Ideas please- need to make $10K on 10 acres per year

About saving money: If you are working 7 days a week you are probably buying at least one meal a day. Might I suggest a workable solution?

Once a week, cook a roast and a turkey. Then, eat off of them for a week or two: freeze some of it if you wish.

If you are spending $6 once a day, 7 days a week, that is $2000 a year.

I have known people who did this, and 3 people would eat 1 turkey a week. When they cooked the turkey, they ALSO baked a lot of potatos, made gravy, and such. I thought it sounded dull which is why I suggested a roast as well. Leftovers can be frozen.

Cooking your own meals, 1 person would need about $25 a week for groceries. How does that stack up to what you are doing?

"Ten Acres Enough" is available on google books for download

__________________
Thinking is hard. Feeling and believing a storyline is easy.

FREEEEEEEDDDDDDDOOOOOOMMM!!!

Prof Kingsfield. Rules!!





http://tnwoodwright.blogspot.com/

I have no idea what your area is like.but I'll share a thought with you..

A million years ago when I was young, my neighbors in rural PA were money crunching..they hit on a wonderful notion..turned their farm into a "maize maze"..planted corn in circular patterns and became filthy rich from the city tourists who came in DROVES to play in the corn maze..they THEN developed hay rides in horse-drawn wagons, a small petting zoo, and another neighbor set up a tiny cafe across the street..amazing how much $ city folks will spend to romp in a corn maze.

There are many things you can do. We will do farmers market this summer, which will include various jams and jellies, people love them, also home baked items. Our big selling item right now is goats milk soap. Eggs also do well for us. In the fall pumpkins and squash are good. Ornamental corn decorations and corn husk flowers and dolls are good. There are many wild "weeds" that make beautiful fall and Christmas wreaths, swags and decorations, People will even buy corn shocks, we put a bow and a few decorations on some of them, some people llike to do ther own. we even do some container gardening, there are a few people that will come and break up a piece of ground for a small fee. dd1 is planning on quitting her full time job ths summer cause we can do as well as she makes at her job and prepare for what is to come. it is very possible to make money, not with drugs, but with imagination and good marketing. we are't out to make millins, but enough to pay for our living and to prepare for what may come. good luck carolyn

Theres an organic farm not far from me that makes around 35,000 selling CSA shares on 5 acres of land. And they sell to local area restaurants and farmers market. They really have it down pat.

__________________
Jen of the Woods

It is definately possible to make that much money or more from 10 acres. The biggest problem for you though is your work schedule. Like someone else mentioned, not much is happening on the farm in the winter. The things that you can do in the winter cost more to do (feed, not pasture-heating buildings or greenhouses).
I think with the increasing cost of feed and hay , a lot of people will NOT be keeping animals over winter.

One thing that I have thought a lot about doing is a small scale hatchery. I am not looking to put McMurrays or Ideal out of business, just something small with a limited variety. I currently have 2 300 egg incubators, and a few other smaller ones, and last year I sold about 1500 chicks at flea markets and auctions. I would like to add a website and start taking orders to be mailed out. I need to check out costs such as mailing boxes, postage, and other expenses. If anyone has any info on doing this let me know.

__________________
IOWA

How about goat milk soap? You don,t need to own them just buy the milk from a neighbor. You get 64 bars per gallon that sells for 4.00 to s 6.00$ per bar. There are recipes all over the net. Work inside and stay warm all winter. I do the lye mix in an outside lean to. The pouring,cutting and wrapping can all be done inside. good luck.

Can you locate a couple of rentals on the property? I can readily net $400 to $500/month off a low level rental home. There are lots of homes available for free to just move them. Becoming a landlord to many is a nightmare. To others an opportunity. If you do not want the tenants in your back yard just add more rentals and move. You want something working for you when you are not working! Food, clothing and shelter rank high on the essential needs lists.

__________________
Agmantoo
If they can do it,
you know you can!

It is very doable. We make quite a bit more than that from about ten acres of our land. We raise pastured pigs as our primary farming project. We started with four pigs and it did take years to build up to the level we are at now with ~200 pigs = 40 sows + boars + all the piglets growers, finishers, etc. But it is doable.

There is more than just getting good at raising the pigs, you also will need to learn all about getting them turned into pork, find slaughter, butcher and processing, develop markets, etc. Same as with any business.

The key is going to find out what you enjoy doing, are good at and have a market for. Then you have to have the patience and persistence to put in the time to develop it.

Cheers

-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
in the mountains of Vermont
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/blog/
http://HollyGraphicArt.com/
http://NoNAIS.org

__________________
SugarMtnFarm.com -- Pastured Pigs, Poultry, Sheep, Dogs and Kids

what is a csa?

Community
Supported
Agriculture

Farm where people buy shares of the harvest ahead of time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communi...ed_agriculture

__________________
SugarMtnFarm.com -- Pastured Pigs, Poultry, Sheep, Dogs and Kids