If you had 80 free acres and some start-up money...what would you do?

I'd use half of it for an organic antique apple orchard and the other half for a botanical garden or arboraetum.

This whole plan is a really big mistake.

Nothing is for nothing. Buy your own land, build your own dream. If you can't afford your own land, work your a** off until you can, then buy your own land.

Pete

Hey, what part of KY is this place in? It would be really neat if it was down by me!!

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"Nature is natural...no matter how beautiful or terrible her face is...."

Joel Salatin's book "You Can Farm" actually has lists of things for you to consider, including "value added" products/ideas. It also includes a very clear plan. We have pasture raised chickens following his plan and made a nice profit. (We did purchase our own custom mixed feed -- not feedstore mixes.)
http://polyfacefarms.com/books.html
http://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Farm-E.../dp/0963810928

The book is well worth the price just for the practical, fresh look on successful farming.

Good luck.

Near Gettysburg PA there was a small farm that was a bed and breakfast that allowed church groups, boy scouts and girl scouts from WAshington, DC, Pittsburg and Philadelphia the opportunity to stay at a real farm, pick real vegetables and feed real animals.

This was as exotic to them as going on a safari in Africa. Is there a building that could be a bunkhouse?

I like that you are planning to diversify, that way if you have a bad crop you still can make it other ways. Plan to grow your own feed. Small farms around here make most of their money with pumpkins and corn shucks for decoration in the fall.

How far are you from the nearest town of 80,000+?

One thing that is very popular in my area is corn mazes. There is a farm that has that along with various other activities every year and they get a lot of visitors. If corn will grow well in your area it might be something to think about.

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Niki

http://www.paparazziaccessories.com/17717

Sounds like you have alot of repair and fixing to do as well as building. Who is going to pay for all the equipment to do that plus put in garden and feilds? For the size you are talking you need equipment to make this doable. Tractors are not cheap and maintaining them is not either. You will need at least one if not more to make those gardens plots. Also you will need a big insurance policy to cover any people coming onto the property plus for anything happening like fire, flood ect.

I agree that a commune is silly.

I have tried to do 80 acres with just one family and learned that it doesn't work.

And you can hire some help. And you can get some interns. But it still isn't enough. You need folks that share your passions and are going to live on the property. This can be a few different houses. I would like to share a big house with a few families, but that doesn't mean it is the only way.

Are you familiar with damanhur?

With lots of people on the land, you can easily get away. And you can do more.

Oh! And one last piece of advice: non profits are nice. But they come with some serious problems. Make sure that the land and all physical property is privately owned. The non profit functions as an entity that rents materials from the private entity.

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[raising chickens] [diatomaceous earth] [permaculture] [rocket mass heater] [lawn care]

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Some thing you might consider as a side line but is yet profitable is creating a 'special day park'. This could be rented out for family reunions, kids birthday gathering, even weddings if the settings were correct. Of course you would need covered picnic areas, massive barbecue facilities, an an insurance policy that covers it all.

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If you can read this - thank a teacher. If you can read this in English - thank a veteran.

Never mistake kindness for weakness.

Hey DK sounds like heaven to me so move over and give me and the family a corner and we will come help!

First things first!
Nail down the agreement.
fence the property..........Now that doesn't sound like a big point but look thru the threads on this forum and see what a huge problem trespassing can be. Don't think that because you are nice and are planning on inviting a lot of folks over that it wont be. one 4-wheeler in the garden spot would be a disaster one hunter sighting in a gun at the wrong time could be deadly.
My honest suggestion from being on a farm much like this one is at least 6 feet of woven wire (horse or ostrich fence) topped by 3 strands of electric ,DON'T top with barbed wire unless you want to see dead things hanging on it!
You say this is bottom land,How much does it flood? for how long? How much flow?
Can you Hire the land Hayed? Id hay it all except the parcels I was actively gardening . It would provide an income and "tame" the land.
With kids around Id be reluctant to have Cows ,pigs or chickens,they are all much to dangerous .Id think more along the lines of Sheep ,goats, rabbits and ducks.

