.My wife says with Age and Health this would be way too much of a undertaking.She does have a point but it might be hard finding other income and I think this place could pay for itself.

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[Jan Doling]

You never know til you try.

[sirquack]

Go for it BR. If nothing else, maybe you can encourage some kids to come in and learn how to cultivate for a little cut or maybe a small hourly rate. I think all of us here know that the art of gardening/farming is becoming a lost art. Maybe you can encourage a new batch that want to lead that lifestyle.
I was actually considering putting in grapes on my property and get a lot of doubters as Iowa is not really known for it's wines. But others have said that the soil is perfectly suited to growing grapes and it would be a great supplemental income, hopefully changing over to permanent income in time.

[Joshie]

How high are your beds?

[mothernature]

IF it takes off and makes a good business you would be able to hire help to take the hard work off of you. I'd check out everything I could about such a business and check out other you pick farms, sure might be your thing!

[motdaugrnds]

Great neighbor!

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Originally Posted by motdaugrnds

Great neighbor!

Yea got some good ones here,they are getting to where they break their arms as they go by.Unlike the last place if you weren't in with them they were either out to burn you out or shoot you.

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[Ross]

A U pick berry place would be better than produce for labor. Growing veggies and picking to sell is a lot of work.

[Pony]

Start small-ish and grow from there.

So glad you have good neighbors! Doesn't that just make all the difference in the world?

[ceresone]

Rock, you know we have a sayin' in these hills--"Dont bite off more than you can chew"

[kan-green]

Rock that is what we are doing. We have planted an acre of blueberries and raspberry plants so far. The Missouri blueberry council has a lot of good information and you can see if there are any growers near you that would be competition. Have you thought about bees? They help with pollination in addition you can rent out hives and of course the honey and beeswax is money in the bank. Just don't hedge in on my territory....lol. I have tons of info I can send you if you need it.

[ronbre]

check what is avail in your area, if there are strawberry farms, put in raspberry, put in something not already being sold well in the area..if you are going to do it as those already being sold will mean less sales for you

I think strawberries are a lot of work as they have to be rejuvenated often, but say black raspberries, they just need the old canes cut out..less work

[big rockpile]

Originally Posted by ceresone

Rock, you know we have a sayin' in these hills--"Dont bite off more than you can chew"

Yea I'm thinking start out small keep what we need sell the rest at Farmers Market.See if I can handle it because I have a habit of doing ok then not able to move,I sure don't want my wife having to do more.

Originally Posted by kan-green

Rock that is what we are doing. We have planted an acre of blueberries and raspberry plants so far. The Missouri blueberry council has a lot of good information and you can see if there are any growers near you that would be competition. Have you thought about bees? They help with pollination in addition you can rent out hives and of course the honey and beeswax is money in the bank. Just don't hedge in on my territory....lol. I have tons of info I can send you if you need it.

There is two growers just South of us.Thing is they are far enough away they will not be a problem.

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I too have put in a garden in view of the road. I do worry that, come zombie time, they will remember where they saw food and come for it.

[edcopp]

It is very important to keep the proper amount of time set aside for hunting and fishing.

[laughaha]

Blueberries aren't much work and bring in a tidy profit. If they grow well in your area, that'd be the way to go. Definitely a U-Pick operation.

[emeraldcowgirl]

Go for it! You can always ask teenagers to help and pay them in experience. I know a lot of teens who would work for free to get references they can put on their resumes.

[FarmboyBill]

Jus whar in Mo is Wheatland. if I can ask??

[big rockpile]

Originally Posted by edcopp

It is very important to keep the proper amount of time set aside for hunting and fishing.

Yes my Wife asked about this.

Originally Posted by FarmBoyBill

Jus whar in Mo is Wheatland. if I can ask??

SW of Warsaw or just N of Bolivar.Its in Hickory County.

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