Well, there is a singlewide on property that could possibly be living quarters for interns etc. The owner had discussed bunkhouses and farmstore possibilities. We, basically are going to come up with a proposal. It will have a few different possibilities and be flexable as to the amount of capital he is wanting to put up. We will make a low-medium-and high capital proposal. The low propsal will be a very slow start with builing up as we make profits. My feeling is that he will want to do a medium start-up because he REALLY wants us to turn out food for the homeless ASAP. We will of course have to explain why things can't be done this season(builind up soil, breaking ground etc). He did grow up on a farm...but doesn't understand sustainable, orgainc farming.
As for tresspassers....picture 80 acres in the shape of Maine. The front part(driveway) is longer and more narrow...a private road. The ocean around maine is a river....Canada is a very large cornfield. That's it. As far as flooding. I would have to actually look at surveys and talk to the farmers next door...but just looking at it...I'd say that only a small portion of it, very clos to the river actually sees water. the river itself looks very much like the one we live on now. It is usually a small creek, but flashes during times of heavy rain. The land obviously slopes toward it...but it isn't steap. There is a area near the "top of the property where run-off is diverted through a large, tiled ditch to got to the river...to prevent erosion and make farming it more predictable.
Let's see...I'm trying to answer all the questions....um, well we aren't talking about "farming" a full 80 acres...I understand the implications of trying to do something so large. We hope to build up our amount in veg/friut crops over the years, as time money allow....and being able to hire hands or get interns. Slow and steady wind the race...to qoute a very famous tortoise.
Now that this week is over(long week) we are going to start hammering down ideas. Thanks!

Yep it sure sounds like tresspasser heaven!All those hunters drawn along the river all those 4 wheelers playing in the water and hiding in the cornfield!
All those slightly off in the distance neighbors that think of it as "THEIR" playground. It sounds more and more like my place!
Honest Build the Fence! Have it surveyed and build the fence EXACTLY on the line. Besides the tresspasser thing it will help you be a good neighbor. YOUR stock wont be in the other guys cornfield!
Good fences make good neighbors , thats country advise thats been around a long time!
Why cant you start a food garden now? its a bit late but sure within the posable.

..............Just from a selfish(your's) point of view , I can't point too any implied meaning within your discourse that tells me he has indicated that you will actually own some or all of this 80 acres after you have established "His" vision for feeding the Poor . Grandoise plans , using His plan on His land and what tangible "ownership" will you have accumulated at the end of this growing season ? I don't think he has any intention of giving UP any land for your efforts !! You're a tenet farmer and helping him with "his" vision . , fordy...

Your right, fordy....that is a big part of our proposal. IF there is no possibility or plan for us to obtain ownership at some point....our proposal will be very different.....and we may decide it isn't in our best interest. We have to look at so many things. Even if we wouldn't own it someday...if he starts the buisiness and we keep profits...so long as we are still feeding the poor....from a business standpoint...it may be a good way to gain experience and save money for our own farm someday.....depends on all of the little details.
I'm researching what would be the best niche market for the area. It's a toughie.

..................Maybe you'll endup with a few acres and a home too call yours and a steady job and free source for food from whatever you're growing . That's alot to be thankful for , just by itself . I hope he will reward you for all your hard work at some point . , good luck , fordy...

My husband drives by their place on the way to work. Never have stopped in though.

I wish I could get my place going better.

What I do for the family. Is we buy sides of local grass fed Organic beef from a local family. They are very picky about the quality of their beef and they have more business than they can really handle. But they refuse to work to the point they can't even take a break. So there is a waiting list..which I do not mind.

Have not found a local organic farmer yet for Veggie and fruits. Normally that is the part I grow at home. But because of the accident..is not going to happen.
So I am searching for one with my ideals and requirments.
Rather support the local organic farmers..than buy food from overseas.

So what you want to do..is more than do-able.
Good luck.

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Shari